HISTORY

BS ENG Course Code: GC 101

ROLE OF MEN IN HISTORY

Iqra Gull

Assignment submitted to

MS ASIFA RANA

National University of Modern Languages

Islamabad Pakistan
History And Historiography

 The Role Of Men In History

The Role of men in history is basically very important to make an historical event.

The presence of Men matters a lot to create any historical event. Most of the times

historians use to describe historical event that HOW,WHEN,WHY,WHERE that

specific event had take place. In these aspects the Role of MEN is very important to

make any event in to an historical event.

Some people considered that individuals play a great role in making history that the

kings or great people. To discuss the role of men in history basically historian use two

terms or theories.

 The Great Men Theory

 The Determinant Theory

THE GREAT MEN THEORY(Theory of Leadership)

The great men theory of leadership became popular during the 19th-century. The

mythology behind some of the world's most famous leaders such as Abraham Lincoln,

Mahatma Gandhi, Quaid-E-Azam and Muhammad Bin Qasim the great leaders

helped contribute to the nation that great leaders are born and not made. In many

examples, it seems as if the right man for the job seems to emerge almost magically to

take control of a situation and lead a group of people into safety or success.
 ''Great leaders are born not made'' This sums up the tenant of the great man theory of

leadership, which suggests that the capacity of leadership is inborn. According to this

theory, you are either a natural born leader or you are not.

This theory is presented by ''Thomas Carlyle'' in 1840. This is 19th century idea according to

which history can be largely explained by the impact of great men, heroes, leaders and kings

they are highly influential individuals due to their personal charisma, intelligence, wisdom, or

political skills and they used their powers in a way that had a decisive historical impact.

According to this theory only great men are responsible for the historical events. Great Men

(Leaders, Kings, Generals etc ) those who have influence in society and wealth matters for

the historians and for the Great Men theory that behind the historical event what was the

influence and impact on societies at that time. All those historical events that are made by the

several personalities are included in Great Men theory.

Examples:

1: 14th august 1947 is the greatest historical event that was based on freedom between

nation. Nation of Pakistan and India.14 august 1947 is the day of freedom for Pakistan and

the nation of Pakistan got freedom just because of the efforts of great leader Quaid-E-Azam

Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

2: Spread of Islam is a very great and important historical event. The great leader Muhammad

Bin Qasim who conquered the sub-continent and make Islam spread over the world. He is

was a great king a leader who fought who did battles for the spread of Islam. He contributed

his self and make efforts to spread Islam all over the world or in sub-continents

3: Hitler also owns a great role in Great Men theory because of the world war which takes

place because of Hitler.

 Determinant Theory
This theory was presented by the scholar Herbert Spencer in 1860. it was based on counter

argument against Great Men Theory. He neglected and did not accepted the theory that

historical event are happened just because of men. He countered that the Great Men Theory

was childish, primitive, and unscientific. This theory was termed as Determinant Theory.

According to this theory ''Every historical event is pre planned and men has very minor and

nominal role of men in it''

The Determinant theory is basically based on objections, argument that was objurgated by

Herbert Spencer. He neglected the Great Men Theory and said the role of men only helps in

shaping the historical event and these events are pre-planned.

Examples:

1: The first example is of Muhammad Bin Qasim that the spread of Islam was not because of

him. It was all planned from before that Islam has to spread in Sub-Continents. He was just a

way that how it is going to be done.

2: The second example of division of India and freedom of Pakistan's nation that Pakistan

must had to be independent, Quaid-E-Azam and his company was just a way for it. The

freedom of Pak and Indo both were pre planned. Mahatma Gandhi and Quaid-E-Azam

played a nominal role in history according to this theory.