·
The task of a historian is to collect
facts, inquire about them and interpret them with the assumption it might
have happened this way with an open, balanced mind.
·
Herodotus , a Greek, who lived
from 489- 430 BC used the Greek term “istoria” (the result obtained after an
inquiry) to present his work.
·
History is about the
political, economic and cultural environment of humans who lived in the
past.
·
Through a study of history one
could interpret how the above conditions have influenced the present situation
and form hypothesis on how one should plan for future.
·
“We study history to get a clear understanding about
a particular state of affairs” Collinwood
·
“History is the only story of humanity which acts
differently at different situations” Bradley
·
·
“If a person could study the life of a society of
another period he studies his own life.” T. S. Eliot
·
“ History is not an isolated subject but a mixture
of all the other subjects” Trevylian
·
“Human history is the history of ideologies.” H. G.
Wells
·
“History teaches who the man is and what the man has
done.” Collinwood
·
History is a subject that presents rapid changes.
History shows that there is no value for anything if it does not change.” Professor
Jeffrey
·
History is the activities of the human society and
its activities from ancient times to the present.” Stuart Piggott
·
History is what one generation discovers about
previous generations and feel it is worth writing them down.” Burkehardt
Benefits of
studying History
·
Historical records trace the
evolution of human activities from ancient times onwards and create awareness
on trends discovered. Eg: colonization, discoveries, Universal Franchise,
emancipation of the slaves, breakdown of the Feudal System, Renaissance
·
Creates a clearer picture of
the cause of conflicts. Eg: LTTE, Holocaust, WW I and II, invasion of
Kuwait, Russian Revolution, French Revolution, Uva Wellassa Riots
·
Helps to develop attitudinal
changes necessary to look at national/ international conflict objectively.
·
Can develop the ability to
trace the factors that have led to a particular event, news or a statement
correctly.
·
Can prevent worsening of
conflicts.
·
The study of historical figure
can inspire children to emulate them.
·
Receives an understanding about
one’s roots.
·
Receives a national feeling and
a cultural identity.
·
Helps to understand the need
for mutual co-operation among the nations
·
Provides a suitable background
to deal with the international community.
·
Promotes international unity.
·
Provides background knowledge
leading to a methodical study of any other subject.
·
Provides insight on the social
and cultural values of the period under study.
·
Be able to identify and
evaluate national and international values.
Historical
sources
·
Historical sources are of two
types:
1. Literary sources: legends,
chronicles, books, fiction, travellers’ and explorers’ records
2. Archaeological
sources: ruins, statues, frescoes, murals, coins, pottery, tools, weapons,
inscriptions
·
Dipavamsa is the oldest chronicle. It traces the history of the Sinhala race
from prehistory to the reign of King Mahasena. It is written in Pali.
·
The main source of history of
Sri Lanka is Mahavamsa. First part of Mahavamsa traces the history from
prehistory to the reign of King Mahasena. It was compiled at Mahavihara by
Mahanama Thero in the c. 5th or 6th AD in Pali. The last
chapter contains historical information up to the end of 1956.
·
Samanthipasadika
·
Thupavamsa
·
Bodhivamsa
·
Dhathuvamsa
·
Dhatavamsa
·
Dalada Siritha
·
Dalada Poojawaliya
·
Nikaya Sangrahaya
·
Rajawaliya
·
Chulavamsa
Are some of the other local literary
sources of history.
·
Foreign literary sources on Sri
Lanka
1. “De Mondo” – Aristotle
2. “Periplus of
Eritrean Sea” – business with northwest coast of India.
3. “Arthasasthraya”
– Kautilya – Pearl and gem trade
4. “Divyavadan”
5. “Manimekalei”
6. “Silappadikaram”
7. Travel records of
the Chinese monks Fa-Hsian and Hsuan-Tsang
8. Travel records of
Ibn Batuta
9. Travel records of
Marco Polo as an ambassador to Court of Kublai Khan
10. Records of Robert
Knox as a prisoner of the king of Kandy
11. Records of John
Doily as a Government Agent of the British
12. Records of
Onesicritus and Megasthenes of Greece
13. Records of the
Italian john de Marignolli
14. Map of Ptolemy
15. Records of Pliny
the Roman
·
Epigraphical sources:
1.
Cave inscriptions- Mihintale,
Sigiriya
2.
Pillar inscriptions- Badulla Pillar
Inscription
3. Slab inscription- Mihintale Tablet Inscription (Mahinda IV), Galpotha
(Nissankamalla)
4. Rock inscription- Sangamu inscription, Galviharaya, Gadaladeniya,
Dambulla, Resvehera, Thonigala
·
Copper and gold plates
1. Panakaduwa Copper
Plates- Vijayabahu I
2. Vallipuram Gold
Plates – Vasabha
·
Numismatic sources such as
coins give information on
1. Economy and trade
relationships
2. Metal industries
3. Artistic and
technical skills
4. Writing
5. Rulers etc.
·
Sealed or branded coins (Has
ebu kasapana) were the oldest coins found in Sri Lanka.
·
Rankahawanu with the image of “Kuvera” on both sides
·
Coins with a tusker on one side
and the swastika on the other from Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura
·
Sri Lakshmi coins with image of Lakshmi on one side and the swastika on the
other from Mullaithiv, Kattarodei, Vallipuram.
·
Carbon dating technique,
X-Ray, DNA testing and chemical methods are used to
date the archaeological findings.
Ruins of Panduwasnuwara, Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kandy, Kotte, etc.
give valuable information about political, cultural and economic conditions of
the periods.
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