美国史学起源新论

摘要

殖民地史学尽管与美国史学有着地域和时间上的延续性,但是它却与欧洲史学是个＂自然的同一体＂,这是因为无论从殖民地的社会环境、历史写作者本身还是写作目的来看,都与英国有着密不可分的联系。二者之间区别甚于联系,如果说二者之间有何联系的话,确切地说,应该是＂前世＂与＂今生＂的关系。美国独特的国家主义不仅是美国史学得以产生的＂催化剂＂,而且还成为美国史学传统发展的基础和原动力。美国史学与共和国同生共长,从而打上了深深的＂美国烙印＂。%Despite its regional and temporal continuity with American history,colonial history was a ＂natural homomorph＂ with European history.This was because it was closely associated with Great Britain either in social environment of colonies or in history writers themselves and their purposes of writing.The two histories were more different than associated.More exactly,the association between the two was that between ＂previous and current life＂.The distinctive nationalism of the United States worked not only as the ＂catalyzator＂ of American history but also as the basis and dynamo of development of traditions of American history.