Historians wage a constant battle in trying to pin down reality. How they are being treated by the political, social, or religious pressures in the now of their time and place will usually dictate how they will report reality. While some are aware of this and strive to report it honestly, many don't. Since it is the political, social, and religious environment that pays for their work, endorses their findings, and passes judgment on them, who can blame them for doing otherwise? I simply suggest that we should always take what is known about the past with a large grain of salt. It's liable to morph itself right out from under our feet.