documentary history

Documentary history is the study of the past through the analysis of original documents and records, such as letters, official reports, legal files, and manuscripts. It involves examining these primary sources to understand events, ideas, and contexts from different periods. This approach helps historians reconstruct historical narratives based on authentic materials, providing direct insight into the perspectives and experiences of people from the past. Essentially, documentary history relies on tangible evidence to interpret and explain historical developments, making it a foundational method for understanding history through the documents left behind.