Chapter 5---The Themes of Mainstream History

Good Morning Everyone. We have arrived at chapter 5. We will complete chapters 6 and 7, before the summer is over. I will integrate chapters 8-10 into my lessons when we start. We will skip chapter 11.

Now a little bird indicated to me that some of you have not done too much. Let's get up to speed if you are not finished with chapter 4.

I just finished doing a workshop at Palmyra High School and had the opportunity to mix with some fine teachers in that area. This week my oldest son turns 7 and we are having a birthday party at Ski Roundtop. They have this giant ball you get into that rolls down the side of the mountain! My stomach could never take that but Harrison is looking forward to it.

Finally, did anyone catch some of the performances at the 50th Newport Folk Festival (it was on last night on PBS). Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, the Nightwatchmen, Billy Bragg, Springsteen...it was very cool). If you like folk music, this is a must. And of course much of this music speaks to themes of social justice both historical and present. For example, Seeger sang all of the versus to "This Land is you Land".

Here we go. "Time to read all of your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes". -R.O.

Questions on chapter 5.

Chapter 5 gives an overview of the main themes in mainstream history.

1. What are the main themes?

2. What is a biography? How do historians differ on their opinions of biographies?

3. How did L.B. Namier's approach to doing history differ from the "great man" approach?

4. How did the Annales school approach historical inquiry by the early 20th Century? Was this a breakthrough? Explain.

5. Using an example, how do economic and political historians differ in their approach to constructing the past?

6. Why is the theme of "social history" a difficult one to define? Consider the various subtopics and resources in "social history" when weighing this question.

I will check back in next week. Have a good one. It feels like summer. Have fun at Band Camp for those of you attending.

MZ