Textbook: Applied History | History and Political Science Class 10 (Maharashtra Board) PDF Download

 Page 1


15
3. Applied History
3.1 What is Applied History ?
‘Applied History’ is also known as 
‘Public History’. ‘Applied History’ is a 
field of study concerned with the 
application of history for the benefit of 
people in the contemporary and future 
It is interesting to know : 
Public History : People have lot of 
misgivings about the practicality of the 
knowledge of history. For example, history 
is usually thought as a field of interest 
only for historians and students wishing 
to pursue higher studies in the subject and 
not pertaining to practical life, history as 
a field of knowledge does not have any 
applicability to economically productive 
fields, etc.
‘Public History’ helps to overcome 
such misgivings and makes history 
meaningful in everyday life connecting 
people to history.
There are many universities abroad, 
where various courses in 'Public History' 
are offered. Srushti Institute of Art Design 
and Technology is an institute at Bengaluru, 
Karnataka. This institute has an 
independent department, named, ‘Centre 
for Public History’. This department has 
taken up various projects and research in 
the field of public history.
times. Knowledge of history is useful as 
it can provide guidance in finding solutions 
to contemporary social issues and 
incorporate them in the social planning. 
Knowledge of history is essential for this 
purpose.
The projects and programmes related 
to applied history can create opportunities 
for people to participate along with the 
technical experts. Their participation in the 
capacity of tourists visiting museums and 
ancient sites is also important. Tourism 
creats interest in history among people. 
They can volunteer to participate in the 
conservation and preservation projects of 
their own city or town or village.
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
History is about the past events. The 
way our present life style is shaped, is 
dependent on the historical chain of 
events. Historical events relate to various 
fields like politics, social and religious 
structure of a community, philosophy, 
technology and science, etc. Each of these 
fields have their own history of building 
knowledge. The direction of future 
development in every field is dependent 
on the state of available knowledge. 
Hence, the method of history can prove 
to be of value in the research of various 
fields. For example,
(1) Philosophy : The history of 
philosophy helps in understanding the 
origin of various ideologies, the intellectual 
traditions giving rise to those ideologies 
and their historical development. 
Philosophy needs language as a medium 
3.1 What is Applied History ?
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
3.3 Applied History and Our Present
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
Page 2


15
3. Applied History
3.1 What is Applied History ?
‘Applied History’ is also known as 
‘Public History’. ‘Applied History’ is a 
field of study concerned with the 
application of history for the benefit of 
people in the contemporary and future 
It is interesting to know : 
Public History : People have lot of 
misgivings about the practicality of the 
knowledge of history. For example, history 
is usually thought as a field of interest 
only for historians and students wishing 
to pursue higher studies in the subject and 
not pertaining to practical life, history as 
a field of knowledge does not have any 
applicability to economically productive 
fields, etc.
‘Public History’ helps to overcome 
such misgivings and makes history 
meaningful in everyday life connecting 
people to history.
There are many universities abroad, 
where various courses in 'Public History' 
are offered. Srushti Institute of Art Design 
and Technology is an institute at Bengaluru, 
Karnataka. This institute has an 
independent department, named, ‘Centre 
for Public History’. This department has 
taken up various projects and research in 
the field of public history.
times. Knowledge of history is useful as 
it can provide guidance in finding solutions 
to contemporary social issues and 
incorporate them in the social planning. 
Knowledge of history is essential for this 
purpose.
The projects and programmes related 
to applied history can create opportunities 
for people to participate along with the 
technical experts. Their participation in the 
capacity of tourists visiting museums and 
ancient sites is also important. Tourism 
creats interest in history among people. 
They can volunteer to participate in the 
conservation and preservation projects of 
their own city or town or village.
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
History is about the past events. The 
way our present life style is shaped, is 
dependent on the historical chain of 
events. Historical events relate to various 
fields like politics, social and religious 
structure of a community, philosophy, 
technology and science, etc. Each of these 
fields have their own history of building 
knowledge. The direction of future 
development in every field is dependent 
on the state of available knowledge. 
Hence, the method of history can prove 
to be of value in the research of various 
fields. For example,
(1) Philosophy : The history of 
philosophy helps in understanding the 
origin of various ideologies, the intellectual 
traditions giving rise to those ideologies 
and their historical development. 
Philosophy needs language as a medium 
3.1 What is Applied History ?
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
3.3 Applied History and Our Present
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
16
of expression. In order to understand the 
philosophical expression, knowledge of 
the history of language proves useful.
(2) Science : The history of science 
helps in understanding the chronological 
order of scientific discoveries, inventions 
and theories. It can also help to understand 
the cause-effect chain that led to those 
discoveries and inventions.  It is said that 
‘need’ is the mother of inventions. 
Scientific discoveries/inventions are often 
the effects of human efforts to fulfil a 
need and also curiosity. These efforts are 
based on already available scientific 
knowledge. Knowledge of history of 
science helps in understanding the factors 
that facilitated a scientific discovery/
invention and also its chronology.
(3) Technology : The history of 
technology helps in understanding the 
changes and their causes in the field of 
agricultural production,  commodity 
production, architecture, engineering, etc.  
Scientific discoveries/inventions and 
technological advancement are mutually 
dependent on each other. Knowledge of 
science and technology was very important 
at every step from the making of stone 
tools to agricultural production in the 
evolution of mankind. Later the 
advancement of science promoted the 
mechanisation of production.  It is 
necessary to know the history of technology 
in order to understand the development of 
mechanisation and the mutual dependence 
between science and technology.
(4) Industry and Commerce : The 
field of mutual social transactions expands 
with the growth of industry and trade. It 
also promotes continuous development of 
the network of cultural interactions. It is 
an integral part of the industrial and 
commercial management. It is essential to 
understand the history of these processes. 
The nature of the market and commerce 
has continued to change. Accordingly, the 
nature of human relationships and the 
social organisation also has continued to 
change. To understand this development 
it is necessary to study the history of 
culture, social organisation and economic 
institutions.
(5) Management Studies : In order 
to understand various factors involved in 
the chain of production such as means of 
production, human resources and processes 
of production, as well as the chain of 
market and sales management, etc. it is 
essential to have a knowledge of similar 
functional systems of the past.  It is 
essential to understand the psychological 
character of people working at various 
levels in the chain of production and 
marketing for healthy management. In 
order to achieve it, understanding of the 
social and economic institutions that 
support the industrial and commercial 
processes is important. Knowledge of 
history in this regard makes the 
management at various levels easier.
(6) Arts : It is important to understand 
the development of various art forms with 
the help of their style of expression and 
their foundation in the form of intellectual-
emotional-cultural traditions. The key to 
the expressions in any art form, emotional 
temperament of the artist and the 
developmental history of the respective 
art form can be understood with the help 
of cultural history.
(7) Humanities : Humanities include 
disciplines like history, archaeology, 
sociology, anthropology, political science, 
economics, etc. To understand the history 
of the origin and development of these 
disciplines is an essential part of their 
Page 3


15
3. Applied History
3.1 What is Applied History ?
‘Applied History’ is also known as 
‘Public History’. ‘Applied History’ is a 
field of study concerned with the 
application of history for the benefit of 
people in the contemporary and future 
It is interesting to know : 
Public History : People have lot of 
misgivings about the practicality of the 
knowledge of history. For example, history 
is usually thought as a field of interest 
only for historians and students wishing 
to pursue higher studies in the subject and 
not pertaining to practical life, history as 
a field of knowledge does not have any 
applicability to economically productive 
fields, etc.
‘Public History’ helps to overcome 
such misgivings and makes history 
meaningful in everyday life connecting 
people to history.
There are many universities abroad, 
where various courses in 'Public History' 
are offered. Srushti Institute of Art Design 
and Technology is an institute at Bengaluru, 
Karnataka. This institute has an 
independent department, named, ‘Centre 
for Public History’. This department has 
taken up various projects and research in 
the field of public history.
times. Knowledge of history is useful as 
it can provide guidance in finding solutions 
to contemporary social issues and 
incorporate them in the social planning. 
Knowledge of history is essential for this 
purpose.
The projects and programmes related 
to applied history can create opportunities 
for people to participate along with the 
technical experts. Their participation in the 
capacity of tourists visiting museums and 
ancient sites is also important. Tourism 
creats interest in history among people. 
They can volunteer to participate in the 
conservation and preservation projects of 
their own city or town or village.
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
History is about the past events. The 
way our present life style is shaped, is 
dependent on the historical chain of 
events. Historical events relate to various 
fields like politics, social and religious 
structure of a community, philosophy, 
technology and science, etc. Each of these 
fields have their own history of building 
knowledge. The direction of future 
development in every field is dependent 
on the state of available knowledge. 
Hence, the method of history can prove 
to be of value in the research of various 
fields. For example,
(1) Philosophy : The history of 
philosophy helps in understanding the 
origin of various ideologies, the intellectual 
traditions giving rise to those ideologies 
and their historical development. 
Philosophy needs language as a medium 
3.1 What is Applied History ?
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
3.3 Applied History and Our Present
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
16
of expression. In order to understand the 
philosophical expression, knowledge of 
the history of language proves useful.
(2) Science : The history of science 
helps in understanding the chronological 
order of scientific discoveries, inventions 
and theories. It can also help to understand 
the cause-effect chain that led to those 
discoveries and inventions.  It is said that 
‘need’ is the mother of inventions. 
Scientific discoveries/inventions are often 
the effects of human efforts to fulfil a 
need and also curiosity. These efforts are 
based on already available scientific 
knowledge. Knowledge of history of 
science helps in understanding the factors 
that facilitated a scientific discovery/
invention and also its chronology.
(3) Technology : The history of 
technology helps in understanding the 
changes and their causes in the field of 
agricultural production,  commodity 
production, architecture, engineering, etc.  
Scientific discoveries/inventions and 
technological advancement are mutually 
dependent on each other. Knowledge of 
science and technology was very important 
at every step from the making of stone 
tools to agricultural production in the 
evolution of mankind. Later the 
advancement of science promoted the 
mechanisation of production.  It is 
necessary to know the history of technology 
in order to understand the development of 
mechanisation and the mutual dependence 
between science and technology.
(4) Industry and Commerce : The 
field of mutual social transactions expands 
with the growth of industry and trade. It 
also promotes continuous development of 
the network of cultural interactions. It is 
an integral part of the industrial and 
commercial management. It is essential to 
understand the history of these processes. 
The nature of the market and commerce 
has continued to change. Accordingly, the 
nature of human relationships and the 
social organisation also has continued to 
change. To understand this development 
it is necessary to study the history of 
culture, social organisation and economic 
institutions.
(5) Management Studies : In order 
to understand various factors involved in 
the chain of production such as means of 
production, human resources and processes 
of production, as well as the chain of 
market and sales management, etc. it is 
essential to have a knowledge of similar 
functional systems of the past.  It is 
essential to understand the psychological 
character of people working at various 
levels in the chain of production and 
marketing for healthy management. In 
order to achieve it, understanding of the 
social and economic institutions that 
support the industrial and commercial 
processes is important. Knowledge of 
history in this regard makes the 
management at various levels easier.
(6) Arts : It is important to understand 
the development of various art forms with 
the help of their style of expression and 
their foundation in the form of intellectual-
emotional-cultural traditions. The key to 
the expressions in any art form, emotional 
temperament of the artist and the 
developmental history of the respective 
art form can be understood with the help 
of cultural history.
(7) Humanities : Humanities include 
disciplines like history, archaeology, 
sociology, anthropology, political science, 
economics, etc. To understand the history 
of the origin and development of these 
disciplines is an essential part of their 
17
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage 
(a) Cultural Heritage :  It is in the 
form of human creation. It is of two types 
- tangible and intangible.
1. Tangible Cultural Heritage : This 
type of cultural heritage includes ancient 
sites, buildings, artefacts, manuscripts, 
sculptures, paintings, etc.
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage : 
This type of cultural heritage includes the 
following things -
* Oral traditions and their language
* Traditional knowledge
* Social customs and rituals of 
celebrating festivals
* Styles of performing arts
* Certain traditional skills
* Communities, groups who represent 
such traditions, Customs and skills
(b) Natural Heritage :  the concept 
of natural heritage gives importance to 
the thought of biodiversity. It includes the 
following things -
(1) Fauna (2) Flora (3) Ecology and 
geomorphic characteristics which is crucial 
for sustaining the flora and fauna of a 
particular region.
It is essential for the benefit of future 
generations to preserve our heritage. 
UNESCO, the global organisation has 
announced some directives with the 
objective of promoting the cultural and 
natural heritage. On the basis of those 
directives list of sites and traditions are 
declared as ‘World Heritage’.
The list of UNESCO’s World Natural 
Heritage now includes Western Ghats. 
The Kaas plateau in the District Satara, 
is also a part of the Western Ghats. 
learning.  All disciplines are supposed to 
have their origin in philosophy.  Ancient 
people all over the world tried to speculate 
in order to understand the relationship 
between the universe and human existence. 
It gave rise to various mythological stories 
about the origin of this world, the 
universal order, human life, gods and 
goddesses, rituals and their philosophical 
explanation. Roots of philosophical 
ponderings are to be found in these 
mythological stories. Various disciplines 
under humanities have theoretical 
foundations based on philosophical 
theories. Only historical knowledge can 
help us in understanding these 
developmental stages.
3.3 Applied History and Our Present 
People often ask about the practical 
value of history. The answer to the 
question about the nature of applied 
history answers this question as well.  
The visible and invisible relics of the past 
exist in the present. We nurture some 
kind of curiosity, attraction toward them. 
We wish to know more about their history 
because they represent the creative 
thoughts and traditions of our ancestors. 
It is our heritage. It helps in building our 
identity. The history of our heritage links 
us with our origin. Hence it becomes 
necessary to preserve and conserve it for 
future, for our benefit as well as for the 
benefit of future generations. Applied 
history is concerned with the preservation 
and conservation of our heritage and 
make it accessible to people. Heritage 
management creates opportunities of 
employment. In brief, applied history can 
be described as understanding of our 
present with the help of history and 
finding right direction for the benefit of 
our future. 
Page 4


15
3. Applied History
3.1 What is Applied History ?
‘Applied History’ is also known as 
‘Public History’. ‘Applied History’ is a 
field of study concerned with the 
application of history for the benefit of 
people in the contemporary and future 
It is interesting to know : 
Public History : People have lot of 
misgivings about the practicality of the 
knowledge of history. For example, history 
is usually thought as a field of interest 
only for historians and students wishing 
to pursue higher studies in the subject and 
not pertaining to practical life, history as 
a field of knowledge does not have any 
applicability to economically productive 
fields, etc.
‘Public History’ helps to overcome 
such misgivings and makes history 
meaningful in everyday life connecting 
people to history.
There are many universities abroad, 
where various courses in 'Public History' 
are offered. Srushti Institute of Art Design 
and Technology is an institute at Bengaluru, 
Karnataka. This institute has an 
independent department, named, ‘Centre 
for Public History’. This department has 
taken up various projects and research in 
the field of public history.
times. Knowledge of history is useful as 
it can provide guidance in finding solutions 
to contemporary social issues and 
incorporate them in the social planning. 
Knowledge of history is essential for this 
purpose.
The projects and programmes related 
to applied history can create opportunities 
for people to participate along with the 
technical experts. Their participation in the 
capacity of tourists visiting museums and 
ancient sites is also important. Tourism 
creats interest in history among people. 
They can volunteer to participate in the 
conservation and preservation projects of 
their own city or town or village.
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
History is about the past events. The 
way our present life style is shaped, is 
dependent on the historical chain of 
events. Historical events relate to various 
fields like politics, social and religious 
structure of a community, philosophy, 
technology and science, etc. Each of these 
fields have their own history of building 
knowledge. The direction of future 
development in every field is dependent 
on the state of available knowledge. 
Hence, the method of history can prove 
to be of value in the research of various 
fields. For example,
(1) Philosophy : The history of 
philosophy helps in understanding the 
origin of various ideologies, the intellectual 
traditions giving rise to those ideologies 
and their historical development. 
Philosophy needs language as a medium 
3.1 What is Applied History ?
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
3.3 Applied History and Our Present
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
16
of expression. In order to understand the 
philosophical expression, knowledge of 
the history of language proves useful.
(2) Science : The history of science 
helps in understanding the chronological 
order of scientific discoveries, inventions 
and theories. It can also help to understand 
the cause-effect chain that led to those 
discoveries and inventions.  It is said that 
‘need’ is the mother of inventions. 
Scientific discoveries/inventions are often 
the effects of human efforts to fulfil a 
need and also curiosity. These efforts are 
based on already available scientific 
knowledge. Knowledge of history of 
science helps in understanding the factors 
that facilitated a scientific discovery/
invention and also its chronology.
(3) Technology : The history of 
technology helps in understanding the 
changes and their causes in the field of 
agricultural production,  commodity 
production, architecture, engineering, etc.  
Scientific discoveries/inventions and 
technological advancement are mutually 
dependent on each other. Knowledge of 
science and technology was very important 
at every step from the making of stone 
tools to agricultural production in the 
evolution of mankind. Later the 
advancement of science promoted the 
mechanisation of production.  It is 
necessary to know the history of technology 
in order to understand the development of 
mechanisation and the mutual dependence 
between science and technology.
(4) Industry and Commerce : The 
field of mutual social transactions expands 
with the growth of industry and trade. It 
also promotes continuous development of 
the network of cultural interactions. It is 
an integral part of the industrial and 
commercial management. It is essential to 
understand the history of these processes. 
The nature of the market and commerce 
has continued to change. Accordingly, the 
nature of human relationships and the 
social organisation also has continued to 
change. To understand this development 
it is necessary to study the history of 
culture, social organisation and economic 
institutions.
(5) Management Studies : In order 
to understand various factors involved in 
the chain of production such as means of 
production, human resources and processes 
of production, as well as the chain of 
market and sales management, etc. it is 
essential to have a knowledge of similar 
functional systems of the past.  It is 
essential to understand the psychological 
character of people working at various 
levels in the chain of production and 
marketing for healthy management. In 
order to achieve it, understanding of the 
social and economic institutions that 
support the industrial and commercial 
processes is important. Knowledge of 
history in this regard makes the 
management at various levels easier.
(6) Arts : It is important to understand 
the development of various art forms with 
the help of their style of expression and 
their foundation in the form of intellectual-
emotional-cultural traditions. The key to 
the expressions in any art form, emotional 
temperament of the artist and the 
developmental history of the respective 
art form can be understood with the help 
of cultural history.
(7) Humanities : Humanities include 
disciplines like history, archaeology, 
sociology, anthropology, political science, 
economics, etc. To understand the history 
of the origin and development of these 
disciplines is an essential part of their 
17
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage 
(a) Cultural Heritage :  It is in the 
form of human creation. It is of two types 
- tangible and intangible.
1. Tangible Cultural Heritage : This 
type of cultural heritage includes ancient 
sites, buildings, artefacts, manuscripts, 
sculptures, paintings, etc.
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage : 
This type of cultural heritage includes the 
following things -
* Oral traditions and their language
* Traditional knowledge
* Social customs and rituals of 
celebrating festivals
* Styles of performing arts
* Certain traditional skills
* Communities, groups who represent 
such traditions, Customs and skills
(b) Natural Heritage :  the concept 
of natural heritage gives importance to 
the thought of biodiversity. It includes the 
following things -
(1) Fauna (2) Flora (3) Ecology and 
geomorphic characteristics which is crucial 
for sustaining the flora and fauna of a 
particular region.
It is essential for the benefit of future 
generations to preserve our heritage. 
UNESCO, the global organisation has 
announced some directives with the 
objective of promoting the cultural and 
natural heritage. On the basis of those 
directives list of sites and traditions are 
declared as ‘World Heritage’.
The list of UNESCO’s World Natural 
Heritage now includes Western Ghats. 
The Kaas plateau in the District Satara, 
is also a part of the Western Ghats. 
learning.  All disciplines are supposed to 
have their origin in philosophy.  Ancient 
people all over the world tried to speculate 
in order to understand the relationship 
between the universe and human existence. 
It gave rise to various mythological stories 
about the origin of this world, the 
universal order, human life, gods and 
goddesses, rituals and their philosophical 
explanation. Roots of philosophical 
ponderings are to be found in these 
mythological stories. Various disciplines 
under humanities have theoretical 
foundations based on philosophical 
theories. Only historical knowledge can 
help us in understanding these 
developmental stages.
3.3 Applied History and Our Present 
People often ask about the practical 
value of history. The answer to the 
question about the nature of applied 
history answers this question as well.  
The visible and invisible relics of the past 
exist in the present. We nurture some 
kind of curiosity, attraction toward them. 
We wish to know more about their history 
because they represent the creative 
thoughts and traditions of our ancestors. 
It is our heritage. It helps in building our 
identity. The history of our heritage links 
us with our origin. Hence it becomes 
necessary to preserve and conserve it for 
future, for our benefit as well as for the 
benefit of future generations. Applied 
history is concerned with the preservation 
and conservation of our heritage and 
make it accessible to people. Heritage 
management creates opportunities of 
employment. In brief, applied history can 
be described as understanding of our 
present with the help of history and 
finding right direction for the benefit of 
our future. 
18
At a glance :
The Indian traditions declared as Oral 
and Intangible heritage :  
2001 : Kootiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre,  
Kerala.
2003 : The tradition of Vedic Chanting.
2005 : Ramlila - the traditional 
performance of the Ramayana in 
North India.
2009 : Ramman : religious festival and 
ritual theatre of the Garhwal 
Uttarakhand.
2010 : Kalbelia : folk songs and dances 
of Rajasthan.
2010 : Chhau dance : West Bengal, 
Jharkhand, Odisha.
2010 : Mudiyett : a ritual theatre of Kerala.
2012 : Buddhist chanting of Ladakh:
  recitation of sacred Buddhist texts 
in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh 
region, Jammu and Kashmir.
2013 : Sankirtana : ritual singing, drumming 
and dancing of Manipur.
2014 : Traditional craft of making utensils 
of brass and copper among the
  Thatheras of Punjab.
2016 : Yoga
World Cultural Heritage Sites - India  
1983 : Agra Fort
1983 : Ajanta Caves 
1983 : Verul (Ellora) Caves 
1983 : Taj Mahal
1984 : Temples at Mahabalipuram
1984 : Sun Temple, Konark
1986 : Churches and Convents of Goa
1986 : Fatehpur Sikri
1986 : Group of Monuments at Hampi
1986 : Khajuraho Temples
1987 : Gharapuri (Elephanta) Caves
1987, : Brihadishwar temple of Tanjavur 
Great Living Chola Temples -
2004  Gangaikondcholapuram,
  Brihadishwar and Airavateshwar
  at Darasuram
1987 : Group of Monuments at Pattadakal 
1989 : Sanchi Stupa
1993 : Humayun's Tomb, Delhi 
1993 : Kutub Minar and its Monuments, 
Delhi
1999 : Mountain Railways of India
  (1) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway,
  (2) Nilgiri Mountain Railway,
  (3) The Kalka-Shimla Railway,
2002 : Mahabodhi Temple Complex at 
Bodh Gaya 
2003 : Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
2004 : Champaner-Pavagadh
  Archaeological Park 
2004 : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 
Terminus, Mumbai
2007 : Red Fort Complex, Delhi
2010 : The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
2013 : Hill Forts of Rajasthan
2014 : Rani-ki-Bav (the Queen’s 
Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
2016 : Archaeological Site of Nalanda 
Mahavihara (Nalanda University) 
at Nalanda, Bihar 
2016 : The Capital Complex at 
Chandigarh
2017 : Ahemadabad - Historical City
World Natural Heritage Sites : 
1985 : Kaziranga National Park 
1985 : Keoladeo National Park 
1985 : Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 
1987 : Sundarbans National Park 
1988 : Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers
2005 : National Parks 
2012 : Western Ghats
2014 : Great Himalayan National Park  
  Conservation Area
Mixed
2016 : Khangchendzonga National Park
Page 5


15
3. Applied History
3.1 What is Applied History ?
‘Applied History’ is also known as 
‘Public History’. ‘Applied History’ is a 
field of study concerned with the 
application of history for the benefit of 
people in the contemporary and future 
It is interesting to know : 
Public History : People have lot of 
misgivings about the practicality of the 
knowledge of history. For example, history 
is usually thought as a field of interest 
only for historians and students wishing 
to pursue higher studies in the subject and 
not pertaining to practical life, history as 
a field of knowledge does not have any 
applicability to economically productive 
fields, etc.
‘Public History’ helps to overcome 
such misgivings and makes history 
meaningful in everyday life connecting 
people to history.
There are many universities abroad, 
where various courses in 'Public History' 
are offered. Srushti Institute of Art Design 
and Technology is an institute at Bengaluru, 
Karnataka. This institute has an 
independent department, named, ‘Centre 
for Public History’. This department has 
taken up various projects and research in 
the field of public history.
times. Knowledge of history is useful as 
it can provide guidance in finding solutions 
to contemporary social issues and 
incorporate them in the social planning. 
Knowledge of history is essential for this 
purpose.
The projects and programmes related 
to applied history can create opportunities 
for people to participate along with the 
technical experts. Their participation in the 
capacity of tourists visiting museums and 
ancient sites is also important. Tourism 
creats interest in history among people. 
They can volunteer to participate in the 
conservation and preservation projects of 
their own city or town or village.
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
History is about the past events. The 
way our present life style is shaped, is 
dependent on the historical chain of 
events. Historical events relate to various 
fields like politics, social and religious 
structure of a community, philosophy, 
technology and science, etc. Each of these 
fields have their own history of building 
knowledge. The direction of future 
development in every field is dependent 
on the state of available knowledge. 
Hence, the method of history can prove 
to be of value in the research of various 
fields. For example,
(1) Philosophy : The history of 
philosophy helps in understanding the 
origin of various ideologies, the intellectual 
traditions giving rise to those ideologies 
and their historical development. 
Philosophy needs language as a medium 
3.1 What is Applied History ?
3.2 Applied History and Research in 
Various Fields
3.3 Applied History and Our Present
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
16
of expression. In order to understand the 
philosophical expression, knowledge of 
the history of language proves useful.
(2) Science : The history of science 
helps in understanding the chronological 
order of scientific discoveries, inventions 
and theories. It can also help to understand 
the cause-effect chain that led to those 
discoveries and inventions.  It is said that 
‘need’ is the mother of inventions. 
Scientific discoveries/inventions are often 
the effects of human efforts to fulfil a 
need and also curiosity. These efforts are 
based on already available scientific 
knowledge. Knowledge of history of 
science helps in understanding the factors 
that facilitated a scientific discovery/
invention and also its chronology.
(3) Technology : The history of 
technology helps in understanding the 
changes and their causes in the field of 
agricultural production,  commodity 
production, architecture, engineering, etc.  
Scientific discoveries/inventions and 
technological advancement are mutually 
dependent on each other. Knowledge of 
science and technology was very important 
at every step from the making of stone 
tools to agricultural production in the 
evolution of mankind. Later the 
advancement of science promoted the 
mechanisation of production.  It is 
necessary to know the history of technology 
in order to understand the development of 
mechanisation and the mutual dependence 
between science and technology.
(4) Industry and Commerce : The 
field of mutual social transactions expands 
with the growth of industry and trade. It 
also promotes continuous development of 
the network of cultural interactions. It is 
an integral part of the industrial and 
commercial management. It is essential to 
understand the history of these processes. 
The nature of the market and commerce 
has continued to change. Accordingly, the 
nature of human relationships and the 
social organisation also has continued to 
change. To understand this development 
it is necessary to study the history of 
culture, social organisation and economic 
institutions.
(5) Management Studies : In order 
to understand various factors involved in 
the chain of production such as means of 
production, human resources and processes 
of production, as well as the chain of 
market and sales management, etc. it is 
essential to have a knowledge of similar 
functional systems of the past.  It is 
essential to understand the psychological 
character of people working at various 
levels in the chain of production and 
marketing for healthy management. In 
order to achieve it, understanding of the 
social and economic institutions that 
support the industrial and commercial 
processes is important. Knowledge of 
history in this regard makes the 
management at various levels easier.
(6) Arts : It is important to understand 
the development of various art forms with 
the help of their style of expression and 
their foundation in the form of intellectual-
emotional-cultural traditions. The key to 
the expressions in any art form, emotional 
temperament of the artist and the 
developmental history of the respective 
art form can be understood with the help 
of cultural history.
(7) Humanities : Humanities include 
disciplines like history, archaeology, 
sociology, anthropology, political science, 
economics, etc. To understand the history 
of the origin and development of these 
disciplines is an essential part of their 
17
3.4 Management of Cultural and 
Natural Heritage 
(a) Cultural Heritage :  It is in the 
form of human creation. It is of two types 
- tangible and intangible.
1. Tangible Cultural Heritage : This 
type of cultural heritage includes ancient 
sites, buildings, artefacts, manuscripts, 
sculptures, paintings, etc.
2. Intangible Cultural Heritage : 
This type of cultural heritage includes the 
following things -
* Oral traditions and their language
* Traditional knowledge
* Social customs and rituals of 
celebrating festivals
* Styles of performing arts
* Certain traditional skills
* Communities, groups who represent 
such traditions, Customs and skills
(b) Natural Heritage :  the concept 
of natural heritage gives importance to 
the thought of biodiversity. It includes the 
following things -
(1) Fauna (2) Flora (3) Ecology and 
geomorphic characteristics which is crucial 
for sustaining the flora and fauna of a 
particular region.
It is essential for the benefit of future 
generations to preserve our heritage. 
UNESCO, the global organisation has 
announced some directives with the 
objective of promoting the cultural and 
natural heritage. On the basis of those 
directives list of sites and traditions are 
declared as ‘World Heritage’.
The list of UNESCO’s World Natural 
Heritage now includes Western Ghats. 
The Kaas plateau in the District Satara, 
is also a part of the Western Ghats. 
learning.  All disciplines are supposed to 
have their origin in philosophy.  Ancient 
people all over the world tried to speculate 
in order to understand the relationship 
between the universe and human existence. 
It gave rise to various mythological stories 
about the origin of this world, the 
universal order, human life, gods and 
goddesses, rituals and their philosophical 
explanation. Roots of philosophical 
ponderings are to be found in these 
mythological stories. Various disciplines 
under humanities have theoretical 
foundations based on philosophical 
theories. Only historical knowledge can 
help us in understanding these 
developmental stages.
3.3 Applied History and Our Present 
People often ask about the practical 
value of history. The answer to the 
question about the nature of applied 
history answers this question as well.  
The visible and invisible relics of the past 
exist in the present. We nurture some 
kind of curiosity, attraction toward them. 
We wish to know more about their history 
because they represent the creative 
thoughts and traditions of our ancestors. 
It is our heritage. It helps in building our 
identity. The history of our heritage links 
us with our origin. Hence it becomes 
necessary to preserve and conserve it for 
future, for our benefit as well as for the 
benefit of future generations. Applied 
history is concerned with the preservation 
and conservation of our heritage and 
make it accessible to people. Heritage 
management creates opportunities of 
employment. In brief, applied history can 
be described as understanding of our 
present with the help of history and 
finding right direction for the benefit of 
our future. 
18
At a glance :
The Indian traditions declared as Oral 
and Intangible heritage :  
2001 : Kootiyattam, Sanskrit Theatre,  
Kerala.
2003 : The tradition of Vedic Chanting.
2005 : Ramlila - the traditional 
performance of the Ramayana in 
North India.
2009 : Ramman : religious festival and 
ritual theatre of the Garhwal 
Uttarakhand.
2010 : Kalbelia : folk songs and dances 
of Rajasthan.
2010 : Chhau dance : West Bengal, 
Jharkhand, Odisha.
2010 : Mudiyett : a ritual theatre of Kerala.
2012 : Buddhist chanting of Ladakh:
  recitation of sacred Buddhist texts 
in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh 
region, Jammu and Kashmir.
2013 : Sankirtana : ritual singing, drumming 
and dancing of Manipur.
2014 : Traditional craft of making utensils 
of brass and copper among the
  Thatheras of Punjab.
2016 : Yoga
World Cultural Heritage Sites - India  
1983 : Agra Fort
1983 : Ajanta Caves 
1983 : Verul (Ellora) Caves 
1983 : Taj Mahal
1984 : Temples at Mahabalipuram
1984 : Sun Temple, Konark
1986 : Churches and Convents of Goa
1986 : Fatehpur Sikri
1986 : Group of Monuments at Hampi
1986 : Khajuraho Temples
1987 : Gharapuri (Elephanta) Caves
1987, : Brihadishwar temple of Tanjavur 
Great Living Chola Temples -
2004  Gangaikondcholapuram,
  Brihadishwar and Airavateshwar
  at Darasuram
1987 : Group of Monuments at Pattadakal 
1989 : Sanchi Stupa
1993 : Humayun's Tomb, Delhi 
1993 : Kutub Minar and its Monuments, 
Delhi
1999 : Mountain Railways of India
  (1) Darjeeling Himalayan Railway,
  (2) Nilgiri Mountain Railway,
  (3) The Kalka-Shimla Railway,
2002 : Mahabodhi Temple Complex at 
Bodh Gaya 
2003 : Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
2004 : Champaner-Pavagadh
  Archaeological Park 
2004 : Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 
Terminus, Mumbai
2007 : Red Fort Complex, Delhi
2010 : The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
2013 : Hill Forts of Rajasthan
2014 : Rani-ki-Bav (the Queen’s 
Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
2016 : Archaeological Site of Nalanda 
Mahavihara (Nalanda University) 
at Nalanda, Bihar 
2016 : The Capital Complex at 
Chandigarh
2017 : Ahemadabad - Historical City
World Natural Heritage Sites : 
1985 : Kaziranga National Park 
1985 : Keoladeo National Park 
1985 : Manas Wildlife Sanctuary 
1987 : Sundarbans National Park 
1988 : Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers
2005 : National Parks 
2012 : Western Ghats
2014 : Great Himalayan National Park  
  Conservation Area
Mixed
2016 : Khangchendzonga National Park
19
people while completing the projects of 
conservation, preservation and 
development of a heritage site.
(4) Participation of the local people 
in the project can be facilitated.
(5) Systematic plan can be designed 
to employ the local skills in a creative 
way and create better opportunities of 
livelihood.
3.5 Affiliated Professional Fields
Knowledge of history can be 
supportive in the decision making with 
regard to respective legal provisions and 
public policies in the following fields :
1. Museums and Archives
2. Preservation and conservation of 
historical site
3. Tourism and Hospitality
4. Entertainment and Mass Media
Kailasa Temple, Verul
‘Cultural and Natural Heritage 
Management’ is one of the main aspects 
of applied  history. The work of 
conservation and preservation of the 
Cultural Heritage falls under the 
jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey 
of India and India’s State Departments of 
Archaeology. Beside, INTACH (Indian 
National Trust for Art and Cultural 
Heritage) is actively working in this field. 
The work of conservation and preservation 
of cultural and natural heritage requires 
participation of experts from various 
fields. They need to be duly aware of the 
cultural, social and political histories of 
the heritage site. Principles of applied 
history are useful in creating the awareness 
among them. Thus,
(1) The operations necessary for the 
conservation, preservation and 
development of the heritage site can be 
handled without causing any change in 
its original state.
(2) The local social structure and 
psychology of the local people, challenges 
faced by them in the present situations 
and their expectations can be surveyed in 
detail.
(3) Due precautions can be taken to 
avoid hurting sentiments of the local 
The earliest 
museum (6th century 
B.C.E.) in the world 
was discovered 
during the 
excavations at the 
city of ‘Ur’ in 
Mesopotamia. The 
excavations were 
conducted by Sir 
Leonard Woolley 
(1922-1934). This museum was built by 
the princess of Mesopotamia. Her name 
was Ennigaldi. She herself was the 
curator of the museum.
A noteworthy feature of the that 
museum is the clay tablets inscribed 
with the descriptions of exhibited 
artefacts. 
Do you know ?
Clay Tablets