History in the age of technology


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Chapter 7 of Popkin served as a summary of sorts because it tied all the previous theories and methods together. This chapter was also used to talk about the more recent ways in which history has been studied and how these methods are used to study certain topics. Popkin mentions several new technology based resources that have become heavily used and how they have shaped the study of history. For example, he mentions how the advent of computers and the internet poses issues of note taking for older historians who are unaccustomed to this new technology, while younger historians grew up with it (Popkin 172).  Using journals and peer reviews as an example, he points out how the internet leads to  questions about credibility because every source has the same weight (Popkin 175). Technology in general has allowed almost anyone to be involved with the study of history because it isn’t solely confined to books, journals, or even schools; there are many new mediums in which history can be accessed. As a millennial who grew up with a variety of “new” ways to learn, it is difficult to see my life without them; the ability to learn through television shows, films, and novels allows us to realize the validity of Popkin’s claims. Popkin mentions how films and television allow people to learn about history but he warns that they aren’t always objective and that they may sacrifice accuracy for the sake of publicity (popkin 175). I believe Popkin’s argument about technology can be used to scrutinize the way in which propaganda was used during the Dust Bowl and whether it had any influence on the results, a point highlighted by raldrich in his post.

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