UNIT 0 What is HISTORY?

CORROBORATE

COMPARING and cross-checking sources to determine reliability and to find multiple pieces of evidence to back a claim or answer a question

Secondary Source

An account provided AFTER THE FACT by people that did not witness an event

Infer

to find out by reasoning with available information

Conclude

to reach a decision after careful thought

Observe

to see; to notice

Primary Source

FIRST HAND information from people who actually witnessed an event or an original document or artifact stemming from the time period in question

History makes us aware of the problems, sorrows, joys, hardships, and other experiences faced by people in other times and places. Awareness of these experiences helps us better understand ourselves.

History helps us develop EMPATHY for others

History helps us avoid errors of the past

History is full of examples of failed peoples and nations. History shows us what they did or did not do that contributed to their failure. History can serve as an early warning system.

The process of investigating what happened long ago, analyzing evidence, and making judgements about what sources are most credible requires us to evaluate different points of view and determine what pieces of information are important... All of these are CRITICAL thinking skills

History makes us better THINKERS

Witnesses have different POINTS of VIEW

How is it possible for there to be different statements about the same event?

History is INTERESTING

Think of history as a puzzle or mystery. The more of the mystery you solve, the more alive the past will become for you.

One piece of evidence is INSUFFICIENT to build a plausible account.

Why must we corroborate multiple sources to ensure we are correct?