Why study history?

We study history in order to gain a better understanding of our world, our nation and ourselves today.

I. How do we know what happened in the past?

Historians use primary and secondary sources to reconstruct the past.

II. Primary Sources

A record of events made by people who were there at the time of the event; “original” first-hand accounts or items.

A. Primary Examples:

1. Legal Records (birth, marriage certificates, land deeds, military records, etc.

2. Speeches

3. Letters, diaries, and journals

4. Autobiographies (written by the person themselves about their own life)

5. Magazines and newspapers written AT THE TIME of the event.

6. Photographs and film of an event when it happened.

7. Artifacts (original items from the past: rifle, hat, button tools, clothing, etc.)

III. Secondary Sources

Written or made after an event has happened and use primary sources; second-hand accounts, not original

A. Secondary Source Examples:

1. History or research textbooks

•2. Historical fiction novels (made up, not all true)

• 3. Film- “Hollywood” movies- made up or partly factual

• 4. Reference books- (atlas, encyclopedias, some internet articles…)

5. Biographies (written by someone elseabout another person’s life.)

6. Historical event timelines

What do the following discoveries tell us about

a lost civilization?