Introductory text about various schools of history.
Art history
Art history studies the visual works of a
particular period, country, individual, or genre. It may include design, architecture, and
material culture.
Links: x, y, z
Cultural history
Cultural history studies the habits
of a society that are not necessarily determined by politics or economics. It is a broad
heading that includes everything from language to food, and can even extend into art and
literature.
Links: x, y, z
Marxist history
Also referred to as historical materialism, a
Marxist interpretation of history is based on the writings of Karl Marx. Marx’s
materialist view focuses on how a society’s economic system addresses the
individual’s material needs, and how all other facets of the society -- social,
political, and intellectual -- are influenced by those needs.
Links: x, y, z
Feminist history
A feminist view of history considers how gender roles have shaped a society, from art to
politics. It has often looked at the ways in which women have been marginalized.
Links: x, y, z
Literary history
Uses literature to look at the
past, or may look at the literature of a particular period, country, individual, or genre.
Links: x, y, z
Military history
Military histories are frequently tied to political histories, but while they address a
particular country's government, the focus is obviously on military events and figures; it
is, in short, a history of war.
Links: x, y, z
Political history
Political histories examine how a government shapes
its country, and what role the people have had in a government's policies.
Links: x, y, z
Social history
One of the most broad headings aside from cultural history, social history frequently
reflects how a society perceives itself. It can range from print media to radio and
television; may examine how families are structured in a community, or how institutions
affect individuals.
Links: x, y, z
