Historiography & Historical Method — Terms Glossary

47 terms in this section — every one exam-ready for UGC NET History (Code 06).

TermDefinitionPeriod / Context
Annales School A French historiographical movement founded by Marc Bloch and Lucien Febvre emphasizing long-term social history (longue durée) over political narratives. Modern Historiography (1929)
Base and Superstructure The Marxist theoretical model where economic production modes (base) condition political, legal, and ideological forms (superstructure). Marxist Historiography
Cambridge School A historiographical approach interpreting Indian nationalism as a competition among local elites for power and British patronage rather than an ideological struggle. Modern Historiography
Causation The analytical examination of cause-and-effect relationships that explain why historical events occurred. Historical Method
Cliometrics The application of quantitative economic methods, statistical techniques, and econometric models to historical analysis. Quantitative History
Deconstruction A Postmodern critical method developed by Jacques Derrida to analyze texts by revealing internal contradictions and unstable meanings. Postmodern Historiography
Dendrochronology An auxiliary scientific method of dating past events and environmental conditions by analyzing growth ring patterns in wood specimens. Auxiliary Sciences of History
Dialectical Materialism The philosophical framework of Marxism stating that historical change is driven by material contradictions and class struggles. Marxist Historiography
Diplomatics The auxiliary science of history devoted to analyzing the critical study, authenticity, and structure of historical documents and charters. Historical Methodology
Discourse Analysis Methodological approach analyzing how language, texts, and power structures shape knowledge and social reality, associated with Michel Foucault. Postmodern Historiography
Empiricism The philosophical approach asserting that knowledge must be derived primarily from sensory experience and empirical evidence. Historical Philosophy
Epigraphy The scientific study and interpretation of ancient inscriptions carved on stone, metal plates, or hard surfaces. Auxiliary Sciences
External Criticism The analytical process of verifying the authenticity, date, provenance, and authorship of a historical source (Heuristics). Source Criticism
Feminist Historiography A critical approach that highlights women's agency, uncovers gender relations, and critiques patriarchal biases in traditional historical narratives. Modern Historiography
Hermeneutics The methodology and theory of textual interpretation and understanding internal meaning within historical context (Internal Criticism). Research Methodology
Heuristics The systematic method and techniques of discovering, locating, and identifying primary historical sources (External Criticism). Research Methodology
Historical Materialism The application of Marxist principles to history, holding that economic production and class structure shape human history. Marxist Historiography
History from Below A historiographical approach prioritizing the perspectives, experiences, and agency of ordinary working-class people rather than ruling elites. Subaltern / Social History
Imperialist Historiography British colonial writing on Indian history that justified colonial rule by emphasizing Indian social stagnancy and internal divisions. Colonial Indian History
Insha A genre of medieval Indo-Persian literature consisting of epistolary collections, administrative drafts, and diplomatic correspondence. Medieval Historical Sources
Internal Criticism The evaluation of the reliability, accuracy, credibility, and internal consistency of statements within a historical source (Hermeneutics). Source Criticism
Itihasa-Purana Tradition The ancient Indian indigenous historical tradition of preserving dynastic genealogies, heroic lore, and cosmic myths through Puranic literature. Indigenous Historiography
Linguistic Turn A 20th-century intellectual movement asserting that historical reality is mediated through language, narrative structures, and discourse. Postmodern Historiography
Longue Durée A concept developed by Fernand Braudel prioritizing long-term environmental, geographical, and economic structures over short-term political events. Annales School
Malfuzat Medieval Indo-Persian literature recording the recorded conversations, discourses, and oral sayings of Sufi saints. Medieval Historical Sources
Marxist Historiography An approach interpreting history through material conditions, class struggle, and economic production modes (e.g., D.D. Kosambi, Irfan Habib). Indian & World Historiography
Mentalités An Annales School concept examining collective mentalities, worldview attitudes, and shared psychological structures of past societies. Annales School
Microhistory A historiographical methodology analyzing small-scale units of research (a single village, trial record, or person) to illuminate macro-historical structures. Modern Historiography
Nationalist Historiography Indian historical writing that emerged during the freedom movement to counter colonial distortions and highlight indigenous achievements. Indian Historiography
Numismatics The scientific study and systematic analysis of coins, paper currency, and metallic tokens. Auxiliary Sciences
Objectivity The ideal in historical writing seeking to present past events impartially without personal bias or subjective projection. Historical Philosophy
Oral History The collection and academic study of historical information using recorded interviews with individuals who experienced past events. Historical Method
Orientalism The academic study and ideological depiction of Eastern societies by Western scholars, analyzed by Edward Said as a tool of colonial domination. Historiography / Theory
Palaeography The scientific study and decipherment of ancient handwriting, historic scripts, and calligraphic forms. Auxiliary Sciences
Positivism A philosophical system associated with Auguste Comte holding that genuine historical knowledge is derived exclusively from empirical, scientific data. Historical Philosophy
Postmodernism A philosophical movement questioning objective historical truth, linear progress, and grand narratives in historical writing. Historiography
Primary Source Contemporary physical, textual, or visual evidence produced directly during the time period under historical examination. Research Methodology
Radiocarbon Dating A scientific radiometric method determining the age of organic material by measuring its residual Carbon-14 content. Auxiliary Sciences
Rajatarangini The 12th-century Sanskrit historical chronicle of Kashmir written by Kalhana, recognized as India's early attempt at critical historical writing. Indigenous Indian Historiography
Rankean Historiography The empirical historical methodology formulated by Leopold von Ranke emphasizing reliance on primary sources to describe the past "as it actually was" (wie es eigentlich gewesen). Modern Historiography
Secondary Source An interpretive historical account or analysis created by later scholars based on primary sources. Research Methodology
Sigillography The auxiliary science of history concerned with the historical and technical study of seals attached to official documents. Auxiliary Sciences
Stratigraphy The branch of geology and archaeology studying the layering (strata) of soil and archaeological deposits to determine relative age. Auxiliary Sciences
Subaltern Studies A historiographical collective founded by Ranajit Guha to study non-elite, marginalized, and peasant agency in South Asian history. Indian Historiography
Tabaqat A genre of Islamic biographical and historical literature organized systematically by generations or classes of individuals. Medieval Historical Sources
Tarikh A chronological historical narrative or annals genre widely practiced in medieval Indo-Persian historical literature. Medieval Historical Sources
Vanshavali Traditional geneological chronicles and dynastic lineage records maintained by indigenous hereditary bards. Indigenous Indian Historiography

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