What is Applied History
To save an old well or temple in your village you must know its history. So history is not only in books, it is useful in today’s work too.
The field of study concerned with using history for the benefit of people in the present and future is applied history. It is also called ‘Public History’.
Key idea 1 : History that removes misconceptions — Many think history is only for historians and has nothing to do with daily life or economy. Public history removes this misconception and links history to everyday life.
Key idea 2 : History for solving problems — Knowledge of history helps find solutions to current social issues and place them in social planning. Applied history projects make ordinary people take part along with experts; as tourists visiting museums and ancient sites or as volunteers in conservation projects of their own town or village.
Key idea 3 : Education and institutions — Many universities abroad run courses in public history. The Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology at Bengaluru (Karnataka) has an independent ‘Centre for Public History’ taking up projects and research.
- Easy : Studying history to restore an old village temple? — Applied history.
- Medium : Another name for public history? — Applied history.
- Exam-type : Volunteering in a museum? — Public participation.
In the figure: Using history for people.
History + today = use.
History is not only for historians; it is useful for all citizens.
Memory clue: History → today → solution → people. Memory clue: "Past for today’s work".
Spot the difference
| Point | Common belief | Applied history |
|---|---|---|
| For whom is history? | Only for scholars | For all citizens |
| Use | Only in books | In problems and planning |
Practice questions
- 1What is applied history?
- 2Which misconception does public history remove?
- 3How can ordinary people take part in applied history projects?
- 4Where is the ‘Centre for Public History’?
- 5How is knowledge of history useful in social planning?
- 6Why is it a misconception that history is unrelated to economy?
- 7How would you use applied history for a historic structure in your village?
- 8Compare public and traditional study of history.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The field using history for people’s benefit.
- 2That history is only for scholars and useless.
- 3As tourists and as volunteers in conservation projects.
- 4At Srishti Institute, Bengaluru.
- 5By suggesting solutions to current issues.
- 6Because industry, trade and institutions have histories too.
- 7Preservation, information boards and public participation.
- 8Traditional = for scholars; public = for all and for use.
Applied History and Research in Various Fields
To understand why the mobile phone is as it is today you must see how the telephone, telegraph and post were before. Every field has its own history and knowing it shows the next direction.
The direction of future development of any field depends on available knowledge; so the method of history is useful in research of many fields.
Key idea 1 : Philosophy, science, technology — History of philosophy explains the origin and growth of ideologies; as ideas need language the history of language is useful. History of science shows the order and cause-effect chain of discoveries, inventions and theories; "necessity is the mother of invention". History of technology explains changes and their causes in farming, production, architecture and engineering; science and technology depend on each other.
Key idea 2 : Industry, management, arts — With growth of industry and trade social interaction grows; so the history of culture, social structure and economic institutions must be studied. For management it helps to understand past systems of production chain, human resources and markets and the mindset of people. To understand growth of arts, the style of expression, artist’s temperament and development of the art form are known through cultural history.
Key idea 3 : Humanities — Humanities include history, archaeology, sociology, anthropology, political science and economics. Understanding the origin and growth of these subjects is an essential part of studying them. All disciplines are believed to have originated in philosophy; mythological stories arose from ancient people’s efforts to understand the link between the universe and human existence.
- Easy : Learning the chain of causes of discoveries? — History of science.
- Medium : Studying changes in farm machinery? — History of technology.
- Exam-type : Understanding development of an art form? — Cultural history.
In the figure: Use of history in various fields.
Seven fields: philosophy, science, tech, industry, management, arts, humanities.
"Necessity is the mother of invention" does not mean only need creates inventions; curiosity and earlier knowledge also matter.
Memory clue: Seven fields. Memory clue: "Phi-Sci-Tech-Ind-Man-Art-Hum".
Spot the difference
| Field | Use of history | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Science | Order and causes of discoveries | Chronology of inventions |
| Technology | Changes and their causes | Farming, architecture |
| Arts | Style and growth | Dance, painting |
Practice questions
- 1State the importance of the history of science.
- 2Why is it necessary to study the history of technology?
- 3How is history useful in philosophy research?
- 4How does history help in management studies?
- 5Explain the role of history in the study of arts.
- 6Which subjects come under humanities?
- 7Explain with an example "necessity is the mother of invention".
- 8Write how the history of your favourite field (e.g. cricket, music) would be useful.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The order and cause-effect chain of discoveries is known.
- 2To understand mechanisation and the science-technology link.
- 3Origin and growth of ideologies are understood.
- 4Past production-market systems and people’s mindset are understood.
- 5Style, artist’s temperament and growth are known from cultural history.
- 6History, archaeology, sociology, anthropology, political science, economics.
- 7E.g. the bulb arose from need of light; built on earlier knowledge.
- 8The student writes chronology of rules, tools and changes.
Cultural and Natural Heritage
As we keep an old paithani got from grandmother, our forts, caves, festivals and forests are also our heritage to be kept for the next generation.
Heritage made by humans is cultural heritage; it is tangible and intangible. Heritage of biodiversity and natural formations is natural heritage.
Key idea 1 : Tangible and intangible — Tangible: ancient sites, buildings, artefacts, manuscripts, sculptures, paintings. Intangible: oral traditions and language, traditional knowledge, festival customs and rituals, performing-art styles, some traditional skills and the groups that keep them.
Key idea 2 : Natural heritage — Natural heritage gives importance to biodiversity. It includes fauna, flora and the ecology and landforms that sustain the fauna and flora of a region. It must be preserved for future generations.
Key idea 3 : UNESCO and world heritage — UNESCO has issued directives to protect cultural and natural heritage and on that basis sites and traditions are declared ‘World Heritage’. As per the textbook, examples from India: Ajanta, Ellora, Taj Mahal, Agra Fort (1983), Elephanta (1987), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai (2004), Western Ghats (2012, including Kaas plateau of Satara district). The list keeps growing, so check the latest list.
- Easy : A fort is which heritage? — Tangible cultural.
- Medium : Ramlila is which type? — Intangible cultural.
- Exam-type : Kaziranga National Park? — Natural heritage.
In the figure: Three types of heritage.
What happened before the Maratha forts received UNESCO status? India chose twelve forts of the Maratha period as its nomination for the 2024–25 cycle: Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee.
What happened after the Maratha forts received UNESCO status? On 11 July 2025 UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, meeting in Paris, inscribed them as ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India’, India’s 44th World Heritage Site. Eleven forts are in Maharashtra and one (Gingee) is in Tamil Nadu.
Tangible = can be touched; intangible = can be experienced.
Intangible heritage is not non-existent; it lives in traditions, arts and skills.
Memory clue: Tangible, intangible, natural. Memory clue: "See tangible, feel intangible, save nature".
Spot the difference
| Type | Example | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tangible cultural | Fort, cave, manuscripts | Can be touched |
| Intangible cultural | Ramlila, yoga, Vedic chanting | Lives through tradition |
| Natural | Western Ghats, Kaziranga | Biodiversity |
Practice questions
- 1State the types of cultural heritage.
- 2What is tangible heritage? Give two examples.
- 3What is intangible heritage? Give two examples.
- 4What is natural heritage?
- 5Who announces the world heritage list?
- 6When was the Western Ghats included in the world heritage list?
- 7Why is it necessary to preserve heritage?
- 8Write one tangible, one intangible and one natural heritage of your district.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Tangible and intangible.
- 2Ancient sites, buildings, sculptures etc.
- 3Festivals, performing arts, traditional knowledge etc.
- 4Heritage of fauna, flora, ecology and landforms.
- 5UNESCO.
- 6In 2012 (as per the textbook).
- 7Because it builds our identity and is needed by future generations.
- 8The student writes local examples.
Heritage Management, Museums and Archives
On a trip, names get carved on a fort wall and litter is thrown. Looking after that heritage is the work of experts and of us too.
Conservation and preservation of cultural and natural heritage is a main task of applied history. The Archaeological Survey of India, state archaeology departments and INTACH work in it.
Key idea 1 : Principles of heritage management — (1) Conservation and development work should be done without changing the site’s original state. (2) Survey in depth the local social structure, people’s mindset, difficulties and expectations. (3) Take care not to hurt local sentiments. (4) Involve local people in the project. (5) Use local skills creatively to create better livelihood chances.
Key idea 2 : Museums and archives — Museums keep artefacts and evidence while archives store old documents, official records and old films. The National Archives of India is in New Delhi and every state keeps its own archives. The National Film Archive of India is in Pune; its aims are to obtain and preserve rare films, document them and spread ‘film culture’.
Key idea 3 : Affiliated professional fields — In museums and archives, preservation of historic sites, tourism and hospitality, and entertainment and mass media, knowledge of history helps decisions. Experts such as architects, engineers, historians, archaeologists, museum curators, sociologists, archive managers, legal experts and photographers are needed. Vandalising historic sites must be avoided.
- Easy : Where are old government records preserved? — In archives.
- Medium : National Film Archive where? — Pune.
- Exam-type : Names carved on a fort — what? — Vandalism.
In the figure: Steps of heritage management.
The ‘Indian Museum’ in Kolkata was founded by the Asiatic Society in 1814; the Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich was founder and first curator. The world’s earliest museum (6th century BCE) was found at ‘Ur’ in Mesopotamia in Sir Leonard Woolley’s excavations (1922–1934); princess Ennigaldi built it. (As per the textbook; check with the book)
Survey-Save-Share-Livelihood.
Museum and archive are not the same; museums keep objects while archives keep documents.
Memory clue: Five principles. Memory clue: "Original, Local, Feelings, Participation, Skills".
Spot the difference
| Institution | What it keeps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Museum | Artefacts, evidence | Indian Museum, Kolkata |
| Archives | Documents, official records | National Archives, New Delhi |
| Film archive | Rare films | NFAI, Pune |
Practice questions
- 1Which institutions do heritage conservation?
- 2State the principles of heritage management.
- 3Why is the participation of locals important?
- 4What are archives?
- 5State the aims of the National Film Archive.
- 6Which experts are needed in museum work?
- 7Suggest ten measures to preserve sources of history.
- 8What aims can be achieved through heritage projects?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1ASI, state archaeology departments, INTACH.
- 2Keep original state, survey, respect feelings, participation, use of skills.
- 3Conservation succeeds and livelihood chances arise.
- 4Institution keeping old documents, records and films.
- 5Preserve rare films, document, spread film culture.
- 6Historians, archaeologists, curators, architects etc.
- 7Info boards, cleanliness, stopping vandalism, training, funds, guides, law, participation, digital records, awareness.
- 8Preservation, awareness, jobs, tourism and education.