Historical Thinking
Why study history? History helps us understand people and societies. History helps us understand change and how our society came to be. The social studies (economics, history, sociology, etc) promote the learning of trends about cultures, people, and the past in order to become a more informed and proactive citizen.
What is historical thinking? Historical thinking uses multiple sources, objective sources, and knowledge of historical context to create an argument about the past. An argument about the past should be thorough, backed up with multiple reliable sources, and is as least biased as possible.
How do we write about history? History is an argument, so writing about history should take this form: Claim – Your theory about a historical event Evidence – Facts from a source (or multiple sources) Reasoning: How the evidence proves your claim
Example Hitler was able to conquer much of Europe by use of strategic allies and the invention of the blitzkrieg. For example, Germany became an ally with the USSR through the creation of a non-aggression pact. Additionally, Hitler commanded fast-moving airplanes and tanks, followed by infantry forces, to create a commanding military presence known as the blitzkrieg. These two factors are important to Hitler’s ability to conquer Europe, as he gathered more power though aligning with the USSR, and he was able to take his enemies by surprise with blitzkrieg attacks.
Practice Today, we will practice historical thinking by answering the question, “What factors allowed Europe to rise to power over other nations?” Historian Jerad Diamond argues that Europe’s geographic region and the place around it (animals, land, etc.) allowed it to become more powerful. We will be exploring these factors in more detail.
What factors allowed Europe to rise to power? After reading the factor you were given, fill out the graphic organizer.
What factors allowed Europe to rise to power? After reading the factor you were given, fill out the graphic organizer. Write a paragraph using claim, evidence, and reasoning arguing why your factor allowed Europe to rise to power.