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  • UGC NET History Unit-10 HISTORICAL METHOD, RESEARCH METHODOLOGY & HISTORIOGRAPHY MCQs

    🏛️ A. Meaning, Scope & Objectivity in History

    1. The word “History” is derived from which Greek term?

    A) Historia
    B) Historica
    C) Historiographia
    D) Historium

    Answer: A
    Explanation: The Greek word Historia means “inquiry” or “investigation.”

    2. Who is known as the “Father of History”?

    A) Herodotus
    B) Aristotle
    C) Thucydides
    D) Tacitus

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Herodotus (5th century BCE) wrote Histories — earliest systematic record of human events.

    3. Who called history “Philosophy teaching by examples”?

    A) Cicero
    B) Aristotle
    C) Livy
    D) Machiavelli

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Roman philosopher Cicero defined history as a moral guide that teaches lessons through examples.

    4. The primary function of history is to:

    A) Preserve legends
    B) Study the past objectively
    C) Promote myths
    D) Defend religion

    Answer: B
    Explanation: History aims to understand the human past through facts, evidence, and interpretation.

    5. Objectivity in history means:

    A) Neutral and evidence-based interpretation
    B) Religious justification
    C) Personal imagination
    D) National glorification

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Objectivity means judging events without personal, political, or emotional bias.

    6. Which statement best defines bias in history writing?

    A) Use of reliable data
    B) Distortion due to personal or ideological influence
    C) Dependence on verified sources
    D) Chronological accuracy

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Bias occurs when a historian’s personal beliefs or background shape interpretation of facts.

    7. “Facts are sacred, opinions are free.” Who said this?

    A) Lord Acton
    B) C.P. Scott
    C) Ranke
    D) Gibbon

    Answer: B
    Explanation: C.P. Scott emphasized objectivity — historians must separate facts from personal views.

    🔍 B. Historical Method — Heuristics, Criticism & Synthesis

    8. The process of collecting and identifying historical sources is called:

    A) Heuristics
    B) Hermeneutics
    C) Criticism
    D) Synthesis

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Heuristics refers to the systematic collection and classification of source materials.

    9. Checking the authenticity of a source is called:

    A) Internal criticism
    B) External criticism
    C) Source evaluation
    D) Verification

    Answer: B
    Explanation: External criticism ensures the document’s genuineness — author, date, and form.

    10. Evaluating the credibility or truthfulness of a document’s content is called:

    A) External criticism
    B) Internal criticism
    C) Heuristics
    D) Synthesis

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Internal criticism judges reliability — motives, consistency, and bias of the author.

    11. The final stage of historical research is:

    A) Hypothesis
    B) Criticism
    C) Synthesis and Presentation
    D) Source collection

    Answer: C
    Explanation: After analyzing sources, historians synthesize and present findings logically.

    12. Which of the following is not an auxiliary science of history?

    A) Archaeology
    B) Chemistry
    C) Numismatics
    D) Epigraphy

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Chemistry is not a direct auxiliary; others aid in reconstructing the past.

    13. Numismatics deals with the study of:

    A) Coins
    B) Inscriptions
    C) Manuscripts
    D) Monuments

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Numismatics helps date events and understand trade, kingship, and economy.

    14. Epigraphy is the study of:

    A) Coins
    B) Scripts and inscriptions
    C) Maps
    D) Architecture

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Epigraphy provides direct written records — decrees, donations, and edicts.

    15. Which science helps to fix the time and sequence of events?

    A) Geography
    B) Chronology
    C) Sociology
    D) Anthropology

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Chronology arranges historical events in their proper order of occurrence.

    ⚖️ C. Nature of History — Science, Art, or Social Science

    16. History is regarded as a science because:

    A) It uses laboratory experiments
    B) It studies human behavior
    C) It uses systematic evidence and methods
    D) It predicts the future

    Answer: C
    Explanation: History follows systematic methods — evidence collection and logical reasoning.

    17. History is also called an art because:

    A) It uses poetic imagination
    B) It involves creative expression and interpretation
    C) It ignores facts
    D) It glorifies rulers

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Historians must interpret data imaginatively while remaining factual.

    18. History is considered a social science because it:

    A) Deals with stars and planets
    B) Studies nature
    C) Studies human society and its evolution
    D) Ignores human activity

    Answer: C
    Explanation: History examines social, political, and cultural changes — core of social sciences.

    19. The causal relationship in history means:

    A) A series of unrelated events
    B) Cause and effect analysis
    C) Chronological listing
    D) Moral lessons

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Causation explains why events happened, not just what happened.

    20. Imagination in history should be:

    A) Unlimited
    B) Based on evidence
    C) Purely emotional
    D) Avoided entirely

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Imagination connects facts meaningfully but must remain evidence-based.

    🗺️ D. Regional History & New Trends

    21. Regional history helps in understanding:

    A) Global politics only
    B) Local aspects of historical change
    C) European colonialism only
    D) Mythology

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Regional studies reveal local patterns, diversity, and grassroots history.

    22. Recent trends in Indian historiography include:

    A) Dynastic glorification
    B) Subaltern and gender studies
    C) Colonial documentation
    D) Religious interpretations

    Answer: B
    Explanation: New trends emphasize common people, marginalized groups, and gender perspectives.

    23. The Subaltern Studies school focuses on:

    A) Elites and rulers
    B) Common people and marginalized voices
    C) Religious leaders
    D) British administrators

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Subaltern historians (e.g., Ranajit Guha) emphasized people excluded from elite narratives.

    24. Environmental history studies:

    A) Nature only
    B) Relationship between humans and environment over time
    C) Religious texts
    D) Political parties

    Answer: B
    Explanation: It analyzes how natural and human factors interact in historical development.

    🧪 E. Research Methodology

    25. The first step in historical research is:

    A) Hypothesis
    B) Topic selection
    C) Data analysis
    D) Bibliography

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Research begins with selecting a relevant and researchable topic.

    26. A hypothesis in historical research is:

    A) Final conclusion
    B) Tentative assumption to be tested
    C) Proven theory
    D) Literary description

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Hypothesis guides research and is tested against historical evidence.

    27. Primary sources include:

    A) Research articles
    B) Textbooks
    C) Original documents, diaries, letters
    D) Commentaries

    Answer: C
    Explanation: Primary sources are firsthand evidence of historical events.

    28. Secondary sources refer to:

    A) Unverified reports
    B) Later interpretations of primary data
    C) Oral history only
    D) Myths

    Answer: B
    Explanation: They include analysis, books, and articles interpreting original data.

    29. The act of evaluating and verifying evidence is called:

    A) Heuristics
    B) Criticism
    C) Hypothesis
    D) Narration

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Criticism ensures historical accuracy and authenticity of sources.

    30. Footnotes are used to:

    A) Decorate the text
    B) Explain difficult terms
    C) Cite sources of information
    D) Add new chapters

    Answer: C
    Explanation: Footnotes acknowledge sources and prevent plagiarism.

    31. A bibliography includes:

    A) Only books used
    B) All sources consulted for research
    C) Unrelated references
    D) Quotations

    Answer: B
    Explanation: It lists every book, article, or document referred to in research.

    32. Plagiarism means:

    A) Quoting properly
    B) Borrowing ideas with acknowledgment
    C) Copying without credit
    D) Paraphrasing fairly

    Answer: C
    Explanation: Plagiarism is intellectual dishonesty — using others’ work without attribution.

    🏺 F. Historiography: Evolution of History Writing

    33. Greek historians emphasized:

    A) Divine control
    B) Human actions and inquiry
    C) Supernatural causes
    D) National pride

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Greeks like Herodotus and Thucydides stressed rational investigation of human events.

    34. Roman historians wrote history mainly to:

    A) Entertain
    B) Teach moral and political lessons
    C) Praise gods
    D) Record trade

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Romans like Livy and Tacitus viewed history as a moral and patriotic guide.

    35. Medieval Church historians saw history as:

    A) Random events
    B) Divine plan of God
    C) Secular progress
    D) Political conflict

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Christian writers interpreted history as unfolding of God’s will.

    36. Renaissance historians introduced:

    A) Supernaturalism
    B) Critical and secular approach
    C) Church dominance
    D) Mythological writing

    Answer: B
    Explanation: The Renaissance revived critical, humanist, and rational history writing.

    37. Machiavelli’s The Prince reflects:

    A) Divine history
    B) Political realism
    C) Religious morality
    D) Romantic idealism

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Machiavelli used history for practical political lessons — realism over morality.

    38. Auguste Comte’s Positivism inspired:

    A) Romantic history
    B) Scientific or factual history
    C) Religious historiography
    D) Postmodernism

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Comte’s positivism influenced historians to use scientific methods and verified data.

    39. Leopold von Ranke emphasized:

    A) Philosophy in history
    B) To tell history “as it really happened”
    C) Political propaganda
    D) Mythical traditions

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Ranke promoted objectivity and primary source-based history.

    40. Von Ranke is associated with which city’s intellectual movement?

    A) Oxford
    B) Paris
    C) Berlin
    D) Rome

    Answer: C
    Explanation: The “Berlin Revolution” in historiography began under Ranke’s influence.

    41. Marx’s historical materialism focuses on:

    A) Religion
    B) Economy and class struggle
    C) Ideology
    D) Geography

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Marx saw history as shaped by economic forces and conflicts between classes.

    42. According to Marx, society evolves through:

    A) Wars and peace
    B) Economic stages
    C) Religious reforms
    D) Cultural diffusion

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Human history progresses through economic systems — feudalism to socialism.

    43. The concept of “Base and Superstructure” was given by:

    A) Max Weber
    B) Karl Marx
    C) Ranke
    D) Toynbee

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Economic base (production) determines superstructure (politics, culture, ideas).

    44. Oswald Spengler’s theory is known as:

    A) Challenge and Response
    B) Cyclical Theory of History
    C) Evolutionary Theory
    D) Economic Determinism

    Answer: B
    Explanation: In The Decline of the West, Spengler viewed civilizations as cyclic organisms.

    45. According to Toynbee, civilization develops through:

    A) War
    B) Climate
    C) Challenge and creative response
    D) Religion

    Answer: C
    Explanation: Toynbee’s Challenge and Response theory explains growth through adaptability.

    46. “History repeats itself in cycles” — whose idea is this?

    A) Ranke
    B) Spengler
    C) Marx
    D) Toynbee

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Spengler viewed history as cyclical, not linear progress.

    47. Toynbee’s major work is:

    A) The Decline of the West
    B) A Study of History
    C) Das Kapital
    D) The Prince

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Toynbee’s A Study of History analyzes rise and fall of civilizations.

    🌀 G. Modern & Postmodern Historiography

    48. Postmodernists argue that history is:

    A) Objective fact
    B) A constructed narrative
    C) Pure science
    D) Religion-based

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Postmodernism denies absolute truth — history is shaped by language and perspective.

    49. “Power and knowledge are interconnected” — who said this?

    A) Ranke
    B) Foucault
    C) Marx
    D) Derrida

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Michel Foucault emphasized how knowledge systems reflect power structures.

    50. The linguistic turn in history refers to:

    A) Emphasis on political narratives
    B) Study of language’s role in shaping historical understanding
    C) Focus on military events
    D) Use of new documents

    Answer: B
    Explanation: It stresses that historical meaning depends on language and discourse.

    51. Hayden White is known for:

    A) Marxist historiography
    B) Narrative and literary interpretation of history
    C) Cyclical theory
    D) Archaeology

    Answer: B
    Explanation: White argued that history is written as narrative, blending fact and fiction.

    52. Which historian coined the term “Subaltern”?

    A) Ranajit Guha
    B) D.D. Kosambi
    C) Irfan Habib
    D) R.C. Majumdar

    Answer: A
    Explanation: Ranajit Guha initiated the Subaltern Studies Group in 1982 focusing on marginalized voices.

    53. The main aim of Marxist historiography is:

    A) To glorify rulers
    B) To study economic structure and class relations
    C) To emphasize divine intervention
    D) To describe myths

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Marxist historians explain change through material and economic causes.

    54. Postmodernism rejects:

    A) Evidence
    B) Absolute or universal truths
    C) Use of narrative
    D) Cultural interpretation

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Postmodernists argue there is no single truth — only multiple interpretations.

    55. Rankean objectivity was criticized by:

    A) Marxists and Postmodernists
    B) Greek historians
    C) Toynbee
    D) Church historians

    Answer: A
    Explanation: They argued Ranke ignored social and ideological contexts.

    56. D.D. Kosambi’s approach combined:

    A) Mythology and religion
    B) Marxism and scientific analysis
    C) Philosophy and art
    D) Sociology and fiction

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Kosambi applied Marxist methods to Indian socio-economic history.

    57. Who wrote The Wonder That Was India?

    A) A.L. Basham
    B) Romila Thapar
    C) Irfan Habib
    D) V.D. Savarkar

    Answer: A
    Explanation: A.L. Basham’s work presents India’s ancient civilization in scholarly, cultural context.

    58. Who defined history as “a science, no less and no more”?

    A) Ranke
    B) Seeley
    C) Marx
    D) Gibbon

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Sir John Seeley highlighted that history uses methods of science but studies human society.

    59. Intellectual honesty in history means:

    A) Following ideology
    B) Quoting without credit
    C) Acknowledging sources and being truthful
    D) Using imagination freely

    Answer: C
    Explanation: Intellectual honesty demands evidence-based and transparent scholarship.

    60. The main challenge for modern historians is:

    A) Lack of technology
    B) Maintaining objectivity amid diverse interpretations
    C) Refusing interdisciplinary research
    D) Ignoring regional studies

    Answer: B
    Explanation: Balancing multiple perspectives while maintaining evidence-based neutrality is the modern challenge.

  • UGC NET History Unit-10 Historical Method, Research Methodology and Historiography

    🏛️ 1. Scope and Importance of History

    • History is the systematic study of the past — of human actions, institutions, and ideas through time.

    • It helps us understand society, culture, and change, providing perspective for the present and the future.

    • History builds critical thinking, encourages objectivity, and develops national identity and historical consciousness.

    • It is both knowledge of facts and interpretation of events.

    🧠 2. Objectivity and Bias in History

    • Objectivity: Writing history based on facts, evidence, and neutrality, without personal or ideological influence.

    • Bias: Occurs when a historian’s opinions, class, religion, or politics affect their interpretation.

    • Complete objectivity is difficult, but historians should strive for impartial analysis and rely on verified evidence.

    • Famous quote: “Facts are sacred, opinions are free.” – C.P. Scott

    🔍 3. Heuristics Operation, Criticism, Synthesis, and Presentation

    • Heuristics: Process of collecting and identifying sources relevant to research.

    • Criticism: Evaluation of sources — two types:

      • External Criticism: Checks authenticity (date, author, originality).

      • Internal Criticism: Checks reliability and credibility (truthfulness, consistency).

    • Synthesis: Combining verified data into a coherent narrative.

    • Presentation: Writing the final interpretation — logical, chronological, and evidence-based.

    🧩 4. History and its Auxiliary Sciences

    History uses help from other sciences to reconstruct the past:

    Auxiliary Science Contribution
    Archaeology Study of ancient material remains.
    Numismatics

    Study of coins.
    Epigraphy

    Study of inscriptions.
    Anthropology

    Study of human societies and cultures.
    Sociology

    Helps understand social structures.
    Geography

    Explains physical settings influencing history.
    Linguistics

    Decodes languages and scripts.
    Chronology

    Establishes time sequence.

    ⚖️ 5. Is History a Science, an Art, or a Social Science?

    • Science: Uses systematic methods, evidence, and analysis.

    • Art: Requires imagination, expression, and interpretation.

    • Social Science: Studies human behavior in time context.
      🟢 Consensus: History is both a science (method) and an art (expression) — a social science in nature.

    💭 6. Causation and Imagination in History

    • Causation: Every event has causes and effects. Historians analyze why events occurred, not just what happened.

    • Imagination: Helps fill gaps where data is incomplete — but must remain controlled and evidence-based.

    • Historical imagination connects facts coherently without distorting them.

    🌍 7. Significance of Regional History

    • Focuses on local or regional developments in the context of national and global history.

    • Shows diversity within unity — regional studies highlight grassroots realities.

    • Encourages micro-historical research and reduces central bias in history writing.

    🔄 8. Recent Trends in Indian History

    • Shift from political and dynastic history → to social, economic, cultural, and gender studies.

    • Subaltern studies: History from below — voices of peasants, women, and marginalized.

    • Environmental history, oral history, and digital history are new research areas.

    • Focus on interdisciplinary and regional perspectives.

    📖 9. Research Methodology in History

    • Refers to the systematic process of investigation for discovering and interpreting historical facts.

    • Steps include:

      1. Selection of topic

      2. Review of literature

      3. Formulation of hypothesis

      4. Collection and criticism of data

      5. Interpretation and presentation

    🧩 10. Hypothesis in History

    • A hypothesis is a tentative explanation or assumption guiding historical research.

    • Example: “The Revolt of 1857 was not only a military revolt but also a socio-political uprising.”

    • It directs investigation and helps to test facts logically.

    🗂️ 11. Area of Proposed Research

    • Depends on the historian’s interest, available sources, and relevance.

    • Should be specific, researchable, and meaningful — e.g., regional movements, gender roles, economic change, etc.

    📚 12. Sources of Historical Research

    (a) Primary Sources

    • Original, firsthand evidence — official documents, letters, diaries, inscriptions, coins, newspapers, oral accounts.

    (b) Secondary Sources

    • Interpretations based on primary data — books, articles, reviews, commentaries.

    (c) Transit Sources

    • Intermediate data connecting primary and secondary sources, like translations or edited texts.

    📊 13. Trends in Historical Research

    • Modern historians use quantitative methods, oral testimonies, and digital archives.

    • Rise of interdisciplinary research combining sociology, anthropology, and political science.

    • Post-colonial and feminist historiography challenge Eurocentric narratives.

    🧾 14. Selection of Topic in History

    • Should be:

      • Researchable and significant

      • Supported by adequate sources

      • Manageable in scope and time

      • Free from personal bias

    🖋️ 15. Notes Taking, References, Footnotes, and Bibliography

    • Notes-taking: Summarize important ideas from sources.

    • Footnotes: Used for acknowledging exact references in text.

    • Bibliography: Full list of all sources consulted, arranged alphabetically.

    Example of a footnote:

    R.C. Majumdar, History of Freedom Movement in India, Vol. I (Calcutta, 1962), p. 45.

    📜 16. Thesis and Assignment Writing

    • Should have:

      • Introduction (problem & objectives)

      • Literature review

      • Methodology

      • Data analysis

      • Conclusion & bibliography

    Qualities: clarity, coherence, originality, proper documentation.

    🚫 17. Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty

    • Plagiarism: Copying another’s work or ideas without credit.

    • Considered unethical and punishable.

    • Historians must acknowledge all sources used.

    • Intellectual honesty is key to authentic history writing.

    🏛️ 18. Beginnings of Historical Writing

    Civilization Features
    Greek Herodotus (Father of History), Thucydides — emphasized causes and accuracy.
    Roman

    Livy, Tacitus — practical lessons and moral purpose.
    Church / Medieval

    History as divine plan; focused on religion and morality.

    🌅 19. Renaissance and Its Impact on History Writing

    • The Renaissance (14th–16th c.) revived critical and secular spirit in history.

    • Rejected divine interpretation; emphasized humanism and rational inquiry.

    • Prominent historians: Machiavelli, Guicciardini.

    ⚔️ 20. Negative and Positive Schools of History

    • Negative School: Emphasized skepticism, rejection of religious explanations.

    • Positive School: Introduced scientific method in history; stressed factual accuracy (inspired by Auguste Comte’s positivism).

    🏙️ 21. Berlin Revolution in History Writing – Leopold von Ranke

    • Founder of modern scientific historiography.

    • Motto: “To tell how it actually happened” (Wie es eigentlich gewesen).

    • Emphasized primary sources, objectivity, and state documents.

    • Established history as a scientific discipline in 19th century.

    ⚙️ 22. Marxist Philosophy of History – Scientific Materialism

    • Based on Karl Marx’s dialectical materialism.

    • History driven by economic factors and class struggle.

    • Society passes through stages — primitive → slave → feudal → capitalist → socialist.

    • Base (economy) determines superstructure (politics, culture).

    • Major Indian Marxist historians: D.D. Kosambi, R.S. Sharma, Irfan Habib.

    🔁 23. Cyclical Theory of History – Oswald Spengler

    • Proposed in “The Decline of the West”.

    • Civilizations are like living organisms — birth, growth, maturity, decay.

    • History repeats in cycles; Western civilization too will decline.

    ⚔️ 24. Challenge and Response Theory – Arnold Toynbee

    • History is progress through responses to challenges (natural, social, or moral).

    • Civilizations survive if they respond creatively; decline when they fail.

    • Example: Greece rose through response to Persian challenge.

    🌀 25. Post-Modernism in History

    • Emerged in the late 20th century.

    • Questions the objectivity and universality of historical truth.

    • Emphasizes multiple perspectives, language, and subjectivity.

    • History seen as a constructed narrative, not an absolute truth.

    • Key thinkers: Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Hayden White.

    ✅ Summary Table

    Theme Key Idea
    Historical Method Scientific study of past using evidence
    Objectivity

    Neutral analysis of facts
    Criticism

    Testing authenticity of sources
    Heuristics

    Collection of sources
    Causation

    Understanding “why” events happened
    Auxiliary Sciences

    Archaeology, Epigraphy, Numismatics etc.
    Historiography

    Study of writing of history
    Marxist

    Class struggle and materialism
    Rankean

    Objectivity and primary sources
    Toynbee

    Challenge and Response
    Spengler

    Cyclical rise and fall
    Postmodern

    Multiple interpretations, narrative construction