Complexity and Multiple Causality

This video lecture argues that while causality is central to the historian's enterprise, there is never just one cause for past events. Defines complexity as multiple causes for events but also as failures and wrong turns. Cautions that "Whig history" is the antithesis of complexity and multiple causality as well as being generally poor history overall. Encourages students to employ critical analysis of events -- to seek multiple causes in the history of ideas, politics, individuals, economics, traditions, etc. -- to avoid writing linear history. Produced by Dr. Martin T. Olliff for his Troy University (AL) classes, HIS 3375 (Historical Research) and HIS 4490 (Senior Seminar in History). No part of this work is a work for hire under US Copyright Law.