The Stories That Still Shape America | Joshua D. Rothman | Professor of History at the University of Alabama | Season 13 Episode 21 | #242

History is often taught as a collection of dates, names, and events. But historians rarely see it that way. Instead, they assemble incomplete fragments of evidence into narratives that help explain how societies change, why institutions endure, and how the past continues to shape the present.In this episode, I speak with historian Joshua Rothman about the craft of historical research, the history of slavery in the United States, and the challenge of interpreting the past without reducing it to simple stories. We explore how historians construct meaning from limited evidence, why history is always an act of interpretation, and how economic systems, political institutions, and cultural beliefs emerge through centuries of gradual change.We also discuss why conversations about slavery remain difficult today, the role history should play in education, the relationship between patriotism and historical honesty, and why understanding the past requires humility rather than certainty. Throughout the conversation, Joshua argues that history is most valuable not when it reinforces comforting narratives, but when it helps us ask better questions about ourselves and the societies we inherit.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Joshua Rothman01:42 Discovering history through stories rather than theories08:00 What historians actually do with historical evidence13:55 Narratives, interpretation, and making sense of the past19:28 Causation, contingency, and why history is never a straight line24:45 Why people love history after leaving school26:30 The origins of slavery and the Atlantic world32:35 Slavery's lasting influence on economic and social structures36:25 Studying the psychology of slave traders39:10 Why conversations about slavery remain so difficult48:55 Teaching painful history in schools and universities55:05 Patriotism, national identity, and historical honesty01:01:10 Final reflections on why history still matters Books MentionedThe Ledger and the Chain — Joshua D. RothmanThe Flush Times and Fever Dreams — Joshua D. RothmanBeyond Freedom — Joshua D. RothmanHistorical Figures ReferencedAbraham Lincoln