Chapter 1 Section 1 World History Mr. Kissam Studying History Chapter 1 Section 1 World History Mr. Kissam

Studying History The Big Idea Historians use many kinds of clues to understand how people lived in the past. Main Ideas History is the study of the past. We can improve our understanding of people’s actions and beliefs through the study of history. Historians use clues from various sources to learn about the past.

What is history? History is the study of the past. History considers both the way things change and the way things stay the same. Studying history can help us with decision- making because it helps us know ourselves better.

What is history? Historians are people who study the past to understand people’s culture. Culture is the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values of a group of people.

Measuring Time In order to study the past, and to identify/describe when something happened, historians measure and label time in different ways.

Periods of History An example of measuring time involves grouping a certain number of years. 10 years=decade , 100 years=century and 1,000=millennium. Historians also measure the past by dividing time into larger blocks, or eras. For example, prehistory is the era before people developed writing.

Calendars A calendar is a system for arranging days in order . Throughout the world, cultures have developed about 40 different calendars, some of which are based on nature. Today, we use a calendar that is based on a calendar developed by Julius Caesar known as the Julian calendar.

Calendars This calendar starting counting years at the founding of Rome, had 365 ½ days in a year, and had leap years. The one problem with the Julian calendar was that it was not precisely right. It was losing time.

Calendars In A.D. 1582, Pope Gregory XIII decided to create a new calendar that started counting from the birth of Jesus. Although the Gregorian calendar includes leap years, unlike the Julian calendar, no century year will be a leap year unless it is divisible by 400. Therefore, it will take thousands of years before another day is lost.

Calendars It took more than three centuries for the calendar to be recognized around the world. Today, most of the world uses the Gregorian calendar. Like the Gregorian calendar, other calendars are also based on events of religious importance including the Hebrew, or Jewish, calendar.

Dating Events In The Gregorian calendar, the years before the birth of Jesus are known as B.C. or “before Christ”. The years after are called A.D. or “anno domini”. To date events before the birth of Jesus, historians count backwards from A.D.1. There is no year “0”.

Dating Events To avoid a religious reference in dating, many historians prefer to use the initials B.C.E. and C.E. These stand for “Before the Common Era” and “Common Era”. These initials do NOT change the numbering of the years.

Time Lines A time line shows the order of events with a period of time while showing the amount of time between events. Most timelines are divided into even sections of time and are placed on the time line at the date when the event occurred. Time lines help historians to make sense of the flow of events.

What is Archaeology? Archaeology is the study of the past based on what people left behind. Archaeologists, or people who study archaeology, explore places where people once lived, worked, or fought.

What is Archaeology? The things that people leave in these places can range from stone tools to computers. Objects can be examined to learn about the past and are clues to how people once lived.

Understanding through History We can improve our understanding of people’s actions and beliefs through the study of history.

Understanding through History History can… teach you about yourself teach you about other peoples and different cultures provide you with a better understanding of where you live

Knowing Yourself Without your personal history, you would not have an identity. History is just as important for groups as it is for individuals. History teaches us about the experiences we have been through and the values we share.

Knowing Others History shows how cultures are similar and different. You can understand why people think the way they do by studying history. This knowledge promotes tolerance and can help build social harmony.

Know Your World History explains how today’s events are shaped by past events. History is concerned with the entire range of human activities and is the record of humanity’s combined efforts.

Know Your World It also helps you develop mental skills, such as asking questions. It forces you to analyze facts that you learn. History promotes good decision-making skills.

Know Your World Historians have talking about the value of history for centuries.

Use clues Historians use clues from various sources to learn about the past. Fossils and artifacts give information about early humans.

Use clues A fossil is a part or an imprint of something that was once alive. Artifacts are objects created and used by humans. Writing is another important source of information.

Fossil vs Artifact

Primary & Secondary Sources Historians search for clues about the past using both primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are firsthand evidence that were written/created by the people who saw or experienced the event. Example of Primary Sources are Letters, diaries, or government records are primary sources. Primary sources help historians learn what people were thinking at the time of an event.

Primary & Secondary Sources Historians may not interpret past events in the same way because historians sometimes form different opinions about the primary sources they study.

Primary & Secondary Sources Secondary sources are things created after the event by people who were not part of the actual event. Biographies, encyclopedias, textbook, someone’s opinion about an event are all secondary sources. Secondary sources give historians a broad view of an event.

Questions 1. Who are historians? 2. What kind of information contribute to an understanding of people’s culture? 3. What does BC and AD stand for? 4. What name would you call this era of history? 5. How do fossils and artifacts help teach us about the past?