History Part 1 - Thinking like a historian

How does a historian resolve conflicting viewpoints?

A historian resolves conflicting viewpoints by using multiple sources

primary source~

A primary source is a document or physical object that was in direct contact or writer viewed the specific event. Primary sources usually have the most information of the event however they have limitations. These sources don't have hindsight, can be baised, outdated, etc.

Artifact

Advantage: Can be dated and determined when it comes from Disadvantage: Without context you don't know what its for

Book primary source

Advantage: Made for others to read and understand Disadvantage: Info can be modified for story.

Exocommunication~

Cutting an individual off from the church, used to punish rebels of church doctrines. Being exocummunicated would mean that you would be going to hell so the people of that time would try to avoid that at all costs.

Speech

Disadvantage: Not intended to be historically accurate. Advantage: Understand perspective of that person at that point of time

Letter Primary source

Disadvantage: Not made to be factually accurate Advantage: Fairly close in time to event, made because of importance

Diary Primary source

Disatvantage: Only one persons perspective on things. Advantage: Gives opinions and ideals of persons of that time

What factors should be considered when evaluating sources?

Evaluating sources must be done with a critical eye. People who write sources are human so they have perspective and biases. Primary sources can be outdated and secondary sources can interpret the primary sources wrong.

How do historians study history

Historians study history though a combination of critical thinking, problem solving, using sources.

secondary source~

Information gathered by someone who did not take part in or witness an event. Secondary sources have the power of hindsight, more common, and usually less dependent on time.

knighthood

Lowest rank of nobility, carries the title "Sir"

What is it like to live in medieval Europe

Medieval Europe Was superstitious, Religious, and Hard to survive. The society of md. euro. was a class oriented system based on pledging loyalty to next person above. The culture was increased isolation from other groups. Government was heavily based on having a lot of power in a group of people as a "divine right". The world view of medieval Europe had much more religiously intertwined than it is now.

apprenticeship

One bound by legal agreement to work for another for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business

what does a historian do with perspective ?

Perspective and point of view can be important for historians because it gives morals and ideals of the times.

perspective/point of view~

Perspective and point of view for historians is an annoyance because it doesn't give a clear view to an event. Both primary and secondary sources have a point of view. the way historians try to counteract this is to have multiple sources on one subject.

Antisemitism

Prejudice against Jews. Happened often due to jewish people being used as a scapegoat in history.

What purpose do primary and secondary sources serve

Primary sources give information from someone that was directly at the event however these can be biased. Secondary sources serve the role of collecting multiple primary sources and giving insight into it..

sacraments~

Sacred rituals of the Roman Catholic Church. (Need More Info)

advantages and disadvantages of Secondary sources

Secondary sources provide interpretations of historical events. Secondary sources can have the advantage of hindsight. the disadvantages of secondary sources are that their offering an opinion of an event.

How do historians write history

Step 1. Gather info Step 2. Corroberate Step 3 Analise perspective Step 4 write

Black Death~

The Black Death was a pandemic in Europe between 1347 to 1351 which killed on average 1 - 2/3's of Europe. Due to the medical beliefs at the time the pandemic was extremely effective at killing swarms of people. The first thing people tried to do was Pray to have their family saved, when this didn't work there was a mass removal from the church which was one of the first times this happened. The Black Death killed people from every class leading to breakdowns of the economy and politics. After the Black Death ended there was a mass need for workers allowing for peasants to get higher wages.

context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text. Having background info helps understanding it

unpublished source~

Unpublished sources is information and or documentation that is not shown or withheld to the public. unpublished sources can give new light or change the way we view a certain event.

Memoir

Value: Much more professional Limitation: Usually happens after event

Subtext

What is between the lines/what's being 'said' without it actually being said? Ask questions about the following: Author: Who created the source, and what do we know about that person? Audience: For whom was the source created? Why is this important? Reason: Why was this source produced when it was?

text

What is visible/readable, i.e., what information is provided by the source?

How do historians analyze primary sources?

When historians analyze sources they go through reading the text first then learning information about the writer and what time it was during (context). They will then find out what is being alluded to /said but not being said.

Questions asked and Themes in History

Who, What, where, when, and why but in depth

secondary source examples

encyclopedias, textbooks, biographies, news articles

corroboration

evidence that confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding; confirmation

corroboration

evidence that confirms or supports a statement, theory, or finding; confirmation. When historians do this they are conforming that their source is correct.

factors that influence perspective

ideology, context, where you where, position, gender, age, culture, class, etc.

What questions to historians ask?

is it a primary or secondary source? Is it baised if so how? What perspective is the writer using? What is the context and subtext of the text? What is the info telling me?

primary source examples

letter, diaries, autobiography, eyewitness

published sources~

sources of information prepared for public distribution and normally found in libraries or a variety of other entities, such as trade organizations.

Usury~

the illegal action or practice of lending money at unreasonably high rates of interest. The signifigance of this is that during the midevil ages people didnt have a good understanding of lending money leading to extreme deat.