COMPARATIVE
HISTORY
COMPARATIVE HISTORY
COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL RESEARCH
HOW TO COMPARE HISTORY SOURCES
HOW TO COMPARE HISTORY RELATED TOPICS
COMPARATIVE HISTORY LINKS
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SECTION 1
COMPARATIVE
HISTORY
Comparative history is the comparison of different societies
which existed during the same time period or shared similar
cultural conditions. The comparative history of societies
emerged as an important specialty among intellectuals in the
Enlightenment in the 18th century, as typified by Montesquieu,
Voltaire, Adam Smith, and others. Sociologists and economists
in the 19th century often explored comparative history.
Historians generally accept the comparison of particular institutions
(banking, women's rights, ethnic identities) in different societies,
but since the hostile reaction to Toynbee in the 1950s, generally do
not pay much attention to sweeping comparative studies that cover wide
swaths of the world over many centuries.
Comparative history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_history
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SECTION 2
COMPARATIVE
HISTORICAL
RESEARCH
Comparative historical research is a method of social science
that examines historical events in order to create explanations
that are valid beyond a particular time and place, either by
direct comparison to other historical events, theory building,
or reference to the present day.
Generally, it involves comparisons of social processes across
times and places. It overlaps with historical sociology. While
the disciplines of history and sociology have always been
connected, they have connected in different ways at different
times. This form of research may use any of several theoretical
orientations. It is distinguished by the types of questions it
asks, not the theoretical framework it employs.
Comparative historical research
http://en.wikipedia.org/Comparative_historical_research
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SECTION 3
HOW TO
COMPARE
HISTORY
SOURCES
Figuring out the relative worth of an historical source is crucial
in interpreting history. Historical sources range from biography to
anecdote to scrupulously detailed historical accounts. In the field
of history, an author like Edward Gibbon, who wrote "The History of
the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," is one of the most trusted
historians of the 18th century. He attributes the information in his
work, analyzes thousands of previous documents and writes in an
authoritative voice. Some sources, which seem to give a perspective
overly favorable to one of their subjects or are written poorly, are
less authoritative. Sometimes, when sources contradict, you have to
compare each source's reliability.
1. Check footnotes in passages from each source. Important statements,
particularly if the book was written in the modern era, should always
be cited to other sources. Then go to the original source and make
sure the quotes or facts have been properly cited. If they haven't,
the author of the source might be untrustworthy or not as cautious in
his research.
2. Review the quality of the sources' prose. Some historians do not
write succinctly or brilliantly, but all historical works should have
proper grammar and correct spelling. Bad spelling or grammar indicates
that the book was not edited or written carefully.
3. Look up book reviews in periodicals such as the "Journal of Social
History" or the "Journal of Modern History," for each historical source.
Professional and academic historians write these book reviews, which
discuss how the source is viewed in historical circles. Although there
are some good sources that receive bad reviews, you can get a better
perspective on their value by reading these reviews.
How to Compare History Sources
http://www.ehow.com/how_6388608_compare-history-sources.html
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SECTION 4
HOW TO
COMPARE
HISTORY
RELATED
TOPICS
How to Contrast a Primary & Secondary Source
http://www.ehow.com/how_7733886_contrast-primary-secondary-source.html
Three Types of History Sources
http://www.ehow.com/list_6906753_three-types-history-sources.html
How to Compare Greek & Roman Civilizations
http://www.ehow.com/how_7733997_compare-greek-roman-civilizations.html
The History of the Euphonium
http://www.ehow.com/about_5376219_history-euphonium.html
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SECTION 5
Comparative Constitutions
http://www.icivics.org/teachers/lesson-plans/comparative-constitutions
Comparative history
http://understandingsociety.blogspot.com/2009/11/comparative-history.html
Comparative History
http://depts.washington.edu/history/graduate-studies-current-students-areas-study-division/comparative-history
Comparative History in the Classroom
http://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ391313
Comparative History of Ideas
http://chid.washington.edu/
Comparative and Superlative Forms
http://esl.about.com/od/grammarlessons/a/compsuper.htm
Education Forum: Source Evaluation Skills
http://www.educationforum.co.uk/Page4.htm
Free access to all issues of the Annales
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/revue/ahess
Journal of American History
http://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/
Recent issues of Annales: Histoire, Sciences Sociales
http://www.editions.ehess.fr/revues/annales-histoire-sciences-sociales/numeros-parus/
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