Contemporary vs. Historical — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 20, 2024
Contemporary refers to anything that belongs to or occurs in the present time, highlighting current relevance, while historical pertains to the past, emphasizing significance, events, or conditions from earlier times.
Difference Between Contemporary and Historical
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Contemporary subjects or events are those that exist or happen in the same time period as the present or in recent history, emphasizing current trends, ideas, or technologies. This term often relates to modern art, literature, or cultural movements, suggesting a connection with the current age or generation. In contrast, historical refers to anything that relates to the past, including ancient cultures, historical events, or artifacts. It focuses on understanding, documenting, or interpreting events from earlier times, often to glean insights about human history and societal evolution.
While contemporary art or literature reflects the themes, concerns, and styles popular in today's society, historical art or literature provides a window into the values, aesthetics, and issues of past societies. The contemporary perspective is dynamic, frequently changing as society evolves, whereas the historical perspective offers a static, retrospective view of past events and their impact on the present and future.
In scholarship and academia, contemporary studies might analyze current political, social, or technological issues, seeking to address immediate concerns or predict future trends. Historical studies, however, delve into past events, cultures, and figures, aiming to construct narratives that explain how they have shaped the modern world. The methodologies used in contemporary and historical research also differ, with the former often relying on current data and analysis, while the latter utilizes primary sources from the past and historical analysis techniques.
The relevance of contemporary issues is immediate, impacting current societal debates and policies, whereas the significance of historical issues lies in their influence on contemporary society and contribution to our understanding of human development. Both perspectives are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of any subject, providing insights into its evolution and current state.
Comparison Chart
Time Frame
Present time or recent past
Past, including distant and recent past
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Focus
Current trends, ideas, and technologies
Past events, cultures, and artifacts
Perspective
Dynamic, changes with current society
Static, retrospective view of the past
Art and Literature
Reflects modern society’s themes and styles
Provides insight into past societies
Academic Studies
Analyzes current issues, predicting future trends
Constructs narratives of past events
Relevance
Immediate impact on society and policy
Influence on contemporary society
Research Methodology
Current data and analysis
Primary sources and historical analysis
Compare with Definitions
Contemporary
Current trends.
She studies contemporary fashion to predict future styles.
Historical
Ancient cultures.
The study of historical civilizations reveals much about human nature.
Contemporary
Modern technology.
Contemporary smartphones feature advanced security technologies.
Historical
Significant events.
The historical significance of the moon landing is immense.
Contemporary
Recent issues.
Contemporary politics is heavily influenced by social media.
Historical
Artifacts from the past.
Museums house historical artifacts that tell our story.
Contemporary
Belonging to the present.
Contemporary music often blends multiple genres.
Historical
Analysis of bygone eras.
Historical research helps us understand the causes of wars.
Contemporary
Present-day art.
His work is a critique of contemporary society through art.
Historical
Pertaining to the past.
Historical novels transport readers to another time.
Contemporary
Living or occurring at the same time
The event was recorded by a contemporary historian
Historical
Of or concerning history or past events
Historical evidence
Contemporary
Belonging to or occurring in the present
The tension and complexities of our contemporary society
Historical
Of or relating to history; concerned with past events
A historical account.
Contemporary
A person or thing living or existing at the same time as another
He was a contemporary of Darwin
Historical
Based on past events or set in the past
A historical novel.
Contemporary
Belonging to the same period of time
A fact documented by two contemporary sources.
Historical
Used in or providing evidence of the past
Historical costumes.
Historical records.
Contemporary
Of about the same age.
Historical
Concerned with phenomena as they change through time
A historical dictionary.
Contemporary
Current; modern
Contemporary trends in design.
Historical
Important or famous in history. See Usage Note at historic.
Contemporary
One of the same time or age
Shelley and Keats were contemporaries.
Historical
Of, concerning, or in accordance with recorded history, (particularly) as opposed to legends, myths, and fictions.
July 4, 1776, is a historic date. A great deal of historical research has been done on the events leading up to that day.
The historical works of Lord Macaulay and Edward Gibbon are in and of themselves historic.
Contemporary
A person of the present age.
Historical
About history; depicting persons or events from history.
Contemporary
From the same time period, coexistent in time; contemporaneous.
Historical
Of, concerning, or in accordance with the past generally.
Contemporary
Modern, of the present age (shorthand for ‘contemporary with the present’).
Historical
Set in the past.
Contemporary
Someone or something living at the same time, or of roughly the same age as another.
Cervantes was a contemporary of Shakespeare.
The early mammals inherited the earth by surviving their saurian contemporaries.
Historical
(uncommon) Former, erstwhile; lapsed, nominal.
Contemporary
Something existing at the same time.
Historical
(grammar) One of various tenses or moods used to tell about past events, historic (tense).
Contemporary
(dated) A rival newspaper or magazine.
Historical
Synonym of hereditaryor evolutionary.
Contemporary
Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous.
This king [Henry VIII.] was contemporary with the greatest monarchs of Europe.
Historical
Of, concerning, or in accordance with the scholarly discipline of history.
The Royal Historical Society
The State Historical Society of Wisconsin
Contemporary
Of the same age; coeval.
A grove born with himself he sees,And loves his old contemporary trees.
Historical
Done in the manner of a historian: written as a development over time or in accordance with the historical method.
Contemporary
One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and Chaucer were contemporaries.
Historical
(uncommon) historic: important or likely to be important to history and historians.
Contemporary
A person of nearly the same age as another.
Historical
Forming compound adjectives with the meaning "historical/~" or "historically":
Contemporary
A person of nearly the same age as another
Historical
A historical romance.
Contemporary
Characteristic of the present;
Contemporary trends in design
The role of computers in modern-day medicine
Historical
Of or relating to the study of history;
Historical scholars
A historical perspective
Contemporary
Belonging to the present time;
Contemporary leaders
Historical
Having once lived or existed or taken place in the real world as distinct from being legendary;
The historical Jesus
Doubt that a historical Camelot every existed
Actual historical events
Contemporary
Occurring in the same period of time;
A rise in interest rates is often contemporaneous with an increase in inflation
The composer Salieri was contemporary with Mozart
Historical
Belonging to the past; of what is important or famous in the past;
Historic victories
Historical (or historic) times
A historical character
Historical
Used of the study of a phenomenon (especially language) as it changes through time;
Diachronic linguistics
Common Curiosities
Why study historical events?
Studying historical events helps us understand the causes and effects of those events, learn from past mistakes, and appreciate the development of societies over time.
Can a topic be both contemporary and historical?
Yes, a topic can have both contemporary relevance and historical significance, such as discussions on democracy or human rights, which are analyzed through both current and historical lenses.
How does perspective change between contemporary and historical analysis?
Contemporary analysis focuses on current or recent phenomena, while historical analysis provides a retrospective examination of past events and their long-term impacts.
How does contemporary art differ from historical art?
Contemporary art reflects current societal issues, using modern techniques and ideas, while historical art offers insights into the aesthetics and concerns of past cultures.
What role does technology play in contemporary vs. historical studies?
Technology is a central subject of contemporary studies due to its rapid evolution and impact, whereas in historical studies, technology is analyzed for how it influenced past societies and developments.
How do the goals of contemporary and historical research differ?
Contemporary research aims to understand and solve current problems or predict future trends, while historical research seeks to construct narratives about the past to understand its influence on the present.
What is the importance of contemporary studies?
Contemporary studies are crucial for addressing present-day challenges, influencing policy making, and guiding societal progress with current knowledge and technology.
Why might a contemporary issue be analyzed with a historical perspective?
Analyzing contemporary issues with a historical perspective can provide valuable insights into their roots and evolution, helping to inform more effective solutions or understandings.
How do contemporary and historical perspectives complement each other?
Together, they offer a more complete understanding of a subject by connecting its past developments with its present state and potential future direction.
Can something be considered historical in the future?
Yes, contemporary events, objects, or ideas can be viewed as historical in the future, as they become part of the past and are studied for their significance or impact.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
