While there are almost as many definitions of history as there are historians，modern practice most closely conforms to one that sees history as the attempt to recreate and explain the significant events of the past.Caught in the web of its own time and place，each generation of historians determines anew what is significant for it in the past.

【参考译文】

尽管几乎每个历史学家对史学都有自己不同的界定，但现代史学研究最趋于认为历史学是试图重现过去的重大史实并对其做出解释。由于时代和地域的局限，每一代史学家都要重新判断过去哪些史料对其（史学研究）有重要价值。

【疑难解析】

1.caught in the web: 被网抓住，引申为局限于/受困于/沉溺于... 而不能自拔。

The Government was also caught in the web of major financial scandals.政府还陷入重大金融丑闻之中。

2.determines anew what is significant = determines  what is significant anew 重新判断有重要意义的东东

Both sides should begin anew the quest for peace. =

Both sides should begin the quest for peace anew. 双方都应重新开始寻求和平。

3.it 指的是上文的提到的史学。