Final answer:
The Great Man Theory in history suggests that studying important leaders' deeds and impact is enough to understand the past. However, there are differing perspectives on this, with some arguing that history is more complex and involves the contributions of ordinary people as well.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Man Theory, also known as the 'great man' kind of history, is the view that studying the deeds and impact of important leaders is sufficient to understand and portray the past accurately. It suggests that history can be understood and explained by focusing on the actions and influence of influential individuals. This theory was popularized by Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish historian, in the 19th century.
However, it is important to note that there is a contrasting perspective on this from authors like Leo Tolstoy, who argued that history is much more complex and cannot be reduced to the actions of just a few individuals. Tolstoy believed that the general mass of people who participate in historical events also plays a significant role in shaping history.
In essence, the Great Man Theory focuses on individual leaders as the primary drivers of historical change, whereas the 'everyone' kind of history recognizes the collective efforts and contributions of ordinary people as well.