Western Historical Thinking: An Intercultural Debate (Making Sense of History)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

What is history - a question historians have been asking themselves time and again. Does "history" as an academic discipline, as it has evolved in the West over the centuries, represent a specific mode of historical thinking that can be defined in contrast to other forms of historical consciousness? In this volume, Peter Burke, a prominent "Western" historian, offers ten hypotheses that attempt to constitute specifically "Western Historical Thinking." Scholars from Asia and Africa comment on his position in the light of their own ideas of the sense and meaning of historical thinking. The volume is rounded off by Peter Burke's comments on the questions and issues raised by the authors and his suggestions for the way forward towards a common ground for intercultural communication.

SYNOPSIS

Presents 17 contributions written by an international group of historians addressing the intercultural dimension of historical theory. The editor's introduction discusses historical thinking as intercultural discourse and presents ten hypotheses that aim to define Western historical thinking. Scholars from Asia and Africa comment on his position in light of their own ideas about the sense and meaning of historical thinking. The volume wraps up with comments on the questions and issues raised by the authors and suggestions for the future of intercultural communication. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

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