Gilgamesh and Enkidu
A king, a wild man, friendship, fame, grief, and the oldest surviving heroic epic.
Historiography, method, sources, and interpretation
Interpreter
Articles and research materials for thinking through history, myth, evidence, and historical writing.
Recent Articles
Hypnos and Thanatos: Sleep and His Half-Brother Death
Twin sons of Nyx carry mortals from the waking world: one for a night, the other forever.
Loki and the Death of Baldr
A missed oath, a sprig of mistletoe, and one of the great turning points of Norse myth.
Odin's Sacrifice at Yggdrasil
The Allfather hangs from the world-tree and wins the secret of the runes.
Persephone and the Seasons
Pomegranate seeds bind Persephone to the underworld and explain the grief of winter.
Ra and the Solar Journey
Ra wasn't one fixed figure the way later mythologies like their gods to be. He was a name attached to a process, and the process had stages.
Romulus, Remus, and the She-Wolf
Twin sons of Mars, a river rescue, a she-wolf, and the violent foundation of Rome.
The Twelve Labors of Heracles
Atonement, impossible tasks, and the making of the best-known Greek heroic cycle.
Understanding Cliometrics
Cliometrics, also known as quantitative history or economic history, is a subfield of history that uses mathematical, statistical, and economic techniques to study historical phenomena.
The emergence of consensus historians in the 1940's and 1950's
The decades of the 1940s and 1950s saw the emergence of a new approach to history writing, known as consensus history. This approach was a response to the fragmented and contentious historiography of the preceding decades, characterized by...
"The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli and political philosophy
Niccolo Machiavelli is one of the most influential philosophers in the history of politics, and his book "The Prince" is considered a classic in the field of political philosophy.
The concepts of historical relativism and revisionism
Historical relativism and revisionism are two closely related concepts that have a significant impact on the way we understand and interpret the past.
Research
A Guide to Organizing Bibliography Entries for Historical Articles
A well-organized bibliography is a crucial component of any historical article, providing readers with the means to explore the sources that shaped the narrative.
Incorporating Quotes Without Plagiarizing: A Guide for Historical Document Discussions
In the realm of historical document discussions, the skillful integration of quotes is essential for lending authenticity and depth to one's analysis.
Teaching Historical Research
Teaching historical research is a critical component of any history curriculum. It is through the process of research that students learn to analyze and evaluate primary and secondary sources, synthesize information, and construct...
Writing a Historical Book Review: A Guide for Aspiring Historians
A book review is a critical evaluation of a historical text, summarizing its strengths and weaknesses and evaluating its contribution to the field of history.
Types of bibliographies explained
A bibliography is a list of sources that have been used to research and write a particular paper or project. There are several different types of bibliographies, each with its own purpose and format.
Cemetery research and its importance in genealogy
Cemetery research is an important aspect of genealogy, the study of one's family history. By visiting cemeteries and studying the headstones and grave markers, genealogists can gain valuable information about their ancestors, including...
Validating primary sources: Importance and methods
Validating a primary source is an important step in historical research, as it ensures that the information being used is accurate and reliable.
Picking a good topic for a historical essay
When it comes to writing a historical essay, choosing the right topic is key to the success of your paper. A good topic will not only make your essay more interesting and engaging, but it will also demonstrate your understanding of the...
The foundations of family history research
Family history research, also known as genealogy, is the study of an individual's ancestors and lineage. It involves piecing together information about one's family tree, including names, dates, places, and events, to learn about one's...
Citing sources when writing a history paper
Citing sources in a history paper is essential to establish credibility and demonstrate the thoroughness of research. Properly citing sources not only gives credit to the original authors, but also allows readers to verify the information...
The art of historical detection
The art of historical detection involves the use of various methods and techniques to uncover information about the past. This can include analyzing artifacts, studying written records, and conducting historical research.
Overview of historical paper comparative critique
A comparative critique is a method of evaluating and analyzing historical papers by comparing them to other works in the field.