Political history

Quick Facts: Who was Political history?

Subject:

Political history

Known for:

The academic study analyzing the narrative and evolution of power, governments, and societies.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Political history is the narrative and survey of political events, ideas, movements, organizations of governments, voters, parties, and leaders. It is closely related to other fields of history, including diplomatic history, constitutional history, social history, people's history, and public history. Political history studies the organization and operation of power in large societies. From approximately the 1960s onwards, the rise of competing subdisciplines, particularly social history and cultural history, led to a decline in the prominence of "traditional" political history, which tended to focus on the activities of political elites. In the two decades from 1975 to 1995, the proportion of professors of history in American universities identifying with social history rose from 31% to 41%, and the proportion of political historians fell from 40% to 30%.

Career & Major Achievements

The political history of the world examines the history of politics and government on a global scale, including international relations. The first "scientific" political history was written by Leopold von Ranke in Germany in the 19th century. His methodologies profoundly affected how historians critically examine sources; see historiography for a more complete analysis of the methodologies of various approaches to history. An important aspect of political history is the study of ideology as a force for historical change. One author asserts that "political history as a whole cannot exist without the study of ideological differences and their implications." Studies of political history typically centre around a single nation and its political change and development.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Some historians identify the growing trend towards narrow specialization in political history during recent decades: "while a college professor in the 1940s sought to identify himself as a "historian", by the 1950s "American historian" was the designation." From the 1970s onwards, new movements challenged traditional approaches to political history. The development of social history shifted the emphasis away from the study of leaders and national decisions, and towards the role of ordinary people, especially outsiders and minorities. Younger scholars shifted to different issues, usually focused on race, class, and gender, with little room for elites. After 1990, social history itself began to fade, replaced with postmodern and cultural approaches that rejected grand narratives. Traditional political history focused on major leaders and had long played a dominant role beyond academic historians in the United States.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1975: 1975 Milestone — In the two decades from 1975 to 1995, the proportion of professors of history in American universities identifying with social history rose from 31% to 41%, and the proportion of political historians fell from 40% to 30%.
2. 1990: 1990 Milestone — After 1990, social history itself began to fade, replaced with postmodern and cultural approaches that rejected grand narratives.

Notable Quotes by Political history

“political history as a whole cannot exist without the study of ideological differences and their implications.”

“the status of the political historians within the profession has sunk to somewhere between that of a faith healer and a chiropractor.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Political history

True or False: “The 'new political history' immediately restored traditional political history to its former dominance among scholars after the 1970s.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While initially gaining prominence, the new political history never recovered its previous dominance among scholars despite remaining popular with the general reading public.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alex Rodriguez — Historical peer (Born in 1975) (1975): Legendary former MLB star, A-Rod, transitioned into a powerful sports and business mogul.
• Adolf Butenandt — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Pioneering German biochemist known for sex hormones and pheromone discovery.
• Adolfo Pedernera — Historical peer (Died in 1995) (1995): Argentine football legend, nicknamed 'El Maestro,' pivotal in the 1940s.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".

Frequently Asked Questions about Political history