CHAPTER 8

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH: AN AVENUE FOR CHOICE OF METHOD IN HISTORICAL STUDIES

Francis Fayam, PhD

Introduction

History which is the subject matter of historiography has in the past been treated with the attitude of sanctity to avoid the discipline being adulterated by other disciplines. The old belief or thinking was that if adulteration was allowed, the discipline would lose its identity as an independent discipline; and it would become dependent and dumping ground for the theories and hypothesis of other related disciplines like the social sciences. However, modern developments in the intellectual world have proved the above old-fashioned way of thinking absolutely wrong. It is glaring today that there is a rapid shift towards seeking co-operation among related disciplines especially in the humanities and social science. Suffice it to say that conferences and research projects are packaged in such a way that scholars from different related disciplines contribute their various views on a given theme producing a comprehensive result which certainly history as a single discipline could not have been able to fathom. It is the objective of this chapter, to focus on the inter-relationship of history with other disciplines and highlighting the relevance of interdisciplinary approach to historical Studies.

Historical methods and methodology have changed and are responding to the influences of other related disciplines, simply put, the way history was taught, studied, and written in the past has

changed, Therefore, it is against this background that this chapter sets out to examine the relationship history as a discipline has with related disciplines. History by simple definition is the past records of events, movements, causes and inter-relations. It thereforerequires some skills, concepts and tools of analysis from related disciplines to indeed make its research reports richer, more buoyant and comprehensive document that reflects

occurrences and events in a given society. History as a discipline is characterized by the different approaches of data collection forhistorical reconstruction which assist in corroborating, correcting and confirming existing data. l

This existing link between history and related disciplines has no doubt expanded the frontiers of knowledge. Thus, the interdisciplinary approach could be seen from two perspectives. One, there is a sense in which scholars from different but related disciplines could collaborate in a joint research effort.2 The second sense in which one could talk of an interdisciplinary approach is when a historian uses the findings, insight, theories, postulations, hypothesis and other analytical tools generated by scholars from other disciplines to aid his own historical reconstruction and interpretation.3

Significance of the Interdisciplinary Approach to History

It has become glaring, that for historians to seek collaboration with scholars of other related disciplines the importance and relevance of such approach cannot be over emphasized.

To build up frontiers of knowledge, there must be collaborative research between the history scholars and scholars of related disciplines, especially while writing on certain situations for example in African History. This approach becomes so significant especially in the area of collecting data, and sources, as a result of paucity of written sources on the early period of African history and has become imperative for the historians to rely on the contributions or other disciplines to research on the African past. The philosophy imbibed in the significance of this

approach is that no one single source can give a complete and clear picture of the African past. Therefore, for an articulated and in-depth knowledge, the historian must co-operate with other scholars of different hut related discipline. The idea of African past in the early period of historywould suggest that the scholars of history would seek for information from disciplines like Archaeology and Linguistics. These are disciplines encompassed in the popular history methodology called Oral Tradition as postulated by Vansina et, al.4

The interdisciplinary approach in historical studies has come to be appreciated in the area of interpretation and analysis of data. O. E Uya in his lectures on “Elements of Historical thinking” stated clearly that Analysis and Interpretation are very important tools of the historian and equally the life blood of history.5These are evidence of a history scholar with the expected historian skills among others, such of skill of inquiry, accommodation, inclusiveness, inquisitiveness (i.e investigative mind) and others. Therefore, the above two tools (skills) mentioned are vital part of the historian work (craft). Any historian who only stopped at the point of collation of data, his final product would not be history rather can only be counted as a chronicle of some sort. Many, historians today have discovered that some analytical tools, theories, concepts and hypothesis used by social scientists could also be used in their own analysis. The use made by historians of these theories, concepts and hypothesis according to Okon Edet Uya is simply an acknowledgement that social sciences adorn their works with much theorizing, from which history can draw to embellish its works.6 However, the students have to be discriminating about what they adopt from the social sciences because not all such theories are relevant to particular historical sceneries, and in any case; the social scientist themselves do not always agree on the validity of certain laws evident in the sharp ideological differences among social science practitioners.

Relationship of other Disciplines with History

It is note-worthy to state here that interdisciplinary approach definition involves the combination of two or more academic disciplines into one activity as exemplified by research projects. In the case of history, it draws knowledge from several other fields like sociology, archaeology, anthropology, economics etc. It is about creating something by thinking across boundaries. There is also the difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Multidisciplinary involves people front different disciplines working together, each drawing on that disciplinary knowledge while interdisciplinary is the integrating knowledge of real synthesis of approaches .7

In considering the disciplines from which history has immensely benefited and stands to benefit, they can be classified into three categories namely: the humanities, the social sciences and some natural sciences. Although it does not mean that these disciplines do not benefit from history, it is a mutually beneficial relationship which will continue to generate a cross-fertilization of ideas among the disciplines.8 After all, it should be remembered that history is the mother of all academic disciplines from where all have their history or origin.

The Humanities

In the humanities, there are those disciplines that study mankind and seek to understand his strange nature such disciplines are concerned with creating beauty, preservation of ideas and cultural values. The disciplines in this category include religion, philosophy, linguistics, and fine arts which consist of the visual arts, the performing arts and creative writing. The letter, simply called literature, here involves the production of original literary works such as novels, plays and poems.9 However, time and space are constraints and may not allow for detail circum navigation

of the details of the relationship between each of this disciplineand history, but will give summary of the dialogue between history and philosophy, linguistics, and literature before moving on to examine other categories of discipline.

History and Philosophy

History's relationship and relevance with philosophy lies the fact that it is the philosophers who attempted to give a global meaning to history. Only very fewof them have introduced perspectives that have proved to be of great value to historians over the years. Karl Marx in his “Theory of Historical Materialism” opened the eyes of scholars to the predominance of economic forces in historical development. It is now quite obvious that several variants of Marx’s ideas were developed after him. One of such is the dependency theory and together with Marxism, it has been very popular in the historiography of under development in Africa. However, African historians have not contributed much in the area of formulating

speculative philosophies of history.10 According to A.E Afigbo our African historiography is deficient because it is predominantly combative in spirit which has diverted it from the need to seek clearly the central meaning for us today of the African experiences so far constructed.11Meanwhile in the Western World, the leading light in the field of speculative philosophy of history include Oswald Spengler, Arnold Toynbee and recently Francis Fukuyama,

History and Linguistics

The relevance of linguistic to history is that the study of language and their relationships is important means of learning about change and contact in the past. Several techniques research have yielded vital information which has been of tremendous value to history, one of such techniques is historical linguistics which studies language change in time and space with a view of establishing the degree of divergence between two stages of a language whether temporal or spatial, and accounting for the evolution of the divergent stages.12 Another technique is the study of loan words. This shows the relationship between the speaker of one language and another language from borrowed vocabulary items.13 For example, Joseph Goreenbeng the renowned linguist has demonstrated in his linguistic analysis of Kanuri loan words in Hausa language that Hausa obtained several of their political titles from the Kanuri. This would indicate

that the Bornu Empire exercised some influence on the Hausa state in the past.14 Suffice it to say, there are other several linguistic techniques such as language classification, study of proto-languages, lexicostatistics and Glotto-Chronology have yielded vital information to the historian in the area of Chronology and understanding early culture contact. The latest attempts of collaboration between linguists, historians, anthropologist and other specialist have produced works such as the “Multi-Disciplinary Approach to African History edited by N.C Ejituwu. By the effort of these scholars, the problem of chronology in history has to some extent been resolved.15

History and Literature

To a professional historian, one of the questions that readily come to his mind is how does history relate to literature; what kind of collaboration could probably exist between a literary artist and a historian? Literature; is here taken to be different forms of creative writing such as novels; plays and poems, within the lot is situated the non-fiction genre whether novels (historical novels or plays which are set within a particular historical contexts). Some of these creative literature present imaginary characters and events as though they were real thus creating genuine ethical problems for the historian. Again, some of these works do contain stereotypical characters and project a sensationalized view of the past. In the words of David Powell “their historical judgments can be naive or factually dubious while a novel rarely contains the space for the kind of extended social, economic or political analysis which is so comforting to the academic historical mind.16

There is a warm relationship between the historian and the creative writer. Whether he is writing an historical novel or a play, once the creative writer chooses his subject and the format to be used, he turns to history to get available information which is like a framework into which he feeds his mind/imagination. Some of the hardworking creative writers go beyond the published historical text. They dig up documents and records in archives, and there is the possibility of uncovering materials that have eluded the professional historians. However, the attention of these creative writers to detail in exploring the lives of individual men and women could be said to have set the pace where later practitioners of history have striven to follow.17 Historical literature has stimulated the interest of the populace in the past by recreating its texture, mood and atmosphere and even in generating debate about historical events. There are some of the creative works that are reminiscent of the past such as the trials of Dedan Kimathi by Ngugi Wa Thong “O” and the Micere Mugo Githae which dramatizes the travails of the leaders of the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya, and Wole Soyinka’s play depicting real events that took place in Oyo in 1946, when chief Elesun was required by native traditions to die and accompany the departed Alafin to the great beyond, and Elechi Amadi in which the author bring us to the memory of the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970.l8

History and the Social Sciences

The social sciences are disciplines which deal with the human society. They proffer systematic explanations of the social world by showing the empirical and logical relations of social events19. They focus on our relationship with people in groups. They are basically different from history in the bodies of theories they present, their peculiar techniques and methodology. They include anthropology, economics, political science, sociology, psychology and geography. No doubt, historians have borrowed concepts defined by social scientist. Such concepts are social change, social mobility, elite theory, social control, the search for ethnic identity and other determinants of human behavior in social psychology. However, little has been said on what history has to offer the social sciences. According to Clause Ake, the social sciences cannot accomplish the task of providing systematic explanations of the most social world without operating within the framework of historical analysis 20.

The social scientist is thus confined to comparing men at different points in time and stages of evolution. This is what made social science to become dependent on historical and developmental analysis. This mode of thinking, according to Ake must have made Marx to insist on “obliterating the distinction traditionally made between the social sciences and history.

However, many social scientists may not readily identify with history but the truth of the matter is that when they study man in the society, they are indirectly studying history. It is worthy of note to state here that history is the laboratory against which social science must test and consolidate its knowledge about the social world. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that by neglecting history social science promises itself no future21. This line of argument above if carried to a logical conclusion shows the centrality of history, not only to the social sciences, but also to other branches of knowledge. After all, there is no phenomenon or object that has not gotten a history22

It can be said with all certainty that there is mutual benefit that history and social science stand to get from one another. This mutual relationship between history and social anthropology is reflected in A.E Afigbo’s use of oral tradition as a historical methodology in the reconstruction of the Benin society of the pre-colonial era. The emphasis of his study was based on the myths and legends which produced a fantastic result especially in showing the dynamic nature of oral tradition, how they accommodate changes in people's perceptions of political power and social relations and illustrating the efforts of the populace to ensure a balance of power between the ruler and the ruled.

Robin Horton, an Anthropologist made a survey and review of present knowledge on origins, expansions and migration among the eastern Ijo through a thorough study of traditions together with valuable information provided by linguistics and archeology23.

The social scientists have criticized and attacked historians on what they called the hegemonic perspective of history in which African historians see history from the point of view of the rulers, the administrators, the politicians, policy makers etc. This has been referred to as history from the top or bourgeois historiography. Marxist scholars kicked against this approach and pointed attention to the plight of the masses and the working class. It is the general view of the social scientist that in Africa Marxism has remained a general tool of analysis; history is yet to start from below. However, with the recent changes in information technology especially in the last century (i.e., 20th century) historians are being introduced to statistical method, the use of computers and other developments in quantitative analysis and in this way economic history has benefitted immensely from this development.24

History and the Natural Sciences

The interdisciplinary relation between history and natural science has not been one of direct collaboration. But those sciences have been randomly called upon to throw light and bring out issues that are beyond the competence of a professional historian. It is in this light, a few or the physical and biological sciences have been of a great assistance to the historians. For example, studies in Physical Geography and Geomorphology in the Lake “Chad Basin25has thrown more light on the history of its people. This is because the present distribution of peoples. Their post migrations, their agricultural and pastoral activity and so on, are all closely connected and conditioned by the environment. Paleobot culture was practiced on the side where the pollens were recovered and also gives other useful information on the vegetation. Such studies have helped us to trace the domestication of food plants in Africa. Physics has been applied to the study of history. The use of radioactive isotopes gives us a chronological gauge to the earliest days of homosapiens in the case of the use of carbon 14 method and to periods more than a million years ago in the case of potassium-argon method. Parasitologists also have a lot to offer the historians by way of studying disease patterns and making their findings on them available. This could be used be used in determining the demographic growth of the peoples concerned. All these show that a rich and varied mass of documentary material is to be obtained through the sources and techniques derived from the physical and biological sciences.

Implication of Interdisciplinary Approach for Historians

The interdisciplinary approach in historical studies has some implications for historians. It is an approach that opens a world of new ideas, evidence and many opportunities, but is yet to be fully tapped. Historians are said to be more receptive to ideas from other disciplines and they readily collaborate with their colleagues across disciplinary boarders. Such cooperation has yielded an abundance of knowledge well beyond the competence of a single discipline. Many academic conferences these days have multidisciplinary bias, the goal being a cross fertilization

of ideas.

This approach opens a wider platform for both historians and scholars or various persuasions to have a joint or engage in a project that will honour a retiring colleague or to mark the birthday of a discipline. Other scholars whose works have any bearing on the area of specialization of the colleague are invited to be part of the project. Thus, for example, Toyin Falola’s African Historiography26 which is a collection of essays in honour of Prof. Ade-Ajayi J.F has contributions from J.D Peel a professor of Anthropology and Sociology as well as from other notable historians. Again, the multi-disciplinary approach to African History 27 earlier mentioned is a collection of essays in honour of E.J Alagoa has contributions from M.G Anderson a professor of Art and Design, P.E Leis a professor of Anthropology, C.S Nwodo, a professor of philosophy as well as from distinguished historians. Such collaborations have provided a forum for the rapport between historians and scholars from other disciplines.

Conclusion

It is known fact that history now is being pulled towards the social sciences more than the natural sciences but has continued to remain in the departments under the faculty of humanities and art. It is suggested that the discipline should move all out in rapport with the social sciences by shifting their base in terms of faculty affiliation. Finally, the rapport of history with other disciplines has opened up new vistas of knowledge as well as expanded the frontiers of research not only in the Arts and Humanities but also in the Social Sciences. It is a rapport that is mutually beneficial to all the parties concerned.

Endnotes

1. J. Ki-zerbo (ed.) UNESCO: General History of Africa, Carlifornia: Heineman, 1981, page 48

2. Chambers Encyclopedia (London, 1967) Vol. 11 page 667

3. Boubou Hama and J. Ki-Zerbo “The Place of History in African Society” in UNESCO, General History of Africa Vol. 1 methodology and African pre-history. Carlifornia, Heinemann Press Ltd. 1981, Page43

4. Jan Vansina, Oral Traditions: “A study in Historical Study in Historical methodology” (Chicago Press Ltd) Page 1

5. OE Uya, “Elements of Historical Thinking” in lectures series delivered at Department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar 1994

6. Okon Edet Uya, African History: Some problems in methodology and perspectives" (Cornell University. African studies and Research Center) 2004, pages 16-23

7. Kenneth O. Dike and J.F Ajayi, African Historiography in DL Shills (Ed) International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences. Vol. 6 (Macmillan, 1968), Page 394

8. 8 E.J. Alagoa, “The Interdisciplinary Approach to African History in Nigeria Presence Africanne 94 1975p.175

9. NC Ejituwu (Ed) Multidisciplinary Approach to African History (Port Harcourt, University of Port Harcourt, 1988, pp. 195 - 255

10. Walter Rodney How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, London: Bogie – L.O-uverture Publications, 1972

11. A E. Afigbo, The Poverty of African, Historiography, (Afrografika Press. 1976), page 110

12. J.A Ballard, “Historical Inferences from Linguistic Geography of the Middle Belt of Nigeria” in Africa Vol. 41, Pp294-305

13. Ballard, Ibid, page 287

14. Ballard Ibid, page 292

15. Ejituwu, Ibid, page 195-255

16. David Powell, “The Historical Novel: History as Fiction and Fiction as History” in the Historian, No 43 Autumn, 1994. P15

17. Ngugi Wa Thong ‘0’ and Micese Mugu Githae, The Trials of Dedan Kimathi

18. N.C Ejituwu Ibid, page p195-255

19. Claude Ake. “History As the Future of Social Science in Tarikh-al-sudan

20. Ibid, page 20. Vol. 9, 1991 page 19.

21. Ibid, page 21

22. Ibid page 21-22

23. A.E. Afigbo, The Poverty of Historiography, pp.13-15

24. O.O. Olubomehin (ed.) Issues in Historiography, Ibadan, College Press, 2001, pp 21-22

25. Ibid, page 22

26. Ibid page 23

27. lbid, page 23-24