A Different Language in Teaching History

Samar Pourmohsen

Book Review:

History: A Very Short Introduction
John H. Arnold, 2000
Oxford University Press

Persian Translation by: Ahmadreza Taqa
Published by: Mahi Publications, Tehran, 2009

Today, history and historiography has found its way into many other disciplines. For instance, we find books with titles such as the history of mathematics, music, chemistry, language, psychology, industries, inventions, philosophy, religion, civilization, book, historiography, and many others with history in their titles.
This attests to the fact that history is no more just an academic discipline. Rather, history has now turned into a significant issue. Even if we ignore the history of any specific area of studies, the traditional aspect of history, and the scope of historical topics, and history books, is interesting enough to attract a large readership and respond to their enquiries, needs, and even curiosities concerning the past and the people of the past.

In addition, any other history, such as the history of Sufism, history of weaponry, history of calligraphy, etc. is a significant part of this discipline as a whole. Any aspect of the transformations in these histories has an enormous effect on man's life. 

Take for instance, the history of earthquake or, the history of medicine/epidemic diseases, or the history of religion. Strong earthquakes sometimes destroy civilizations and cause the neighbors to expand their territory. Some epidemic diseases such as typhus, cholera, even malaria or anthrax can have strong effects on the future and the faith of civilizations. Sometimes, a religious enquiry can lead to brutal wars.
These are all influential matters in the course of the history of mankind from the very beginning of time to present. It is a privilege to know this history. Human beings are essentially species who have history, write history, and are dependent on historical experiences. 

The principles, methodologies, and components of history as a discipline are not always as accessible as the issues mentioned earlier. However, learning such principles does not always have to be as complicated as what the historians and academic scholars claim. There are many specialists who are not necessarily history majors or history scholars but are interested in history.  
 
John Arnold, following this point of view and expanding the scope of his audience, has written a few books on history. The book History belongs to the series published by Oxford University Press called Very Short Introductions. Translated by Ahmadreza Taqa', the book is a brief and well thought out piece which addresses a wide range of audience.

The Persian translated version of the book has a draw-back common in translated works in Iran; none of them include any information about the author such as his background, his other works, his birth place, and so on and so forth. Perhaps, by virtue of lack of generosity or carelessness, the translators withhold such information from the reader. To compensate for this draw-back, this article provides some basic information about the author of this book:

John Arnold is born in 1969 in England. He teaches history at the University of East Anglia, specializing in the medieval period and the philosophy of history. Some of his other works are: Inquisition and Power: Catharism and the Confessing Subject in Medieval Languedoc (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001), A companion to the Book of Margery Kempe (D.S. Brewer, 2004), 
Belief and Unbelief in Medieval Europe (Hodder Arnold, 2005), What is Medieval History? (Polity, 2008), History (A Brief Introduction), (Sterling, 2009). In addition, he has published around 40 papers and has given lectures on the medieval period, the transitions taken place from the first Christian era to the medieval period and many other subjects.  

The book History is published by Mahi Publishing house in Iran, as a volume of a series called "Brief and to the Point". Both its' original edition and translated edition, are small in size and light. The book, as its original, is designed as a pocket.  
 
Due to time and space limitations, and, the life style in metropolises, these books will soon become a necessary trend among the mostly literate population of the metropolises in Iran. Not only these books are easy to read, but also, it does not take much time to read them. 
The content of the book is in complete harmony with its looks. While the book has not compromised technique and academic value, it is still a simple and accessible book. This accessible language is accompanied by interesting examples-mostly from the Christian medieval times- to provide deep insight about history and fundamental concepts in history.

For John Arnold, historiography is a process born from writing history. According to him, history is the outcome of this process; a collection of real storied about the past. Gradually, he talks about the difference between history books and other books such as narrations, legends and, myths. Through examining the works of past historians he shows the differences, and the reason of these differences between us and the people of the past.
 
Arnold allegorically explains the horizons and values of history as well as the principles and methodologies on history.
For instance:

"Antique collectors have given us the tools for probing in documents." (P: 62)*
"If there were no taking sides (as opposed to staying neutral), then there would have not been any need for historians. Therefore, taking sides is not something to be discovered and destroyed. Rather, it is something we have to seek and be receptive of." (P: 93)
 "Historian's job starts with resources, but only if the archive manager has done his or her job in sorting the resources." (P: 82)
"If history as a scholarly field has changed over time, then it is still subject to change." (P: 28)
"To study history does not necessarily mean abandoning present and probe into another world. Rather, it should make us more aware of our own context." (P: 167)
"For a long time historians were to understand the essence of things such as the nature of mankind, situations, rules, etc. However, does knowing the essence of such things do any good for us today?" (P: 166)
"Using fashionable labels to describe the past might not be remotely relevant to that period of time. And, this is dangerous." (P: 145)

The present article is to provide a brief insight to this interesting book. Of course, it is up to the readers to judge the book for themselves. 

Translated by: Jairan Gahan

*Pages given here are taken from the Persian text.