9/15 DO NOW

What is the past, and why is it important?

 How do we learn about

events in the past?

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History: The analysis and interpretation of the past. (How we explain the past)

Can two people have different histories of the same event?

Think of it as, “His story”

History should be an open argument as to how and why things happened.

What?Who?

Where?When? How?

Why?

History is more than just facts.

How do we learn about history?

• Primary Sources: A written document or physical object that was written or created during the time under study.

• Why they’re useful: They give us a perspective into the time period they were made – let us see the world through the eyes of the past.

• Why they’re imperfect: They are biased; only tell one side of the story.

Primary Source Examples

• Diaries, letters, journals written in the past.• Original photographs that document a past

time period.• Material objects (often found by

archaeologists – ex. Clothing, coins, carvings, artwork, weapons, parts of homes)

• Newspaper articles written about historical events.

How else do we learn about history?

• Secondary Sources: A secondary source describes, interprets and analyzes primary sources.

• Why they’re useful: They summarize historical events, present both sides of the story, and have the power of hindsight (know how things played out).

• Why they’re imperfect: They don’t have the historical perspective of primary sources.

Secondary Source Examples

• History books• Magazine, journal articles that interpret

historical events• Textbooks

Fiction-Made up by author-Not based on real people or events

Non-Fiction

-Based on real people, places and

events

Tells

A

Story