Analyzing Primary Sources Using primary sources to gain a greater knowledge of history

What are primary sources? = Documents created at the time of your event being studied; these documents are directly connected with the events or people being researched. Diaries, Journals Speeches, Interviews Letters, Memos Autobiographies, memoirs Books/Articles written at the time of event Government documents Photographs Creative works (poems, music, art) Court Records, Transcripts

What are secondary sources? = Documents created at a later time than the event being studied, by someone who did not experience the event themselves Biographies Journal Articles Most published books Textbooks Encyclopedias Paraphrased Quotations Magazines

P.E.R.S.I.A. In this class we will be using the acronym, PERSIA, to analyze primary source documents

P - Political; Who is in charge? E - Economic; How do people make a living? R - Religion; What do people believe? S - Social; How do people relate to one another? I - Intellectual/Arts; How do people learn? How do people express themselves? A - Area/Geography; How does where people live impact how they live? P.E.R.S.I.A.

Political Structure (Government) War / Treaties Leaders Popular Participation Loyalty to leader

Economic Trade / Industry Agriculture Labor Systems Technology Money System Slave Labor

Religion Importance on societal interaction Holy Books Beliefs / Teachings Sin / Salvation Deities

Social Family Order Gender Relations Social Classes Entertainment Life Styles

Intellectual Art & Music Writing / Literature Philosophy Math / Science Education Inventions

Area Geography Location Physical Movement Human / Environment