History Extension Assessment Task

Thucydides is seen as the father of history by many writers though he was not the first to write about history. Thus his purpose was to inform the Greek population , especially the Athenians . This series had and still does have a major impact in the writing of history because it is one of our only primary written sources from that period in time of the Peloponnesian War. I read apart of the “History of The Peloponnesian War” called “ The Dispute over Epidimnus.” In this Thucydides tells us about the town of Epidimnus and their decline – how the Democrats forced out the aristocrats.

In this chapter Thucydides uses objectivity as the basis of his writing as he only focuses on the facts and sources which have been presented to him about the Peloponnesian War, through out the book its referred to in third person which gives in a way an un-bias point of view, he does not directly state his own ideas . The selection of material that has been chosen by Thucydides is those that have been orated to him by people from that moment of the War. Though this information can be unreliable and open to subjective views because of not hardcore evidence, just what people have said.

Leopold von Ranke was a historian from the age of the Enlightenment. von Ranke wrote his first book “Geschichte der romanischen und germanischen Völker von 1494 bis 1514.” Translated says “History of the Latin and Germanic Nations, 1494 to 1514.” von Ranke says “History has had assigned to it the office of judging the past and of instructing the account for the benefit of future ages.” Ranke is saying what people have done in the past, have been handed to people to analyse their actions, so that future generations can benefit from it later in time.

Ranke was deeply influenced by his religious beliefs, as a Lutheran.  This could culminate to a subjective outcome within his writings. In the introduction of his book “History of the Latin and Germanic Nations, 1494 to 1514”, he tries to illustrate the agreement of the six nations, which formed in the Carolingian Empire (France, Italy, Spain[Latin Nations] – Germany, England, Scandinavia[Teutonic Nations]) Ranke was labelled as a “Historicist”, he applied approaches to history which were obviously unrelated. Ranke’s devotion to uncovering knowledge or facts is assured with less ambiguity:

“Strict Presentation of facts, no matter how conditional and unattractive they might be, is undoubtedly the supreme law.”

Ranke wants us to put aside our present values, to avoid judging, yet he adds that at some point we should acknowledge the intentions of God. You can say by looking at history this was you are imposing a value system on the past. Ranke insists that an objectivity from the historian, but at the same time proposing what that objectivity should lead to. Much can be said about Leopold von Ranke’s writing as he is writing subjectively, he is writing from the influence of “God”, outlining God’s purpose, which in turn means his writings take on a religious tone.

However Ranke does look at dates and direct factual information, in his book “ English History, Principally in the Seventeenth Century.” (1859).

While Ranke left no manual on “how to do history”, his emphasis on objectivity, his exigency for archival research...to offer information on stances and feelings must be seen as highly influential.  Ranke did maintain objectivity effectively, he defiantly wrote about topic of his own interest which could include minor subjectivity, and Ranke can be critiqued. In 1871, his edition of papal history, Ranke wrote about the recent French defeat by Prussia, he without a doubt found it quiet hard to sustain his objectivity.

Marc Bloch, there is an abundance in life and work of him to appeal to anyone fascinated by history. Bloch functioned on the foundation that history was the study of the past not documents. Just this sentence alone can tell us whether Bloch is objective or subjective, he states that history is the study of the past NOT documents, this can mean that Bloch wrote what he thought happened in the past with maybe some orated sources to back up his argument, though we do know he had immaculate expertise with in the field of document study, he did not want history to be seen as textbook study.

In 1913, an early study of the area around Paris the Île-de-France, where he accentuated the importance of geography.

In Marc Bloch’s “The Historian’s Craft” he tells us about , obviously what the title states – The Historian’s Craft, how historians write, but there is no reference to sources in this which I’m led to believe is subjective because he is only stating his view, and his knowledge.

Concluding, many historians write intriguing information ,and support it with un-bias sources with out placing their own view in their analysis like Thucydides text “History of the Peloponnesian War” He only states the knowledge that is known  by a majority of people prior to publishing, making them an objective historian. Marc Bloch does not support his claims sufficiently in the text I studied, and quiet obviously using his own opinion most of the time in his discussions, making his writings subjective and most likely bias. Overall objectivity and selection of material have affected the work of historians over time dramatically by  allowing historians to write what they feel, their perspective on an issue that has happened during a specific period of time.

1. “History of the Peloponnesian War” by Thucydides. Published by Penguin Books London 2000.  

• Book I – Page 35-39

• Book II – Page 289 (line 182-184)

2. “Fifty Key Thinkers on History” By Hughes–Warrington, Marie. Published by Routlage London 2000,

• Page 257 (Leopold von Ranke).

• Two letters Written by Heinrich to his brother (28 Nov 1822 and 25 Aug 1827), Hughes - Warrington, Marie, Fifty Key Thinkers on History, Routlage London, 2000, Page 257 and footnote 4 page 261 .

3. “History of the Historians” by Warren, John. Published by Hodder & Stoughton London, 1999

• Page 60-61 (Leopold von Ranke)

• Page 96 (Marc Bloch)

4. “History Extension Stage 6 Source Readings” By Board of Studies NSW. Published by Board of Studies NSW.

• Page 141-143 (Marc Bloch)
• Page 156-157 (Thucydides)
• Page 170 (Leopold von Ranke)

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