The study of history has gone through a significant change over the past one century. The strategies that were used to study, write, and teach history has substantially changed. The changes in the disciple of history are not only linked to the influence of other disciplines but also the effect of many schools of historical interpretations that were developed by various scholars from different disciplines such as history and social sciences like sociology. Some of the most common schools of historical explanation include Marxist, the Annale, and social history. Many historians are now relying on the schools of thought to understand the past. Schools of historical interpretation, therefore, have significantly assisted in expanding history as a discipline, and help in understanding the past. Marxist has broadened how historians make sense of the past by offering in-depth information on the history of power structure and materialism while the Annales school expanded the focus of the history by including topics that were ignored by conventional or traditional historians. 1
Marxism is one of the leading schools of historical interpretation that many historians rely on to study the past. As a result, Marxist school of thought has helped in expanding how historians examine the future. The school of historical interpretation is linked to Karl Marx, who is the leading proponent of the Marxist theory. Marxism is associated with the struggle or competition between workers and owners of factors of production, and it is an important facet of sociology. 2
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However, even though Karl Marx was largely a sociologist, his Marxist school of thought made a lot of impact in the study and understanding of history. According to Marx, the main history documented in the world is the history of class struggles. He believed that the struggle between two main classes, the haves, and have-nots, was the main driving force in the flow of history. Therefore, Marx viewed history as the struggle between two classes in the society. Consequently, Marxism school of historical interpretation has expanded the way historians study the past, especially regarding power structure and materialism. Marx's discussion and contribution on the powers struggle in the society have helped historians to understand and interprets the conflict that has existed between the rich and the poor, different social classes in the community over many years. Marx argued that power is held by a given group of people in the society at the expanse of exclusion of others. 3
According to Marxism, those who held power owned and controlled the means of production while at the same time they had the social power that they utilized to control or influence a particular group in the society. Hence, owners of means of production controlled both political and social power. On the contrary, the workers or laborers were economically needy and did not possess any ability. Historians have consistently used Marxism to expand their understanding of what happened in the past. For instance, historians have used Marxism to broaden their knowledge of the possible causes of American Revolution. Marxism has made some historians argue that the American Revolution was caused by the competition and conflict between haves and have-nots. The economic struggle between the republicanism and other minority ideologies and dominant ideologies by north and Democrats led to American Revolution. Hence, Marxism is used to expand the knowledge and understanding of American Revolution whose causes are linked to various factors. 4
At the same time, Marxism helps in underrating some of the past events, especially revolution that took place in Europe and Asia. For examples, historians have been striving to explain the primary cause of Russian Revolution that took place in 1917. However, with knowledge in Marxism, historians are now using the school of thought to understand the Russian Revolution. As a result, historians have comprehensively argued that the Russian Revolution was caused by the struggle between workers who were common people and the leaders who controlled the means of production, including political and social powers. 5
The working class was not comfortable with the power structure in Russia, which was characterized by suppression and oppression of common people. Besides, historians are using elements and principles of Marxism to understand and explain the power struggle that took place between labor and the management or labor revolution, including gender revolution. Therefore, Marxism has expanded the way historians understand the revolution and conflicts that emerged between people of different classes or groups in the society. The school of historical interpretation provides historians with the background of understanding major conflicts that occurred in the past, as well as broadening the thoughts of historians. 6
Also, Marxism helps historians in understating how materialisms contributed to many conflicts in the past. Karl Marx developed the materialistic concept of history, which he called historical materialism. According to Marx, the mode of production changes from one stage to another. The changes of mode of production are caused by transformation in the means of production such as technologies and manpower. Historians continue to use the concept of historical materialism to explain some of the conflicts that emerged when the means of production changed in various societies. For instance, the concept is used to understand the conflict that erupted in Europe when production changed from feudalism to capitalism. The resistance to embracing capitalism led to a lot of conflicts in many European countries. According to the proponents of Marxism, development of capitalism led to many crises because it benefited people who owned means of productions at the expense of workers. 7
The concept of historical materialism, therefore, has expanded the way historians understand the past by explaining how changes in production lead to short-term and long-term implications and impacts in the society.Therefore, one way in which Marxism has expanded the way historians understand the past is by providing the rationale for the activities and conflicts that occur in the society. Historians are more likely to understand and explain the events that took place in their communities if they make sense of the dynamics on how the world operates. We understand the world by conducting a holistic review and analysis of issues and events occurring in the society. Hence, Marxism is one of the schools of historical interpretation used by historians to understand the past. 8
Apart from Marxism, Annales School is one of the most notable schools of interpretation, especially regarding researching and understanding history. The history of the school of interpretation can be traced back in 1929 when the new generation of historians emerged in France that challenged the traditional way of documenting and studying history. Before the Annales School, history was mainly based on acts and facts of great people and legends in the society. However, Annales challenged the status quo as its proponents wanted a larger and broader human history. The Annales argued that the conventional way of study and writing history was confined to the political-military history and short-term periods. 9
Conversely, Annales were determined to integrate insights and methodology of history from other disciplines such as sociology, economics, and anthropology. At the same time, the group of historians wanted to focus on longer timespans and the history of everyday life. Consequently, they rebelled against classical historians who only paid attention to war and politics. Therefore, supporters of Annale School revolutionized the study of history, and they expanded the way historians understand the past. 10
One way in which the Annales expanded the way historians studied the past was the encouragement of collaboration between people from different disciplines in understanding historical events and people. Annales encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration. They collaborated with people from other disciplines such as geography, sociology, and sociology. As a result, historians were able to have an in-depth understanding of past events. Annales School made it possible for historians to understand the economic, social, political, and psychological factors that led to past events and the behaviors and actions of historical personalities in the world. The interdisciplinary collaboration promoted by Annales expanded the history, making it possible for historians to make logical, consistent, and accurate historical recording and narrations. 11
Annals also expanded the scope of history by including some of the topics and phenomenon that were never considered in the conventional history. It made historians expand their focus to other areas, and not only concentrating on war and politics. For example, one of the main proponents of Annales school of thought, Marc Block, published comprehensive literature on French Rural History as he tried to deviate from the norm. Block studied the history of the feudal societal and feudalism in general. At the same time, Block published a book titled The Royal Touch where he critically analyzed some of the beliefs that a touch from a king could heal people. He analyzed how such collective beliefs could survive for many years. He argued that collective illusion made such beliefs and practices to thrive. Therefore, Annales expanded the way historians understand the past by ensuring that they do not only document historical events and activities, but also criticize them through historical research. 12
In conclusion, history has gone through a lot of changes over the last decades. It has moved to the era where historians were only focusing on war and politics to the time where everything can be studied by historians. Marxism has expanded the way historians can understand the past by providing an in-depth explanation of the class conflict and historical materialism. As a result, historians now understand that is more to conflict than the superficial causes. At the same time, Annales have expanded history from war and politics to every significant event that occurs in the society. The schools of historical interpretation such as Marxism and Annales have expanded history.
Bibliography
Sherman, Melina. "The “how” and “why” of power: From Marx to Foucault to power today" last Modified April 13, 2015. https://melinasherman.com/2015/04/13/the-how-and-why-of-power-from-marx-to-foucault-to-power-today/
Wright, Erik Olin. "A framework of class analysis in the Marxist tradition." Alternative foundations of class analysis , 2002, pp. 6-40.
Wintrop, Norman. "Globalization: Key Thinkers–By Andrew Jones." Political Studies Review 10, no. 1, 2012, pp. 112-113.
Tendler, Joseph. Opponents of the Annales School . Springer, 2013.
1 Sherman, Melina. "The "how" and "why" of power: From Marx to Foucault to power today" last Modified April 13, 2015. https://melinasherman.com/2015/04/13/the-how-and-why-of-power-from-marx-to-foucault-to-power-today/
2 Wright, Erik Olin. "A framework of class analysis in the Marxist tradition." Alternative foundations of class analysis (2002), 36.
3 Sherman, Melina. "The "how" and "why" of power: From Marx to Foucault to power today" last Modified April 13, 2015. https://melinasherman.com/2015/04/13/the-how-and-why-of-power-from-marx-to-foucault-to-power-today/
4 Wright, Erik Olin. "A framework of class analysis in the Marxist tradition." Alternative foundations of class analysis (2002), 38.
5 Wright, Erik Olin. "A framework of class analysis in the Marxist tradition." Alternative foundations of class analysis (2002), 39.
6 Ibid., 40
7 Wintrop, Norman. "Globalization: Key Thinkers–By Andrew Jones." Political Studies Review 10, no. 1, 2012, pp. 112-113 .
8 Ibid., 115
9 Wintrop, Norman. "Globalization: Key Thinkers–By Andrew Jones." Political Studies Review 10, no. 1 (2012): 112-113.
10 Tendler, Joseph. Opponents of the Annales School (Springer, 2013), 33.
11 Tendler, Joseph. Opponents of the Annales School (Springer, 2013), 35.
12 Wintrop, Norman. "Globalization: Key Thinkers–By Andrew Jones." Political Studies Review 10, no. 1 (2012): 112-113.
