Historiography and Behind the Urals Term Paper

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Scott paints a vivid picture of the social history of the area; lack of lumber for support, lack of trained people to help with the safety issues and a lack of understanding their new regime. Scott also describes what we know now as the Soviet double standard; the propaganda of healthy workers building a socialist paradise coupled with the reality of millions dying of cold and hunger. However, Scott is valuable in showing us that through tenacity and a rather callous disregard of human life, Stalin's push did indeed take a behind the times 19th Century regime and place them fully in the sights Europe by the early 1930s.

Conclusion -- the Historical Detective -- Why History Matters- What is history and why is it important? History is the continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future (Wordsearch 2010). History is important because it is what shapes both humanity and the events and trends that surround culture and civilization. It gives people an understanding of why things are and why people behave the way they do. It also helps to understand how and why people perceive others. History is in us and around us. Parents teach their children about their family history so it helps them understand who they are. The idea of personal history has even become part of popular culture. For instance, NBC's new television series show called "Who Do You Think You Are" investigates the genealogy of actors and actresses (Television 2010). In addition, websites abound that help families find out about personal history. However, history is far more than family or personal history; it is far more than a medical history taken during a physician's exam; and it is far more than a series of names, dates, or battles memorized by rote. Instead, history is a combination of trends, facts, figures, people, dialog, and brush strokes that are continually interpreted.
History helps us understand who we are, where we have been, and where, we might go -- strategically or tactically. George Santayana, a 19th/20th century philosopher and novelist, in his book the Life of Reason wrote about progress, about common sense, and about the manner in which humans can enjoy a self-actualized life. In this book he separates humans from beasts by their capacity to understand and embrace change, famously quoted as "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (McCormick 2003, 144). Within the broad range of history, though, and as we take on the responsibility of becoming global citizens, we must ask ourselves why historical interpretations seem to vary over time.

References

Bentley, M. Modern Historiography: An Introduction. New York: Routledge, 1999.

Furay, C., and M. Salevouris. The Methods and Skills of History: A Practical Guide. New York: Harlan Davidson. 2003.

Haynes, J. And H. Klehr. Verona: Decoding Soviety Espionage in America. New Haven, CT:

McCormick, J. George Santayana: A Biography. New York: Transaction Books, 2003.

McFee, G. "Why Revisionism Isn't," (1999), Cited in:

http://www.holocaust-history.org/revisionism-isnt/.

McPherson, J. "Revisionist Historians." American Historical Association, President's

Column (September 2003), Cited in:

http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/2003/0309/0309pre1.cfm.

Scott, J. Behind the Urals. Bloomington, in: Indiana University Press.

Television, NBC. Who Do You Think You Are. 2010. Cited in:

http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/about/index.shtml

See, for instance: Report of the Court Proceedings in the Case of the Trotskyite-Zinovievite Terrorist Centre (Moscow: People's Commissariat of Justice of the U.S.S.R., 1936); and the Army McCarthy Hearings (83rd Congress, 2nd session; Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1954)......

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