Understanding the Past and How it Shapes the Present Studying History Understanding the Past and How it Shapes the Present

What is History? History is the study of the past. Whether we are learning about a battle that happened 5,000 years ago or an election that happened yesterday, we are still studying history. Historians are people who study history. Their main concern is human activity in the past. They want to know how people lived and why they did the things they did. Historians study the past to understand people’s culture – the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values of a group of people.

How do We Study the Past Oral History – Stories passed down from generation to generation that attempt to explain the past and/or a worldview. Written History – Record of language and symbols on a variety of materials. Anthropology – Study of behavioural, social, and cultural developments.

Archaeology Archaeology is the study of the past based on what people left behind. Archaeologists explore places where people once lived, worked, or fought. The things that people left in these places may include jewelry, dishes, or weapons. They range from stone tools to huge buildings. In many cases, the objects people left behind are the only clues we have to how they lived.

Archaeology

Discussion Name two groups of Canadians who might interpret our country’s history differently. Why? How does history help citizens around the world understand/know their countries better?

Understanding Through History Knowing Others History teaches us about cultures unlike our own. This helps us understand our differences and encourages tolerance toward those differences. Knowing Yourself Our personal histories shape who we are. They determine our likes and dislikes, our worldview and belief systems, our personality and identity.

Understanding Through History Knowing Your World History can provide you with a better understanding of where you live. You are part of a culture that interacts with the outside world. History helps you understand how today’s events are shaped by the events of the past. History is the record of combined human activity. So, while we study history we also learn more about math, science, religion, government, literature, and much more.

What are some of the benefits of studying history? “The purpose of history is not the reader’s enjoyment at the moment of perusal [reading], but the reformation [improvement/transformation] of the reader’s soul, to save him from stumbling at the same stumbling block many times over.” -Polybius, from The Histories, Book XXXVIII What are some of the benefits of studying history?

Using Clues Artifacts – Objects created and used by humans. Include arrowheads, tools, coins, toys, pottery, etc. Fossils – a part or imprint of something that was once alive. Bones and footprints preserved in rock are examples of fossils.

Sources of Information Primary Source – an account of a an event created by someone who took in or witnessed the event. Treaties, letters, pictures, video, etc. all count as primary sources. Secondary Source – information gathered by someone who did not take part in or witness an event. Textbooks, encyclopeaodias, essays, etc. count as secondary sources.

Practice What is history? What kinds of things do historians try to discover about people who lived in the past? What kinds of evidence will historians of the future study to learn about your culture? How does knowing its own history provide a group with a sense of unity? Explain the phrase, “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.” How did the invention of writing affect the sources on which historians rely?

Studying Places and People Studying Geography Studying Places and People

Geography Geography is the study of the earth’s physical (mountains, rivers, etc.) and cultural (people, cities, countries) features.

Geography terms Landforms – the natural features of the land’s surface. Climate – the pattern of weather conditions in a certain area over a long period time. Saskatchewan has cold winters = climate It’s snowing today = weather. Why is it important to understand the climate of a place when studying history?

Studying Location By studying location, geographers can learn more about the factors that affected the people living their and their history.

Geography and History Early people settled in places that were rich in resources, materials found in the earth that people need and value. The first civilization developed along rivers as water was essential for the growing of crops. Geographic features could also protect areas from invasion. Geographic location also helped societies become rich. Resources could be traded for other goods or sold for monetary wealth.

Practice What is geography? How could a river be both a valuable resource and a problem for a region?