Terms of reference and teaching of history

Abstract

While teaching history in the classroom or making an endeavour to an article on any aspect of the subject we refer to terms which are overlapping but not coeval. Arbitrary reference to terms leads to blurring of boundaries which are defined by accepted usage of those terms. Terms of reference lay the epistemic foundation of any idea. For example when we refer to the formation of a state or political organisation and describe that as an empire, we have to say why we designate something as an empire, or according to what terms of definitions we do it. Hence the term of definition has to correspond with the term of reference, or that the object we are referring to has to correspond with the terms that define it.