Lesson 1 Why study History? World History Lesson 1 Why study History?

Objectives: Identify terms - decade, century, epoch, era, millennium, BC/BCE, AD/CE and designations of time periods. Interpret primary and secondary sources. Describe the methods of historical inquiry and how history relates to the other social sciences. Describe the role of historians. Describe how history transmits culture and heritage and provides models of human character.

Lesson #1 Designations of time periods. Key Terms: Copy and Keep in your class notebook. Decade = 10 years Century = 100 years Epoch = an event or a time marked by an event that begins a new period. Era = a period of time marked by distinctive character, events. Millennium = 1000 years BC =Time period before Christ BCE = Before the common Era AD=Anno Domini=Latin for in the year of the Lord CE = Common Era

Time, Time, Time… History is divided into eras – a long period of time marked by great events, developments or people. We have four main eras: PREHISTORY – the time before writing was developed up to 3500 BC ANCIENT HISTORY – 3500 BC – around 500 AD MIDDLE AGES – 500 AD – 1400 AD MODERN HISTORY – 1400 AD – to present day.

More About Time, Time, Time… To date events that took place before the birth of Jesus, or BC, historians count backward. There is no year 0 AD. After 1 BC we go to AD 1. AD is written before the date, BC is written after the date. Ex. AD 2012 & 10 BC

Why Study History? When you study history, you are studying about the past. People who study history are called historians. The main reason you want to learn about the past is to understand the present and make good choices about the future. Historians study clues and evidence left behind by past societies and civilizations. http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu

What is a source? How do people know what happened back in the day? They rely on sources to piece together events in history. There are two types of sources: PRIMARY AND SECONDARY

Types of Sources A PRIMARY SOURCE: is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. Examples include original documents, like diaries and journals. Another example include creative works like cave paintings. A SECONDARY SOURCE: interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Examples include textbooks, and magazine articles written by researchers and historians.

Which is it ? Primary or Secondary My Diary

Any Questions?

Homelearning Imagine you have traveled back in time 35,000 years! Write a letter to a family member or friend who stayed behind in our time. Describe to him/her what kind of experiences you are going through during that time. Be factual, but also be creative and use good descriptive words, including sights, sounds, smells, etc… Please turn in next class, 3-4 paragraph minimum.