IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 3.1.2 Why History Keeps Changing Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 3.1.2 Why History Keeps Changing Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Historical Knowledge Is Unstable

Historical knowledge shifts as new evidence emerges and societies develop different frameworks for understanding the past.
This instability is central to areas of knowledge that deal with complex, unrepeatable human events rather than controlled experimental conditions.

Definition

Historical revisionism

The process of reinterpreting established historical narratives based on new evidence, methodological advances, or changing analytical frameworks.

Note

History is not fixed. It evolves with new evidence, reinterpretations, and changing perspectives.

Historical Knowledge Depends On Available Sources

Historical knowledge gets constructed from whatever evidence happens to survive and be accessible.
When available evidence changes, the knowledge built from it necessarily changes too.
This is exactly why most dramatic changes in historical knowledge come from accessing previously unavailable sources.
The Cuban Missile Crisis had been portrayed as Kennedy's diplomatic triumph until Soviet documents revealed the secret deal removing American missiles from Turkey.
DNA analysis overturned the "Clovis First" theory about American settlement not because previous archaeologists were incompetent, but because genetic evidence didn't exist yet.

Analogy

On a much more immediate timeline, this works like celebrity scandals that unfold over months.
Initially, you only hear one side of the story from tabloids and social media posts.
Your opinion forms based on limited information.
Then text messages leak, security footage emerges, or other people involved finally speak up.
Each new piece of information changes how you understand what really happened.
Historians face the same dynamic but on a far larger scale, and longer timelines.

Note

Historical knowledge is always hostage to the accidents of preservation and access.
What we think we know about any period reflects what sources happened to survive, what archives have been opened, and what technologies exist to analyze materials.

Different Frameworks Change What Counts as Important

Social history shifted attention from political leaders to ordinary people.
Economic historians emphasized material factors that previous scholars had ignored.
Postcolonial perspectives highlighted voices that traditional narratives had marginalized.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Note

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Historical Knowledge Is Unstable

Historical knowledge shifts as new evidence emerges and societies develop different frameworks for understanding the past.
This instability is central to areas of knowledge that deal with complex, unrepeatable human events rather than controlled experimental conditions.

Definition

Historical revisionism

The process of reinterpreting established historical narratives based on new evidence, methodological advances, or changing analytical frameworks.

Note

History is not fixed. It evolves with new evidence, reinterpretations, and changing perspectives.

Historical Knowledge Depends On Available Sources

Historical knowledge gets constructed from whatever evidence happens to survive and be accessible.
When available evidence changes, the knowledge built from it necessarily changes too.
This is exactly why most dramatic changes in historical knowledge come from accessing previously unavailable sources.
The Cuban Missile Crisis had been portrayed as Kennedy's diplomatic triumph until Soviet documents revealed the secret deal removing American missiles from Turkey.
DNA analysis overturned the "Clovis First" theory about American settlement not because previous archaeologists were incompetent, but because genetic evidence didn't exist yet.

Analogy

On a much more immediate timeline, this works like celebrity scandals that unfold over months.
Initially, you only hear one side of the story from tabloids and social media posts.
Your opinion forms based on limited information.
Then text messages leak, security footage emerges, or other people involved finally speak up.
Each new piece of information changes how you understand what really happened.
Historians face the same dynamic but on a far larger scale, and longer timelines.

Note

Historical knowledge is always hostage to the accidents of preservation and access.
What we think we know about any period reflects what sources happened to survive, what archives have been opened, and what technologies exist to analyze materials.

Different Frameworks Change What Counts as Important

Social history shifted attention from political leaders to ordinary people.
Economic historians emphasized material factors that previous scholars had ignored.
Postcolonial perspectives highlighted voices that traditional narratives had marginalized.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

IB Theory of Knowledge 3.1.2 Why History Keeps Changing Notes

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

Historical Knowledge Is Unstable

Historical Knowledge Depends On Available Sources

Different Frameworks Change What Counts as Important

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Historical Knowledge Is Unstable

Historical Knowledge Depends On Available Sources

Different Frameworks Change What Counts as Important

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account