How can we find out about the past? (p. 50 - 51)

• Humanities
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

How can we find out about the past?

Goals:

At the end of this class you:

- understand the difference between a primary sources and secondary sources

- understand the challenges when studying sources

What can we learn from different civilizations?

A primary source is information that was created at the same time as an event or by a person directly involved in the event

A secondary source is information from somewhere else or by a person not directly involved in the event.

What can we learn from different civilizations?

Interpretation is the action of explaining the meaning of something, and this can differ between people. 

When the interpretation differs, it can leads to a different opinion or perspective.

Another challenge is the availability of sources. It is sometimes difficult to preserve evidence from many years ago. 

What can we learn from different civilizations?

Answer the questions on the next 10 slides.

Is the example a primary or secondary source?

When in doubt, you can use Table 3.1 on p. 50 for help.

A textbook describing Christopher Columbus sailing to America

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

Anne Frank's diary describing her life during World War II

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A cartoon showing how Pocahontas met John Smith

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A scientist explaining what it was like for Buzz Aldrin to walk on the moon

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A news report about the opening of a power plant

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A Youtube video describing how the pyramids were built

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

An interview with Alexander Graham Bell about how he invented the telefphone

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

An autobiography about the 40th president, Ronald Reagan

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A famous artist painting of what cowby life was probaply like

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

A play about the life of William Shakespear.

1. Primary Source
2. Secondary Source

What can we learn from different civilizations?

On the next few slides, answer the questions. 

Use your textbook p. 50 - 51 to check out Source A, B and C. 

These questions are considered homework for next class! 

If someone from the future wanted to find out about life in the twenty-first century, what sources would you suggest they use?

HOMEWORK

If you created a time capsule to represent your own life, what items would you include? Think about the information each item would provide to someone in the future.

HOMEWORK

"It is impossible to write ancient history because we do not have enough sources and imporssible to write modern history because we have far too may" - Charles Pierre Peguy

What would the challenge be if you have a) too few or b) too many sources?

HOMEWORK

Answer these two questions for Source A (Coin from Ancient Rome) on p.50

1) What is your interpretation of the source? What can you say about it?
2) Explain your perspective/opinion about the source

HOMEWORK

Answer these two questions for Source B (Cave Painting) on p. 51

1) What is your interpretation of the source? What can you say about it?
2) Explain your perspective/opinion about the source

HOMEWORK

Answer these two questions for Source C (Terracotta Warriors) on p. 51

1) What is your interpretation of the source? What can you say about it?
2) Explain your perspective/opinion about the source

HOMEWORK