History

• Understanding History
• Definition(s) of history


  History is the systematic study of the past
• History is the construction of the past
• Pre-history

  10-07-24
• Pre-hiday refers to a period when people could not write their history
• The difference between history and the past

  The past is what actually happened, history is an attempt to reconstruct the past
• Reasons why we study history

  • Understanding identity
  • Build better citizenship
  • Gain context for human experiences
  • Those who know their history have political power
  • History develops critical thinking skills
• Subjects related to history

  • Human Geography
  • Religious Education
  • Ancient history
  • Cultural Studies
  • Economics
  • Political Science
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Geology
  • Archaeology
  • Philosophy
  • Anthropology
  • Sociology
• Branches of history

  • Political history
  • Economic history
  • Social history
  • Diplomatic history
  • Food history
  • Cultural history
  • Art history
  • Geology
  • Linguistics
• What history includes


  • The history of political systems
  • The history of economic processes
  • The history of people and societies
  • The history of international action
  • The history of food cuisines
  • The history of world cultures
  • The history of art
• SOURCES OF HISTORY
• Primary source


  Evidence that existed during the period under study
• Secondary source


  Evidence that did not exist during the period under study, second-hand information
• Importance of oral history

  • It is passed down from generation to generation
  • It is in the form of stories, songs, and fables
  • It is important to understand the language and customs of the people
• Advantages of written history

  • Information is more accessible
  • There are specific dates and times
  • Information is more reliable than oral history
  • It is cheaper than archaeology
  • Information can be kept for a long time
• Disadvantages of written history

  • It involves a lot of work to compile the information
  • The evidence is limited
  • Information can be destroyed by weather or extreme conditions
  • Information in computers can be destroyed by viruses
• Archaeology


  The scientific study of the material remains of past human life and activities
• Advantages of archaeology


  • Specific dates can be obtained from artefacts
  • It gives more information about the lifestyles of the past
  • Its findings are more accurate
• Disadvantages of archaeology


  • It is an expensive method
  • It requires special tools and machinery
  • It takes a lot of time and effort by experts
  • The environment can be damaged by the excavation
• Rock Art


  Drawings and paintings of people long ago found on rocks, caves, and stone walls
• Advantages of Rock Art

  • We get more information about the lifestyles of people in the past
  • Information lasts a long time
  • Historians learn more about the nature of people of long ago
• Disadvantages of Rock Art

  • They are subject to interpretation
  • Rock paintings may fade due to weather and time
  • They are not easy to find
  • They can only be read by specialized professionals
• Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution
• Explanations for the origins of mankind

  • Cultural/religious explanation
  • Scientific explanation