Whatisthepointofhistory?Whyhasthestudyofthepastbeensoimportantforsolong?WhyHistory?AHistorycontemplatestwoandahalfthousandyearsofhistorianshiptoestablishhowverydifferentthinkersindiversecontextshaveconceivedtheiractivities,andtoillustratethepurposesthattheirhistoricalinvestigationshaveserved.WhetherconsideringHerodotus,medievalreligiousexegesis,ortwentieth-centuryculturalhistory,atthecoreofthisworkisthewaythatthepresenthasbeenconceivedtorelatetothepast.Alongsidemanychangesintechniqueandphilosophy,DonaldBloxham’sbookrevealsstrikinglong-termcontinuitiesinjustificationsforthediscipline.
