No matter what religion you are, you are on the Christian Calendar. This is very important to know when studying ancient history. According to the Christian Calendar, it is 2013 years since the death of Jesus Christ (2013AD: Anno Domine). It does not mean that the world is 2013 years old. But what about the time before Jesus Christ? When referring to these years, the common historical term is BC (before Christ) and the years count backwards to the year 0AD. For example, Julius Caesar was murdered in 44BC, which means 44 years BEFORE the death of Jesus Christ. Therefore the year after Caesar was killed would have to be…?

43BC.

History refresher:History refresher:

An historical source is something that tells us about the past and there are lots of different types. For example........

We divide sources into two types: Primary sources

Secondary sources

SOURCES OF EVIDENCE

A Primary source is a source which comes from the past

Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied, or were created at a later date by someone remembering events

Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period. 

Primary Sources

A Secondary Source is a source which does not come from the time we are studying but was produced later.

These sources offer an analysis of primary sources or attempt to explain them. Some secondary sources not only analyse primary sources, but use them to persuade the reader to hold a certain opinion.

SECONDARY

A movie about the Battle of Troy

A text book that shows pictures of the illustrations of the pyramids of Egypt

A worksheet on the burial grounds of Mesopotamia

A cartoon of King Tutankhamen for a website

Primary

Secondary

Primary Secondary

Primary

Secondary                                                                             

Primary

Secondary