Interdisciplinary Approaches to History: Rethinking Narratives of the Past

Abstract

Historical study has increasingly moved beyond traditional narrative forms, embracing interdisciplinary methodologies to interrogate the past more critically and inclusively. By integrating insights from anthropology, sociology, literary studies, archaeology, digital humanities, and political science, historians are reconstructing narratives that address complexity, marginality, and contingency. This paper examines how interdisciplinary approaches reshape historical knowledge, focusing on the blending of empirical evidence with narrative strategies, visual culture, oral histories, and material culture. A case study of postcolonial Indian history illustrates how combining textual analysis with ethnographic methods provides nuanced perspectives on social, economic, and cultural transformations. Survey data from 30 history scholars and 50 graduate students demonstrate the perceived value and challenges of interdisciplinary methods in producing robust historical narratives. Findings indicate that interdisciplinary approaches enhance contextual understanding, reveal silenced voices, and foster critical engagement with historiography. The study concludes that adopting multiple disciplinary lenses enables historians to rethink the past in ways that are more reflective of contemporary complexities and social diversity.