What History?

Abstract

The subject matter of study has now been redefined: It is the broadest possible range of environments in type, cross-culturally, and through time. The purpose of study has also been specified: It is to go beyond establishing the nature of past environments, to learn from this material—which, as far as history is concerned, consists primarily of artifacts. On the basis of patterns traced, generalizations can be made, hypotheses tested, and explanatory theory developed about the relation between the built environment (seen broadly) and people (EBR). It now remains to discuss how such study should be carried out because the change of domain must lead to different ways of studying the past. The objective is not to discuss specific methods but rather to establish an approach that would guide study.