Reverend Historian

Ancient historical narratives are often presented with a level of confidence that exceeds the evidentiary foundations upon which they rest. This paper proposes the Speculative History Hypothesis, which holds that significant portions of what is treated as established historical knowledge are the result of interpretive speculation normalized through repetition and narrative authority. The hypothesis does not deny the occurrence of historical events, but offers a framework for distinguishing between evidentiary support and interpretive reconstruction. Using Herodotus as a methodological primer, this study develops a tiered evidentiary model and applies it to Roman historiography, with particular focus on the Third Servile War. A probabilistic reassessment of Spartacus illustrates how narrative density can obscure uncertainty. An addendum addresses the persistence of historical uncertainty even within technologically advanced societies. 1. INTRODUCTION Ancient history is frequ...

I'm Reverend David Paul Harris. As the host of the podcast Meanwhile… Outside the Bible, I'm your Reverend Historian. As such, I present historical information about events ongoing alongside the development of events inside the Bible (so to speak). Events, you may not be aware of but which are relevant in a comparative manner.  The podcast is designed to draw you in using humor, and it's something I do hope entertains you. This blog, however, takes history quite seriously.  What I post here is written for critical examination by qualified scholars. Because, while I am an ordained minister in good standing with the National Association of Christian Ministers, I am only an Independent Researcher in the field of History.  That stated, I know there are others who will read these posts out of curiosity. When doing so, keep in mind that if you find yourself bored with the language of any given paper, you may find it rewarding to see it through to the end. I offer footnotes, bib...