Audrey TruschkeAlright folks -- Do you have questions about how historians think and make claims about the past? Ask away. #MastodonThread #Thread #history
Sanjay Sipahimalani@audreytruschke If the nation-state is a19th century phenomenon, are histories of the centuries before that inevitably coloured by anachronistic nationalism?
@SanSip I would say no, it is not inevitable to read the past through the nationalist lens of the present. Especially if we are aware of this risk, we can, at least largely, correct for it.
For example, if you are reading someone who claims to talk about the history of the Indian nation state in Vikramaditya's reign... you can probably just stop reading.
But, if you reading someone who attempts to uncover the nature of sovereignty and polities in ancient India, well, read on.
Indfree@audreytruschke @SanSip Really enjoy reading you.