44 Examples of Historical Context

John Spacey, August 23, 2022

Historical context are the realities of the time and place where something happened. This includes the way that people thought at the time and economic, social and technological realities. Generally speaking, it is impossible for people of the present to understand the past as it was understood at the time. For example, knowledge progresses such that concepts that we use to think didn't necessarily exist in the past. An appreciation for the impossible complexity of historical context helps to prevent smug and naive presentism whereby we are too quick to view the past as irrational. The following are basic elements of historical context.

Attitudes	Beliefs
Concepts (and concepts that didn't exist)	Culture
Economic Realities	Education
Events	Frames of Reference (e.g. well known sayings)
Hardships & Difficulties	Health & Wellness
Information Environment (e.g. no internet)	Institutions
Knowledge (and things people didn't know)	Language
Laws & Justice	Life Expectancy
Lifestyles	Living Conditions
Markets (e.g. what could people buy and how?)	Meaning
Media (e.g. newspapers)	Morals
Myths	Norms of Behavior
Pastimes	People (i.e. influential and well known people at a time and place)
Perceptions	Politics
Products & Services	Religion
Responsibilities	Roles
Sensibilities	Shared Experiences
Social Expectations	Social Pressures
Social Status (what earned respect?)	Socioeconomic Classes
Stories (i.e. well known stories)	Taboos
Technology	Traditions
Values	Working Conditions

Overview: Historical Context
Type	History
Definition	The realities of the time and place where something happened.
Related Concepts	History » Presentism »