Core Concepts - Review

History of the World

HISTORYHistorians are people who study

events in the pastThe past can be organized in two

parts: history and prehistoryPrehistory: is the time before

humans invented writing (around 5,200 years ago)

History: written records.

Using a TimelineA timeline is a tool used by historians in which

a line is marked off with a series of events and dates

A timeline puts events in chronological order, the order in which they occurred.

A period is a length of time important because a specific event or development that occurred during that time. It can also be called an era or epoch.

Ex. The LeBron James Era in Miami.

How do we organize history? Today, much of the world uses the believed

birth date of Jesus.Events that happened before his birth date:

B.C. for “before Christ”Or also called B.C.E. for “Before Common Era” (in our class)

Events that happened after his birth date:A.D. for Anno Domini, “Year of Our Lord”Or C.E. for “Common Era” (in our class)

How do we measure the passage of time?

Cultures use different calendars

Our culture, and many others around the world, use a Gregorian calendar, which has 365 days per year.

It is based on the movement of Earth around the sun.

Historical SourcesPrimary Sources: information that comes

directly from a person who experienced an event. It is what the person writes, says, or creates about the event.

Examples: LettersDiariesSpeechesPhotographsArtifacts: object made by a human being, such as a tool, or a weapon.

Secondary SourcesSecondary Sources: information

about an event that does not come from a person who experienced that event. These are sources that describe or make sense of the past.

Examples: Some books, movies, or articles can

be secondary sources.

Evaluating Your SourcesPrimary and Secondary sources can be

misleadingInterpretation of sources can be wrong. Ask yourself:

Who created the source material? Is the information fact or opinion?Does the information have a bias? Bias: an unfair preference for or dislike for something. Material with bias leaves out info that does not support the author’s point of view.

Who helps historians?

Archaeology: the scientific study of ancient cultures through the examination of artifacts and other evidence

They search for artifacts, such as tools, weapons, and pottery

They search for fossils: remains of living things (plants, bones, etc.)

They help us when we study prehistory

Who helps historians?

Anthropology: study of humankind in all aspects, especially development and culture.

Seek to understand origins of humansThey research oral tradition, which is a community’s cultural and historical background, passed down in spoken stories and songs

Who helps Historians?

Geology: study the physical materials of Earth, like soil and rocks

Object found in lower layers are generally older

Geologists also examine the amount of radioactive material on living things

They also use DNA and genetic evidence to find more info.