The microhistory is the method of research that focuses on the analysis of daily events and demonstrations that make up the traditions of the people. Its objective is to examine peripheral phenomena to understand how societies are constituted.
This branch of social history emerged with the purpose of fragmenting the general vision posed by historiographical works, which portrayed wars, heroic deeds of the military, and transformations caused by political and artistic movements.
Microhistory is the research method that focuses on the analysis of everyday events. Source: pixabay.com
They were only based on macro events, but not about subaltern realities. For this reason, the historians of this discipline focus on the investigation of particular events in order to explain the universal elements.
In such a way, it is perceived that this observational science is characterized by reducing and redefining the study scale, since researchers explore and reflect on particular events, generating a multiplicity of perspectives about a specific context.
It should be noted that microhistory should not be confused with regional history. The latter's function is to examine the actions and ideologies of the past, focusing its work on a specific territory whose purpose is to understand the present.
Instead, microhistory investigates the aspects that have been inadvertent or invisible to give them a global meaning. To do this, it uses the parish archives, censuses, newspapers, chronicles, archaeological remains, oral literature and municipal reports.
These sources contribute to the impartiality and veracity of the microhistoric documents, despite being narrative.
Origin
It is possible that microhistory is as old as mankind. This is appreciated both in Greek and Roman culture, where scribes sought to inquire and write about temporal events to compare them with transcendental events.
However, it was after the Second World War (1939-1945) that this discipline emerged as a science. At the end of the 20th century and due to the chaos caused by the war, the world was immersed in uncertainty.
For this reason, the researchers questioned their field and study techniques, as they perceived that the accuracy of the story was not absolute. The fidelity of the historiographical accounts written up to that moment was nothing more than a fallacy.
For this reason, George Stewart (1895-1980) proposed another instrument to examine the facts, calling it microhistory. This American historian stated that the authenticity of the events was not found in the great historical processes, but in the unnoticed spaces.
characteristics
This discipline is characterized by being an intellectual project that not only focuses on local and regional aspects, but also uses them as spaces for experimentation to characterize the different realities.
It is a science that seeks to reinterpret the memory of men through the analysis of social structures. The aim is to recover the events that have been forgotten and popularize the banal events.
Microhistory seeks to reinterpret the memory of men through the analysis of social structures. Source: pixabay.com
Also, try to examine the facts as a set of changing interrelationships. That is, microhistory states that history does not have a linear development, since its configuration presents constant jumps in time and space.
It also seeks to understand the worldview that people had at a specific time to detail the complexity of the environment and the dynamism of the environment.
Another of its characteristics is that it opposes the scientific paradigm. The researchers of this matter express that the events are relative and not static. Furthermore, they point out that reason is not the center of the world and it is not unchangeable either.
The microhistory works stand out for using the narrative and metaphorical style, but without resorting to fiction. On the contrary, historians justify every argument made. Hence, this branch of study is considered impartial.
Microhistory in Mexico
Mexican microhistory is closely linked with sociology and anthropology, since it alludes that historical research must be directed to the people. If individuals know the inconsequential facts of the past they will have greater freedom of thought.
This scientific discipline was born through the works of Luis González and González (1925-2003) in 1968. This author was interested in the local color and the primitive customs of men. He intended to exalt those features that differentiated his country from other territories.
In this way, it is appreciated that the objective of this matter is not to elaborate a critical treatise on the population; Its purpose is rather didactic: to show the essence of the Mexican.
Microhistory in
The field of investigation of Spanish microhistory is cultural, since its function is to reconstruct civil and rural events. Its purpose is to examine facts and imaginaries in their particular contexts to understand how general manifestations are formed.
Usually, studies consist of reviewing and rebuilding the life of a relevant figure; although historians also write about the habits of the peasants, the economic hierarchies and the ideas of the bourgeoisie.
At the beginning the investigations cover an individual dimension, and based on them texts of universal history are written.
Microhistory in
Microhistory in Colombia emerged in 1970, being related to geography and psychology. It is part of the history of mentalities, which is why its field of analysis is based on popular behavior and cultural diversity.
This current represents a new horizon of research because it tries to understand the features that made up the precarious spaces, as well as morality, the sense of property and the intimate life of the inhabitants.
In this way, it is possible to express that said proposal focuses on studies on colonial mistreatment, theft and homicide in peripheral areas. This discipline can be categorized as an ethnohistorical project.
Microhistory in
This branch of historiography does not have a wide development in Ecuador. The few works that have been elaborated narrate the formation and organization of the communities, the landscape transformations and how the traditions of the aborigines are perceived in modernity.
The gaze of the microhistory in this country occupies the socioeconomic sphere: it explains fraud and commercial relations between indigenous people, merchants, religious and civilians. It is not the history of microspaces, but of identities.
References
- Banti, A. (2014). History and microhistory. Retrieved on October 20, 2019 from Faculty of History: history.ox.ac.uk
- García, L. (2003). Towards a theory of microhistory. Retrieved on October 20, 2019 from the Mexican Academy of History: acadmexhistoria.org.mx
- Ginzburg, C. (2017). The history and modernity. Retrieved on October 21, 2019 from Science: sciencemag.org
- Hernández, S. (2008). The paths of history: historiography and method. Retrieved on October 21, 2019 from the Complutense University of Madrid: ucm.es
- Massela, L. (2013). Between the micro and the macro: synthesis of a historical experience. Retrieved on October 20, 2019 from the Historical Bulletin: latinoamericanarevistas.org
- Muir, E. (2011). Microhistory and the peoples. Retrieved on October 20, 2019 from Johns Hopkins University: jhu.edu.
- Quaderni, S. (2009). Paradigm and historiographic knowledge. Retrieved on October 21, 2019 from the Institute of History: csic.es