This week, ending in October 05 2017:
Today's thread is for open discussion of:
History in the academy
Historiographical disputes, debates and rivalries
Implications of historical theory both abstractly and in application
Philosophy of history
And so on
Regular participants in the Thursday threads should just keep doing what they've been doing; newcomers should take notice that this thread is meant for open discussion only of matters like those above, not just anything you like -- we'll have a thread on Friday for that, as usual.
I have a few questions for 20th century political historians:
How do historians usually work with 20th century political commentators? Are they good primary sources to understand the political opinions of the general public or do they just show the commentators' opinions? Are there any works that discuss how historiography should deal with political commentators? And how do you think future historians will use today's political commentators in their work?
Also, a followup: do religious sermons and homilies work in a similar way as political commentators in historiography?
A question relating to early Christianity within the Roman Empire.
Does the theory that it was Jewish propaganda in rebuttal to Emperor worship hold any water?
i.e. Caesar dies and Octavian deifies him, therefore, becoming the living son of a god. When Augustus dies Tiberius deifies him and becomes the same etc.