How to Understand History: Primary Sources and Artifacts – history series 5

Introduction

History is not just a collection of stories passed down from generation to generation. It is built from real evidence that people—historians—use to piece together the past. To truly understand history, it’s essential to know how primary sources like letters, diaries, and artifacts play a crucial role in uncovering the truth about past events. In this article, we’ll explore how historians use these sources, the tools and methods they apply, and how children can become “history detectives” themselves.

1. What Are Primary Sources and Why Are They Important?

Primary sources are original materials that were created during the time of an event. They give us firsthand accounts of what happened, helping us understand history directly from the people who lived it. These sources include:

• Letters and Diaries: Personal writings give insight into people’s thoughts, feelings, and everyday life during historical periods.
• Artifacts: Objects from the past, such as tools, clothing, or art, can tell us about the culture, technology, and lifestyle of historical societies.
• Photographs and Documents: Official papers, like birth certificates, treaties, or laws, help us understand political and social decisions.

By using primary sources, historians can get closer to the real story of the past, rather than relying on secondary interpretations.

2. How Do Historians Piece Together History?

Historians act like detectives, gathering evidence from various sources to build a more accurate picture of the past. They don’t just rely on one piece of evidence; they combine information from multiple places to verify facts and form conclusions.

• Cross-Referencing: Historians compare details from different sources. For example, they might check if a diary account of a historical event matches what’s recorded in a newspaper from that time.
• Contextual Analysis: Understanding the context in which something was written or made is essential. A letter written during wartime will be different from one written in peacetime.
• Dating and Authenticity: Historians use tools like carbon dating to determine how old artifacts are and whether they are genuine.

By piecing these clues together, historians can reconstruct events, understand cultural practices, and reveal how societies evolved.

3. Common Tools, Theories, and Methods Historians Use

Historians use various tools and methods to analyze evidence. Here are a few:

• Archaeology: Digging up artifacts to understand ancient societies.
• Carbon Dating: A scientific method to determine the age of an object.
• Textual Analysis: Studying letters, books, and documents to uncover deeper meanings and intentions.
• Historical Theory: Applying ideas like Marxism or Feminism to understand how social, economic, and gender roles shaped history.

Using these methods, historians can turn raw evidence into a well-researched understanding of the past.

4. Identify Activity: Be a History Detective

Let’s pretend you are a “history detective” seeking to uncover a historical secret or event! This activity encourages children to work with their parents on a small project, learning the basic methods historians use.

Steps:

1. Choose a Historical Mystery: Pick a famous event or figure, like “What happened to the lost colony of Roanoke?” or “What did ancient Egyptians eat?”
2. Gather Evidence:
   • Find Primary Sources: Use a diary entry, a photograph, or an artifact (can be from books or the internet).
   • Analyze Artifacts: If studying ancient Egyptians, look for clues in their artwork, tools, or clothing.
3. Use Historic Tools/Methods:
   • Cross-Referencing: Compare your findings with other historical evidence. Does your primary source match what you know from books or the internet?
   • Textual Analysis: If your evidence is a letter or diary entry, look at the words carefully. What emotions, events, or details can you pick out?
4. Make an Assumption: Based on the evidence you’ve gathered, what do you think happened? Write down your theory or conclusion.
5. Review: Compare your theory with historical conclusions from books or historians. Did you reach the same conclusion? What was different? Why?

This activity helps children practice critical reasoning and understand how real historians work.

5. Critical Thinking Discussion with Parents: Comparing Your Conclusions to Historians’

Now it’s time for a family discussion. Once you’ve completed your detective project, talk with your parents and compare your conclusions to those of professional historians.

Steps for Discussion:

1. What Were Your Findings?
   • Explain what you discovered in your “history detective” project.
   • What primary sources or evidence did you use? What was your conclusion?
2. Compare with Historians’ Conclusions:
   • Did your findings match the conclusions of historians? How were they similar or different?
3. Analyze the Differences:
   • Why do you think your conclusions were different? Did you use the same tools, theories, or methods as the historians?
   • For example, if your conclusion about the lost colony of Roanoke was different from historians, what evidence did they use that you didn’t consider?
4. Decide Which Is More Reasonable:
   • Discuss which conclusion makes more sense and why.
   • Do you think you missed something? Did historians use more evidence or better tools?

This discussion helps children understand how different approaches to studying history can lead to different conclusions, sharpening their critical thinking skills.

Conclusion

Understanding history through primary sources and artifacts allows children to connect more personally with the past. By becoming “history detectives,” they can engage in the methods used by historians, learning how to analyze evidence and make reasoned conclusions. This hands-on experience not only makes history more exciting but also fosters critical thinking, enabling them to see how the past is built from real stories and objects.