Historiography

Historiography is the study of how accounts of the past are written and interpreted. It examines the sources, methods, assumptions and arguments historians use to turn historical evidence into explanations. It therefore asks not only what happened, but also how we know it and why historians may explain it differently.

Evaluating historical evidence

Historians examine written records, material remains and other surviving traces of the past rather than accepting them at face value.

• Source criticism examines who produced a source, when, for what purpose and for which audience.
• A source must be understood in its historical context, since its language and categories may differ from present-day usage.
• Comparing independent sources helps corroborate claims and identify contradictions; gaps in surviving evidence limit what can be concluded.

Constructing and revising interpretations

Evidence does not organise itself into a historical explanation. Historians select relevant material and connect it through questions about change, continuity and causation.

• An interpretive framework shapes which questions historians ask, such as questions about political power, economic relations or social life.
• Different interpretations may arise from different sources, methods or questions, but their credibility depends on evidential support and coherent reasoning.
• New discoveries or fresh readings of existing sources can revise earlier conclusions; revision must be justified rather than merely asserted.

Importance for history education

Historiography helps students distinguish evidence from interpretation and recognise that a textbook presents a reasoned account, not the entire past. It encourages critical inquiry: students should compare explanations, examine their supporting evidence and recognise uncertainty without treating all claims as equally valid.