This unit provides an introduction to the foundations and frameworks of historical knowledge. There are three sections: older history which can be collected under the label of 'positivism'; the new social history; and the new cultural history. Students are introduced to these frameworks through recent historiographical writing and examples. They examine the successes and failures of each approach, and look at how these approaches have been taken up in the recent 'History Wars'. An understanding and appreciation of these three approaches to historical knowledge enables teachers of History to broaden their own ways of looking at and teaching the past, a skill which will be of great benefit... -- Course Website
