Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Outlines General History
History defined. History is the record of past events in the life of mankind. In detailing these events, however, it con cerns itself with their relation, and seeks to point out the connection of cause and effect that exists between them. A bare catalogue of unrelated facts, though true in themselves, would not make history in the modern sense. There must be some definite principle on which the selection of the facts is based. This principle is that a fact, in order to have bistori cal value, must help to explain what goes before or what comes after in the life of a people.
Kinds of History. - It is clear that the past life of mankind may be regarded from different points of view. Thus, if the special purpose is to show how men have advanced in knowl edge from age to age, and what in?uences have quickened their minds or changed their modes of thought, the narrative is called Intellectual History. If the object is to point out the changes which have taken place in men's ideas of right and wrong, and to trace the development of moral standards, the work is termed a History of Morals. Political History deals with the external events in the life of a nation, showing its varying relations to other nations and to its own government. Constitutional History has to do with changes in the form and principles of government, and in the character and administra tion of law; Economic History, with the past conditions of a people in respect to the possession and acquisition of wealth.
So the particular field to which the narrative is confined de termines how the history is to be classified. It is very difficult, however, to keep these departments distinct, as events which properly fall within the scope of one department have often a very important bearing on those which belong to another. A history which gives anything like a complete narrative of past events must investigate the facts pertaining to all sides of a nation's life.
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