Suggestions on Doing Historical Research

The article is primarily discussing reconstructing dances from the past (1500 to 2011 or so) from historical sources. The author makes lots of good points which are useful for any type of historical research (especially from documents.)

http://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi ... uction.htm

1) Do your own research, using primary sources.
3) Read the entire book
4) Read the source in its original language if you can. Translations are full of errors.
5) Re-read your sources a few years later. It's amazing how many critical details escape a first reading.
6) Investigate the authors.
8) Don't confuse similar terminology and traditions from different eras and locales.
9) Incorporate iconographic evidence.

Another tip:

Investigate a topic so narrow that you will be the world's leading expert.

Then they will all have to read your book!

Another tip:
Investigate a topic so narrow that you will be the world's leading expert.
Then they will all have to read your book!

And pick a topic in which you would have little competition [the less of it, the better]. Say, the customs of picking one's nose and of scratching one's derriere.