Page |1
Explanation And Historical Research
Introduction
With science and technology opening up new directions of growth and development from the 15th century in
Western Europe and its influence in other parts of the world, methods of research have become a mode of
acquiring knowledge through scientific methods. It was largely an individual flair that pushed up the frontiers
of knowledge albeit with very limited facilities for research. With the advent of universities, research became
one of their important functions, besides their teaching, training, and publications functions. Increasing pursuit
of research has resulted in the growth of a body of literature over the years on research methodology, which
has now developed into a subject in its own right.
History as a discipline is concerned not only with recording what happened in the past but also with
explaining why and how those events occurred. Explanation lies at the heart of historical research. It
distinguishes historical scholarship from mere chronicle or storytelling. Through explanation, historians seek
to make sense of change, continuity, causation, and human experience across time.
Subject matter of history constitutes “the significant past, meaning the institutions and individual actions that
affect the experience and development of whole communities” (Daniels, 1996, p. 226). Traditionally, it
focused in the action of governments, their leaders, and the conflicts among them (named political and
diplomatic history). However, during the past one hundred years or so, scope of history has widened to also
include history of ideas, the patterns and trends in economic and social life, that influence our society as a
whole as well as characterise it.
Historians
Historians are researchers who focus on study of individuals and societies regarding their behaviours, motives,
fears, hopes, aspirations, experiences etc. They carry out their study based on the close examination of
information sources. They record their observations and generate records that they pass on to future
generations for further research and record. They try to update history on continuous basis. Historians provide
systematic description and recording of events and trends, giving a narrative account in a flowing and
interesting style.
Historians record their observations based on a large variety of data available to them. From the large data,
they select that data which is genuine and reliable. Despite their best efforts to achieve objectivity, bias creeps
in their selection as well as in his interpretation of data. This happens due to conditioning of their life and
thinking being exposed to a variety of influences consciously or unconsciously, from their nationality,
religion, beliefs, traditions, education, status (social, economic and political), environment etc. However, a
good historian reveals his biases in his narrative to bring objectivity in his writings.
Historical Research
Historical research is a systematic and critical method of studying and interpreting the past. It involves the
careful examination of sources such as documents, letters, records, artifacts, oral testimonies, and other
materials to reconstruct and understand historical events, societies, individuals, and ideas. Unlike a mere
collection of dates or facts, historical research seeks to analyse the causes, consequences, and context of
events in order to provide deeper insight into how and why changes occurred over time.
It is both evidence-based and interpretative, meaning that historians do not simply present facts—they also
make judgments about what those facts mean, how they are connected, and what they reveal about human
experiences. The goal of historical research is not only to uncover what happened in the past, but also to
explain it in a meaningful way that contributes to our broader understanding of the world.
True historical research must be distinguished from chronology. Chronology is defined as “simply the setting
down of events in the order of their occurrence, a process similar to the older concept of historical research.”
Page |2
Chronology of events is merely a first step in the process of historical research, providing data or material for
latter steps. True historical research is a flowing, dynamic account of past events, which involves an
interpretation of these events in an attempt to recapture the nuances, personalities, and ideas that influenced
these events.
Key features of Historical research:
- Source-based: It relies on primary sources (like letters, official records, photographs, and
inscriptions) and secondary sources (like books or articles written by other historians).
- Analytical: It goes beyond listing facts—it interprets events to understand causes, consequences, and
context.
- Contextual: Events are studied within the social, political, economic, and cultural environments in
which they occurred.
- Interpretative: Different historians may interpret the same evidence in various ways depending on
their perspective or framework.
- Temporal: It considers change and continuity over time, asking how and why things changed or
stayed the same.
Explanation in Historical Research
Explanation is fundamental to historical research because it transforms isolated facts into meaningful
narratives. Merely knowing what happened is not sufficient; the task of a historian is also to explore why it
happened, how it unfolded, and what its implications were. In this sense, explanation serves as the bridge
between information and understanding. The purpose of explanation is not only to reconstruct past events but
also to understand the human actions, choices, beliefs, and structures that shaped those events.
In historical inquiry, explanation does not resemble the deterministic cause-effect models seen in the natural
sciences. Instead, it is interpretative and often multifaceted. Events in history are rarely caused by a single
factor; rather, they emerge from a complex interaction of social, economic, political, environmental, and
cultural conditions. For example, to explain the French Revolution, one must consider long-standing class
tensions, economic hardships, Enlightenment ideas, and the political missteps of the monarchy. Historical
explanation, therefore, involves assessing multiple causes and weighing their relative importance.
Furthermore, historical explanations can be classified into various types depending on the nature of the
inquiry. These include causal explanations, which attempt to trace the reasons behind events; intentional
explanations, which explore the motives and purposes behind human actions; and structural explanations,
which look at long-term societal trends or institutions that shape historical outcomes. The diversity of
explanatory approaches reflects the richness of the historical discipline.
Interpretation and Causation
Because history is interpretative, different historians may offer different explanations for the same event.
These perspectives are shaped by their backgrounds and theoretical approaches. What matters is how well
their arguments are supported by evidence and reasoning. Causation in history is rarely linear. Historians look
at both immediate and long-term causes to understand events in context. For instance, explaining the Partition
of India requires examining British policies, religious divisions, and political developments together rather
than in isolation.
Narrative, Objectivity, and Frameworks
Historical explanation is often presented through narrative. A good historical narrative not only informs but
also connects causes, effects, and human experiences in a meaningful way. Although complete objectivity may
be impossible, historians aim for fairness and transparency in how they select and interpret sources. Analytical
frameworks like Marxism, feminism, or postcolonialism help historians focus their analysis and uncover
Page |3
deeper meanings. These are not fixed models, but tools that enrich explanation and reveal overlooked aspects
of the past.
Conclusion
Explanation transforms history from a list of events into an interpretative, evidence-based understanding of
the past. It allows historians to explore causes, contexts, and consequences, and to connect individual actions
with broader societal forces. Through explanation, history becomes a meaningful inquiry into human
experience across time.
