History and What- Really-Happened What is History? Remembered, Recovered, & Invented

Based on a USU 1320 lecture by Dr. Mark Damen

Starter Take out a piece of paper, put your name, hour, and today’s date on it along with the title: “History and What Really Happened” Take out a piece of paper, put your name, hour, and today’s date on it along with the title: “History and What Really Happened” Then answer this question in a short paragraph (5-6 sentences). Then answer this question in a short paragraph (5-6 sentences). How do we know what has happened in the past? How can we learn about history? List as many sources of historical knowledge as you can. How do we know what has happened in the past? How can we learn about history? List as many sources of historical knowledge as you can. Test is tomorrow! Be sure to finish your study guide and notes during Peak or after school!! Test is tomorrow! Be sure to finish your study guide and notes during Peak or after school!!

Starter 1- Take out a piece of paper. Create this circle map on it. 2- Answer these questions in the first section with 5-6 sentences. How do we know what has happened in the past? How can we learn about history? List as many sources of historical knowledge as you can (ex. Books, etc.). Name: History and What Really Happened Hour: Date: History What is History? Recovered History Remembered History Invented History

So what is history? What do you think? What do you think? Think-Pair-Share Think-Pair-Share Talk with the students you share a table with about your ideas and come up with a definition of history and why we should study it. Talk with the students you share a table with about your ideas and come up with a definition of history and why we should study it.

What are we going to learn? Social Studies Objective We will be able to describe what history is and how we learn about the past. Social Studies Objective We will be able to describe what history is and how we learn about the past. Behavior Objective – Courtesy & Respect Behavior Objective – Courtesy & Respect Language Objective We will talk about our ideas with others, listen to their ideas, and describe important details in our notes. Language Objective We will talk about our ideas with others, listen to their ideas, and describe important details in our notes.

What is History? According to most people, history is “what really happened in the past”. According to most people, history is “what really happened in the past”. But where do we get this information? But where do we get this information? Figuring out what happened in the past is complex and difficult, but helps us learn about people from different times. It also helps us learn about ourselves. Figuring out what happened in the past is complex and difficult, but helps us learn about people from different times. It also helps us learn about ourselves. Ancient World History

How do we know what happened in the past? What are some ways we can learn about things that happened in different times? What are some ways we can learn about things that happened in different times? ?

Learning about history is like being a detective. A detective gathers witness statements, collects evidence from the scene, and gathers background information to find out what is true and false. A detective gathers witness statements, collects evidence from the scene, and gathers background information to find out what is true and false.

History does the same thing if you think about it. Historians gather information from people who lived at the time they are studying. Historians gather information from people who lived at the time they are studying. Archeologists learn about the past by digging it up and figuring out what they find means. Archeologists learn about the past by digging it up and figuring out what they find means. Historians also have to decide if people were being truthful, or stretching the truth to benefit themselves. Historians also have to decide if people were being truthful, or stretching the truth to benefit themselves.

There are three basics types of history. Remembered history is history that was passed down either orally (in spoken words) or recorded in writing. Remembered history is history that was passed down either orally (in spoken words) or recorded in writing. Recovered history is history that was lost and found again, often through archaeology. Recovered history is history that was lost and found again, often through archaeology. Invented history is history that was made up by someone. Invented history is history that was made up by someone. All three of these give us valuable information. All three of these give us valuable information.

Remembered history in detail. Remembered history is history that was passed down either orally (in spoken words) or recorded in writing. Remembered history is history that was passed down either orally (in spoken words) or recorded in writing. It is like witness statements to a detective. It is like witness statements to a detective.

Can you see some problems with Remembered history? Do you watch any crime shows on television like Law & Order, CSI, or Bones? Do you watch any crime shows on television like Law & Order, CSI, or Bones? What have you learned about witnesses? What have you learned about witnesses? Hint: Can you always believe them? People like to tell stories that benefit themselves, or make themselves look good. People like to tell stories that benefit themselves, or make themselves look good.

Testimony of Witnesses Our understanding of history is often based on the testimony of witnesses. Our understanding of history is often based on the testimony of witnesses. Different people see things in different ways, so it’s not always possible to determine what happened in the past Different people see things in different ways, so it’s not always possible to determine what happened in the past Ancient World History

Remembered History Historians want to know all they can about what people remember, but they must always be careful of bias in their sources of information. Historians want to know all they can about what people remember, but they must always be careful of bias in their sources of information. Bias is telling a story in a way that benefits your own point of view. Other words that describes bias are predisposition, preconception, or even prejudice. Bias is telling a story in a way that benefits your own point of view. Other words that describes bias are predisposition, preconception, or even prejudice.

Testimony of Witnesses People’s memories are filled with biases: self- righteousness, pride, vanity, spinning tales, confusion and outright lies. People’s memories are filled with biases: self- righteousness, pride, vanity, spinning tales, confusion and outright lies.

Sources of Remembered History A primary source is an original document that has to do with an event or subject of inquiry in history. It is a firsthand or eyewitness account of an event. A primary source is an original document that has to do with an event or subject of inquiry in history. It is a firsthand or eyewitness account of an event. Examples Examples Diary Diary Pictures Pictures Maps Maps And so on… And so on…

Sources of Remembered History A secondary source is any document that describes an event, person, place, or thing that was not created at the same time that it describes. A secondary source is any document that describes an event, person, place, or thing that was not created at the same time that it describes. Examples Examples Biography (What about an autobiography?) Biography (What about an autobiography?) History textbook History textbook Documentary on the History Channel Documentary on the History Channel And so on… And so on…

Sources of Remembered History Oral history is historical information, usually tape-recorded or video taped, that is obtained in interviews with persons who have firsthand knowledge of a different time or an important event. Oral history is historical information, usually tape-recorded or video taped, that is obtained in interviews with persons who have firsthand knowledge of a different time or an important event. Examples Examples Grandma telling about when she was young. Grandma telling about when she was young. An interview with a World War II veteran. An interview with a World War II veteran.

Recovered History in detail. Recovered history is history that was lost and found again, often through archaeology. Recovered history is history that was lost and found again, often through archaeology. This is like evidence from a crime scene. This is like evidence from a crime scene. This video clip shows archaeology students at a dig in Salem, Massachusetts. This video clip shows archaeology students at a dig in Salem, Massachusetts.video clipvideo clip

Sources of Recovered History Archaeology is the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by studying their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated from the earth. Archaeology is the scientific study of historic or prehistoric peoples and their cultures by studying their artifacts, inscriptions, monuments, and other such remains, esp. those that have been excavated from the earth. Example Pompeii Jamestown And so on…

Sources of Recovered History Another important source for recovered history is librarians who find lost papers in their collections. Another important source for recovered history is librarians who find lost papers in their collections. Examples Dead Sea Scrolls Greek and Latin writings And so on…

Sources of Recovered History We also can recover history when languages that we did not understand are finally translated. We also can recover history when languages that we did not understand are finally translated. Examples Maya Cuneiform Egyptian An so on…

Can you see some problems with Recovered history? What have you learned about evidence from crime shows? What have you learned about evidence from crime shows? Hint: Is it easy to interpret what evidence means? (CSI clip) People often have different opinions about what recovered history tells us. People often have different opinions about what recovered history tells us. This is another form of bias.

Invented History in detail. Invented history is history that was made up by someone, but that often uses real events as their basis. Invented history is history that was made up by someone, but that often uses real events as their basis. For a detective, these would like be stories made up by a suspect. For a detective, these would like be stories made up by a suspect. Although we know that these stories are not true, they can tell us about the person who is telling the story, their culture, their beliefs, and what they think is important for us to believe. Although we know that these stories are not true, they can tell us about the person who is telling the story, their culture, their beliefs, and what they think is important for us to believe.

Sources of Invented History Many myths and legends are invented history. Many myths and legends are invented history. Examples Examples George Washington and the Cherry Tree George Washington and the Cherry Tree Atlantis Atlantis And so on… And so on…

Sources of Invented History Other sources are books and movies that use real events from history to tell a story. Other sources are books and movies that use real events from history to tell a story. Examples Examples The Last Days of Pompeii The Last Days of Pompeii National Treasure National Treasure And so on… And so on…

What are some problems with invented history? What have you learned about lies from crime shows? What have you learned about lies from crime shows? Hint: Do detectives always know that a suspect is lying to them? Hint: Do detectives always know that a suspect is lying to them? People often don’t find out that the story was not true until later, and it is difficult to change people’s mind once the lie is exposed. People often don’t find out that the story was not true until later, and it is difficult to change people’s mind once the lie is exposed. This is another form of bias. This is another form of bias.

Remembered, Recovered, and Invented By looking at each of these types of history, we can gain insights into what happened in the past. By looking at each of these types of history, we can gain insights into what happened in the past. Just like a detective uses all these types of evidence to find the guilty person in a crime. Just like a detective uses all these types of evidence to find the guilty person in a crime. Yet even with all of this evidence, historians do not have a 100% accurate knowledge of what happened in the past. Yet even with all of this evidence, historians do not have a 100% accurate knowledge of what happened in the past.

Time machine anyone? I often wish I had a time machine so I could go and see what actually happened at some point in history. I often wish I had a time machine so I could go and see what actually happened at some point in history. Then I could tell people about it or show them a video of what I saw. Then I could tell people about it or show them a video of what I saw. Would this be unbiased history? Why or why not? Would this be unbiased history? Why or why not?

Is it impossible to find out what-really-happened-in- the past? Probably! Probably! However, we can get closer to the truth by: However, we can get closer to the truth by:  Looking at multiple sources  Discussing what we think is accurate  Allowing debate  Being flexible to changes

So what is the point of studying history? Misunderstanding history has caused some of the darkest days in our history, like World War II and Sept. 11. Misunderstanding history has caused some of the darkest days in our history, like World War II and Sept. 11. Others have reshaped the world through their understanding of history, like the Founders of the United States or Gandhi. Others have reshaped the world through their understanding of history, like the Founders of the United States or Gandhi.

Why Study History? It tells us: It tells us: How we got to the present time. How we got to the present time. Our values as a society. Our values as a society.  Founding Fathers Studying the past is the only way to steer a course into the future. Studying the past is the only way to steer a course into the future.  We don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past. (the Holocaust, Japanese Internment Camps)  We want to continue the successes of the past. (Democracy, Art, Medicine, etc.)

History matters!! “Whether anyone likes it or not – or admits it or not – everyone cares about history because it’s from our understanding of what- really-happened back then that we guide and shape our lives.” “Whether anyone likes it or not – or admits it or not – everyone cares about history because it’s from our understanding of what- really-happened back then that we guide and shape our lives.” We all have beliefs about who we are and where we come from that help us to find a place in our homes, communities, and world. We all have beliefs about who we are and where we come from that help us to find a place in our homes, communities, and world.

History should not be placed on a dusty shelf like a book. We all can contribute to the history and shape our own understanding of it. We all can contribute to the history and shape our own understanding of it. Be willing to be a detective of history and find a new clue that could reshape our thinking about the world we know. Be willing to be a detective of history and find a new clue that could reshape our thinking about the world we know. So let’s start with Utah… So let’s start with Utah…

Bell Activity  Your words are “archaeologist” & “artifact”  Find the word on your pink study guide and complete the following information for the word.  Find the definition using a glossary.  Use your own knowledge and experience to complete the rest of the definition.  Where should your backpack be? This is a no gum class. Please dispose of it properly!

Does your work look something like this? Word: archaeologistMy Understanding: Definition:Draw a picture of it: Sentence: Synonym/ Example: Antonym/Non- Example:

Does your work look something like this? Word: archaeologistMy Understanding: Definition: a scientist who studies Draw a picture of it: prehistoric (or historic) people and their culture Sentence: The archaeologist was excavating the site of an shelter used by Paleo-Indians. Synonym/ Example: anthropologist Antonym/Non- Example: biologist, chemist

Does your work look something like this? word: artifactMy Understanding: Definition:Draw a picture of it: Sentence: Synonym/ Example: Antonym/Non- Example:

Does your work look something like this? word: artifactMy Understanding: Definition: any handmade object from Draw a picture of it: an earlier time Sentence: The artifacts were carefully mapped by the archaeologist before she removed them from the ground. Synonym/ Example: object; statue, toy Antonym/Non- Example: not made by humans

Remembered, Recovered or Invented History With your table partners, you will be looking at artifacts. With your table partners, you will be looking at artifacts. Decide if they are an example of remembered, recovered or invented history. Decide if they are an example of remembered, recovered or invented history. Then decide if they are a primary or secondary source. Then decide if they are a primary or secondary source. Discuss your ideas with your group and then write your conclusions on your group paper. Discuss your ideas with your group and then write your conclusions on your group paper.

Group Jobs Reader – Hold up the document and read any text. Reader – Hold up the document and read any text. Scribes – Write the responses of your group. Scribes – Write the responses of your group. Prompter – Ask the questions on your paper for each artifact. Prompter – Ask the questions on your paper for each artifact. Fact Checker – Poll your group to decide what type of history the artifact is. Fact Checker – Poll your group to decide what type of history the artifact is. Cheerleader – Keep everyone on task. Cheerleader – Keep everyone on task.