In Week 1 we are thinking about what historians do and how they assess historical significance

There are two tasks:

First, complete the quiz 'What kind of historian are you?' This will help you to think about the kinds of perspectives you are starting from. The outcomes of the quizz are not designed to classify you but to encourage you to explore and question your own stance and those of historians. Then view the view the video below ('What is History and What do Historians do?') which is a vox pops engaging with the public and their initial thoughts on the discipline of history and those who study it. Then click on the 'Journal' link at the bottom of the page. Record your thoughts in answer to the question 'What do Historians do?' in a journal post. A member of the project team will respond to your journal entry with feedback during the forthcoming week.

Secondly, read the document on historical significance. Think about the criteria suggested in the document and use it to assess the way in which historians (Alyson Brown, Linda Friday and James Renton) have considered historical significance in the balloon debate videos. For example, which aspects of the historical individuals' careers have been put foreward as the most important and why? Were these individuals significant in bringing about change or do they represent important changes which have occurred in the past? Why are these historical individuals important to historians now?