HIST640 ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL SOURCES
| Course Code: | 2400640 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | History |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. FERDAN ERGUT |
| Offered Semester: | Fall Semesters. |
Course Objectives
The objective of the "Analysis of Historical Sources from a Methodological Perspective" course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies used in analyzing historical sources. The course will focus on developing students' skills in critically assessing different types of historical sources—whether primary or secondary—through a variety of methodological frameworks. Students will explore techniques for evaluating sources' reliability, authenticity, and bias, and will learn how to interpret sources within their historical, social, and cultural contexts. The course aims to equip students with the tools needed for rigorous historical analysis, preparing them for advanced research in histor
Course Content
The course is designed to train Ph.D. students in the analysis of sources ranging from Anatolia to Central Asia and from medieval to modern times. Special attention will be given to the intellectual environment in which the given political culture of a certain time period came into emergence. For pre-modern periods, readings will concentrate on mirror of princes literature, early Ottoman chronicles, the universalist historical literature of the 13th-14th centuries, and on the histories of the regional empires after the 16th century. Aspects of history in the modern age will be tackled through the eyes of foreigners by means of a wide range of travel literature.
Course Learning Outcomes
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Understand Methodological Approaches to Historical Analysis: Demonstrate a solid understanding of different methodologies for analyzing historical sources, including quantitative, qualitative, archival, and interdisciplinary approaches.
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Evaluate Source Types and Contexts: Identify and categorize various types of historical sources (e.g., documents, artifacts, oral histories, visual materials) and critically evaluate their relevance, authenticity, and limitations within their historical and social contexts.
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Assess Source Reliability and Bias: Analyze historical sources for reliability, authenticity, and bias, and apply appropriate methods to assess their trustworthiness in contributing to historical narratives and research.
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Interpret Sources within Their Historical Context: Develop the ability to interpret historical sources within their broader historical, cultural, and social contexts, understanding the factors that shaped their creation and how they reflect the concerns and perspectives of their time.
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Apply Critical Thinking to Source Analysis: Use critical thinking to challenge assumptions and question the perspectives presented in historical sources, considering how power dynamics, cultural norms, and historical conditions influenced the creation of the sources.
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Integrate Multiple Methodologies: Demonstrate the ability to integrate multiple methodological perspectives (e.g., archival research, comparative analysis, discourse analysis) to provide a more nuanced understanding of historical sources.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Demonstrate competence in their chosen fields of study including the sources and the historiography relevant to it | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Construct arguments based on developed research skills that enable them to access, analyze, synthesize and evaluate primary, secondary and tertiary sources efficiently | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Disseminate and communicate research findings effectively in oral and written form | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Develop the ability to work cooperatively on investigation of an area of historical inquiry and to share own findings with co-researchers | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Conduct research in Ottoman archives and other national and international research institutions | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Have a command of language skills necessary for their research | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Act in accordance with a universal understanding of academic ethics | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Contribute to society through a sense of personal responsibility and awareness for social issues | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution