Evidence, Renaissance and Queen Elizabeth 1 Flashcards
(102 cards)
How do we know about the past
People left behind sources that tell us about life in the past, they are called primary and secondary sources. Historians use these to write history.
What is history
About people, tells us about what they did at different times in different places. Helps us understand why people did the things they did. Shows us how life changed and how people changed
What are primary sources
Accounts of events written at the time or soon after event. First hand clues and are closely connected with event. Not based on another source but are first hand accounts of event.
Why do we have to handle them with care
Cant be replaced and sometimes are the only surviving links with places, events and people in past
What is a secondary source
Material that has already been selected and interpreted. Second hand clues. Sources that have drawn info from another source. Second hand account if event written later by historian looking back upon period in past. Come after primary source into finished product.
Will the sources be accurate
Neither type of source may be accurate or reliable. Both could be biased, open to differing interpretations or insufficient.
What are the 4 types of sources and their sub headings
Material sources Written sources Written documents (Letters and diaries) Oral sources (Oral traditions)
What is a material source with examples
Remains of people (skulls and bones) and things people made and used (tools, weapons, buildings, ornaments and pottery) these are called artifacts.
What is the study of these old physical remains called
Archeology and the people that study it are called archeologists who don’t rely on written sources.
What is a written source with examples
Written records (documents, letters and diaries) writings which may be hand written, may be hand written or printed. Most of history based on evidence found written records but paintings and drawings, photos and maps are also useful.
How important are written documents and extra info
Some most valuable source about past are written documents . Value of written documents above oral accounts is that its content remains the same. Earliest document about 5000 years old, turns out, boring account of commercial transactions. Many regions no written records which date back more than few hundred years. Docs there at moat thousand years of past and then only from perspective of few literate people.
What are letters used for history
Important source of evidence. Give info not recorded anywhere else. Used by historians to piece together what has happened in past.
Why are diaries important to history
Import at source of evidence. Tell good deal about character and way of life of person who wrote them. Many provide primary evidence about important events and people. Help build pic of everyday life at particular time and place.
What questions do you ask when you look at a diary
Why did they keep a diary
Did she/he mean others to see it
Were they honest about themselves and others
How far do they five complete pic of thing has written
Are important details left out
Were they in position to know about these things written about
What are oral sources with examples
Stories and remembrances about past which handed down by word of mouth. If oral traditions written down becomes written records.
What are oral traditions
Societies without tradition of writing maintain record of past by way of spoken stories, passed on form one generation to another. Unlike many stories told by relatives, subject of oral accounts sufficient importance to society as whole to warrant repetition from generation to next. Oral traditions selective to what remembered: may highlight remarkable events or tell of activities of ancestors and descendants. Accounts of such regarded as history.
What does reliable mean
Trustworthy
Dependable
Believable
History is reliable when
Writer has good knowledge of event
Writer has good understanding of what happened
Writer gave both sides of story, not biased
Writer used many sources and checked the evidence
What are the 2 problems with evidence
Bias, favoring one side, main problem not always easy to pick up, results in inaccuracy of truth
Missing evidence, historians have to rely on evidence that survived, most countries wont release document until 50 years have passed. Lack of evidence results in inaccuracy, bias and distortions of truth
What do historians have to be
Mustn’t be biased, if primary biased then second hand source taken from hat primary will also be biased. Historians have to be as objective as possible (neutral) giving balanced account, difficult when faced with problems.
Analyse Archeology Artifacts Authentic Autobiography
Examine in detail
Study of physical remains of communities
Remains of people and things made and used
Something genuine or real
Personal account of persons life, for publication
Biased
Biography
Century
Be one sided
Written account of persons life by another person
Period of 100 years
Decade Documents Illiterate Illuminate Interpret
Period of 10 years
Written/printed material provides record of evidence of event
Unable to read or write
Highlight or make clearer
Put evidence own words and explain and understand sources
Legend Literate Myth Reliable Statistics
Popular story handed down earlier times which may/may not be true
Able to read and write
Idea/explanation widely held but untrue or unproven often details supernatural people/things
Sources one can trust believable or trustworthy
Numerical info been collected, classified and interpreted
