Historical revisionism involves the reassessment of an event based on the information at hand. It can also involve the retelling the event such that it can be seen in a more positive or negative light. The term has long been connected to negationism which involves the manipulation of information to deny the occurrence of an event.
There have been many accounts that have been influenced by those who are in a position of power. Biases stem from a ruling organization. For example the victors of a war will not tolerate any criticism on their part. Therefore, their accounts of the event would cast them in a favorable position.
Scholars who have had to deal with records can take up several perspectives. They can be looking at an account using a different point of view. They might also be looking at an event to reexamine the existing facts. They might also try proving that an account was intentionally altered for a certain purpose.
History has wrought about many instances of this kind. Due to the horrors of the Holocaust, certain groups have constantly denied that attempt to exterminate Jews ever really occurred. Certain parties have also wondered if Germany was actually the cause of the first world war.
It was first used as a term after the first world war in the Treaty of Versailles. The revisionists were the ones who wanted to change the treaty given the new facts that were revealed. It also came to mean repeated use and later on gained a negative connotation. History however, has been rewritten due to several factors.
There are a number of things that can give historians reason to change accounts. There could be new information they cam across. These can come from documents which have been lost in time so that the current records are incomplete. Certain information have been withheld by governments in order to protect the safety of the nation. Once these are declassified, then it can provide a different perspective.
Another factor that can change history is the development of science. Scientific advancements give way to better methods of identification and dating which can be the key to proving or disproving a long accepted fact or a new theory. For example, now that DNA analysis is accepted, it has been used to trace the evolution of certain species.
Other influences include the heightened understanding of languages which can essentially change a perspective. Nationalism, culture, and ideology can also influence the existing perspectives. As new data is revealed, opinions continue to evolve which can possibly bring about historical revisionism.
There have been many accounts that have been influenced by those who are in a position of power. Biases stem from a ruling organization. For example the victors of a war will not tolerate any criticism on their part. Therefore, their accounts of the event would cast them in a favorable position.
Scholars who have had to deal with records can take up several perspectives. They can be looking at an account using a different point of view. They might also be looking at an event to reexamine the existing facts. They might also try proving that an account was intentionally altered for a certain purpose.
History has wrought about many instances of this kind. Due to the horrors of the Holocaust, certain groups have constantly denied that attempt to exterminate Jews ever really occurred. Certain parties have also wondered if Germany was actually the cause of the first world war.
It was first used as a term after the first world war in the Treaty of Versailles. The revisionists were the ones who wanted to change the treaty given the new facts that were revealed. It also came to mean repeated use and later on gained a negative connotation. History however, has been rewritten due to several factors.
There are a number of things that can give historians reason to change accounts. There could be new information they cam across. These can come from documents which have been lost in time so that the current records are incomplete. Certain information have been withheld by governments in order to protect the safety of the nation. Once these are declassified, then it can provide a different perspective.
Another factor that can change history is the development of science. Scientific advancements give way to better methods of identification and dating which can be the key to proving or disproving a long accepted fact or a new theory. For example, now that DNA analysis is accepted, it has been used to trace the evolution of certain species.
Other influences include the heightened understanding of languages which can essentially change a perspective. Nationalism, culture, and ideology can also influence the existing perspectives. As new data is revealed, opinions continue to evolve which can possibly bring about historical revisionism.
About the Author:
You can visit the website www.chronologyanalyses.com for more helpful information about An Introduction To Historical Revisionism