Historical Perspective How can we better understand the people of the past?

Perspective There is an ocean of difference between current worldviews (beliefs, values and motivations) and those of earlier periods of history

Perspective Presentism- present ideas and customs on people and events of the past There is some value in applying the common experiences of humans present day and in the past (love, death, hunger)…but we cannot think like the past

Perspective We must work hard to explain why an idea or belief generally accepted in the past may not be accepted today We can “infer” how people felt and thought in the past by understanding the context (the time period or event) and by assessing evidence

Perspective We can analyze how and why people acted in a particular time and why the actions of people today might be different Here is the most important part: tension exists between conflicting ideas of the past and present day viewpoints about historic events DO NOT APPLY PRESENT DAY VALUES TO EVENTS OR ATTITUDES OF THE PAST UNLESS YOU CAN PROVE THEY WERE SIMILAR

Names- 1920’s BOYS Robert John James William Charles GIRLS Mary Dorothy Helen Betty Margaret

Names- 1980’s BOYS Michael Christopher Matthew Joshua David GIRLS Jessica Jennifer Amanda Ashley Sarah

Names 2000’s BOYS Jacob Michael Joshua Matthew Daniel GIRLS Emily Madison Emma Olivia Hannah