Gilderhus Summary

In a comprehensive summary and analyzation of the history of mankind’s record of affairs, Mark T. Gilderhus tackles the many aspects of the overall biography of human existence. Through scrutiny of the goals of past and present historians, a brief explanation of the origins of historiography, a thorough exploration of the philosophies behind history, and a review of the modern approach to past events, Gilderhus sums up the entirety of historical thought in one hundred and twenty-five pages. His superior knowledge is exemplified through his work which effectively conveys the full extent of historiography.

The beginning of Gilderhus book focuses on what he calls the “aims and purposes” of the study of history. Quoting men like Henry Ford

and Voltaire alongside others such as Marcus Tullius Cicero, Gilderhus properly displays the extent and wide differentiations between historical views. Opinions surrounding history and what use it has to humankind are often debated, the positions representing every part of the spectrum. Gilderhus also brings up in this section the questions historians must face such as how they can be sure of their information, by what means the core truth of human history may be acquired, and if the study of lives before them is even worth the effort. Gilderhus simply points his readers to a straightforward statement, “From ancient times until the present, the inhabitants of Earth have told stories about themselves, their ancestors, and their origins.” (4). Out of plain curiosity, the author argues, was born the desire to know about those before and answer the question of “What was it like?” (5).
But that is not the only reason Gilderhus believes history is studied. Aside from natural interest, the hunger to make sense of human action and interaction also drives people to learn about history. The aspiration to make sense of the world is integral to the explanation of why people have consistently throughout time chronicled their lives and beliefs. Gilderhus furthermore suggests that “History provides a way to study human identity…”. History is not one dimensional; it is not just a concise, black and white account of man’s journey. On the contrary, it is a very broad, gray area that binds humans and places together and transcends space and time in order to give humanity a sense of humanity.
Another reason Gilderhus gives for studying history is for the sensible reason that by knowing the cause-and-effects of past occurrences (specifically wars, uprisings, and negotiations), people are more competent to make decisions. It is the simplistic doctrine of learning from past mistakes. Education is essentially the greatest weapon humankind will ever possess. The disregard for the struggles and accomplishments of previous generations directly correlates to the failure of a people. The human existence is meant to build upon itself, taking bits and pieces from different cultures and periods in order to move forward with a better view of life.
Gilderhus moves onto a summary of historiography in the next chapter.

The origins of historical consciousness begins with the Jews, Greeks, and early Christians according to the author. Comparing the Jewish belief in Yahweh with Greek mythology, Gilderhus states that, “Religious myths, legends, and fables preserved in oral traditions satisfied the need of ancient people to know about their origins and predecessors.” (13). Other records, such as those of ancient Egypt, Sumer, Assyria, and Hittite Empire, were reserved to bloody accounts of war and brutality. After accusing the Jewish accounts of ignoring rationality for religiosity, Gilderhus continues to comment on the historical thinking of the nation who believed in mythology. Gilderhus accredits Greece with establishing critical thinking as an important part of historical analysis in order to filter the truth from the fiction. He writes about Herodotus and Thucydides, and Polybius, honoring them as quality historical writers before moving onto Christian historians. As Christians gathered the gospels and other writings to compile the New Testament, the study of the Old Testament became very important. In order to prove Jesus as the Messiah, in depth reading of the ancient Hebrew texts was

needed.
Continuing from Christianity, Gilderhus goes on to reference the work of Augustine, priests and monks during the middle ages, and other great historians. In his summary of this chapter, Gilderhus explains that as historical consciousness increased, a movement away from legends occurred because writers began searching for facts and witnesses in order to record the actual events of their time. He ends praising the progress history has made.
Gilderhus then analyzes the consciousness of the present time. As a society, history is now revered and vigorously studied. The Renaissance’s secularism gave birth to another problem, though. Religion and arguments concerning whether God actually directed history became a popular topic of disagreement between historians. These divisions eventually led to distinct historical philosophies.
First, Gilderhus writes on the speculative approaches to history. A speculative view of history seeks to find patterns in human behavior throughout history and connect these patterns in order to predict the future. Like in the cyclical view of history, this approach supports the idea that events re-occur (at least in a certain capacity). A belief in historical patterns is also seen in the providential view of history. Men like Hegel supported the idea that God used history to His advantage while humans also climbed the ladder of consciousness. Pessimistic views of history combined with a hope for the future (like the ideologies of Kant, Marx, and Engels). The essential agreement among the historians who support these views is that history is a pattern and is progressing forward.
Chapter five is on the analytical approaches to history. This view centers around the work of Auguste Comte and John Stuart Mill. This movement focused more on the similarities throughout human history. These historians view the common thread between phenomena. A sharp divide between those who shared these sentiments (positivists) and idealists broke out. Positivists favor natural science approach to analyzing history. They tried to apply the rules of natural science to the world of historical thought. Paul K. Conkin argued that the realm of history had its own standards of objectivity which are separate from the sciences. “Historians can sacrifice conceptions of objectivity only at their own risk,” (82) writes Gilderhus.
In the concluding chapters, Gilderhus writes on the modern world and how social, economic, and political histories were each individually explored and appreciated. Psychohistory began to take shape, providing another version of history to study. Emphasis on culture gave modern society a way to relate to people from different times. Issues arose as well, especially concerning how to present recent history (such as the bombings in Japan) to the public without offending anyone. But issues arise and fall today just as they did thousands of years ago and that is what truly binds the present day with people long gone.

Response
History and Historians by Mark T.

Gilderhus is written well and concisely. Though his explanations were occasionally scattered, Gilderhus’ ability to compact such varied and complicated information into one cohesive work is incredible. The overall set up of the book is reader-friendly, allowing for a comfortably educating experience. He flows throughout different aspects of historiography with ease and clarity.

The book begins with an explanation of the purpose of historians. This information guides the reader into the next section, which is a simple overview of historiography. Gilderhus begins referencing common historians at this part of the book. A general knowledge of history in general is needed to comprehend this writing, though Gilderhus does provide brief explanations about the men on which he writes. I disagree with Gilderhus’ belief that the Hebrew accounts were too religious. I believe that the author makes an unfair assumption that parts of the Old Testament are not true, when in fact he has no basis for that claim. Much of the Hebrew writings are historically accurate and it does not make sense to believe only part of Old Testament and entirely disregard the other

sections.
Gilderhus continues the book with a comprehensive and condensed explanation of different historical philosophies. This section is integral to the book and provides historical understanding to the reader. It also encourages a self-made interpretation of history. I personally believe it shows how much history can impact society and individuals. Continuing from that thought, Gilderhus’ writing on modern history is also impactful. It explains the issues humanity faces when dealing with events such as the Holocaust or nuclear bombings, along with social struggles such as equality between ethnic groups and genders.
All in all, this book sums up the truth about history: it is a learning tool for humanity. It is also the blueprints and the DNA that defines and connects humanity. It shows people that there are more similarities between those who are “different” than there are actual differences. By being truthful to history, future generations will learn from mistakes and triumphs the world is experiencing right now. That is why history is important.