Sources of History – JSS1 Nigerian History Lesson Note (First Term)

Sources of history are the materials and evidence that historians use to learn about the past.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. explain what sources of history are;
2. name and describe primary, secondary and tertiary sources;
3. give examples of primary and secondary sources;
4. state the factors historians use to evaluate sources;
5. describe some challenges historians face when working with sources.

What are sources of history?

Sources of history are the records, objects and accounts from which historians build their knowledge of earlier times.

• Foundation of history: without sources, we would know very little about people and events before our time.
• Written documents: letters, laws, records and chronicles such as the Kano Chronicle.
• Physical objects: tools, pottery, bronze and terracotta works such as the Nok terracotta figures.
• Oral accounts: stories and memories passed on by speech.
• Visual materials: photographs, paintings, carvings and films.
• Landscapes: old town walls, mounds and ruins that show how people lived.
• Uneven quality: some periods have many sources and others have few. Some sources are biased or incomplete.

How are historical sources classified?

There are three types of historical source: primary, secondary and tertiary, based on how close each is to the events it describes.

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are materials that give first-hand evidence about an event, person or period.

• They were made at the time of the event, or soon after, by people who saw or took part in it.
• They are the most direct evidence about the past.
• They are not always accurate, because they show the views and limits of their makers.

What are secondary sources?

Secondary sources are interpretations of primary sources, written by people who did not witness the events.

• They are made after the events, sometimes many years later.
• They explain, analyse and link information from primary sources.
• They give context and show why events mattered.
• They reflect the views and bias of their authors.

What are tertiary sources?

Tertiary sources are works that gather and summarise information from primary and secondary sources.

• They give a broad overview and add no new analysis.
• They are made for quick reference.
• They are a good starting point, but they are far removed from the original events.
• Examples: encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs and bibliographies.

What is the difference between primary, secondary and tertiary sources?

What are the types of primary sources?

The main types of primary source are archival materials, museum collections, historical sites, oral traditions, folklore and proverbs, and other evidence such as inscriptions and coins.

Archival materials

Archives are collections of documents and records kept because of their historical value.

• Government records: official documents and reports.
• Personal papers: family papers, diaries and journals.
• Correspondence: letters, telegrams and emails.
• Business records: papers of companies and organisations.
• Visual and sound records: photographs, maps, drawings, recordings and films.
• Where kept: national archives, university libraries and historical societies.

Museums and museum collections

Museums collect, keep and display objects of historical, scientific, artistic or cultural value.

• Tools and household items: show how people worked and lived.
• Clothing and textiles: show dress and skills such as weaving.
• Weapons and military equipment: show how wars were fought.
• Artwork and cultural artefacts: show the beliefs and skills of a people.
• Scientific instruments and vehicles: show past technology.

Historical sites and archaeological remains

Historical sites are places where important events happened or where people once lived and worked.

• Ancient settlements and cities: show how towns were planned.
• Battlefields: show where wars took place.
• Religious buildings: show past beliefs.
• Castles and palaces: show how rulers lived.
• Industrial sites and traditional villages: show past work and daily life.
• Burial grounds: show burial customs.

Archaeology is the study of the past through objects dug from the ground. Archaeological finds include:

• Buildings and structures: show how people built.
• Tools and weapons: show how people worked and fought.
• Pottery and household items: show daily life.
• Coins and jewellery: show trade and wealth.
• Human remains: show health, age and burial customs.
• Food remains: show what people ate.

Oral traditions and oral history

Oral traditions are historical accounts and knowledge passed by word of mouth from one generation to the next.

• They matter most where written records were few.
• In Nigeria, elders, palace singers and town criers have kept the history of many communities.
• Oral history: the recorded spoken memories of people who saw or took part in events.
• Method: interviews are recorded, written down and kept for later researchers.
• Strength: they show the experiences of ordinary people, who are often missing from official records.
• Weakness: memory can fail, and stories may change as they are retold.

Folklore and proverbs

Folklore is the body of traditional stories, myths and legends passed down within a culture.

• Folklore: may contain fantasy, but can keep memories of the past and cultural values.
• Proverbs: short traditional sayings that express wisdom and show the values of past societies.
• Limit: they are not reliable for exact dates and facts.
• Use: they show how people saw their world and what they valued.

Other primary sources

• Inscriptions: writing carved into stone, metal or other lasting material, found on monuments and tombstones.
• Coins and currency: often carry images of rulers, symbols and writing.
• Art and visual materials: paintings, sculptures, photographs and films that show people, places and events.
• Material culture: everyday objects such as tools, clothing and furniture.
• Scientific evidence: tree rings, ice cores and pollen show past climates and environments.

What are the types of secondary sources?

There are seven common types of secondary source: textbooks, academic books, journal articles, biographies, newspapers and magazines, documentaries, and government reports.

• Textbooks: books made for teaching, giving a broad overview. They simplify events and may lack the latest research.
• Academic books (monographs): in-depth studies by historians who used primary sources. They give citations so readers can check facts.
• Journals and academic articles: short scholarly papers on narrow questions. Other experts review them before publication.
• Biographies: accounts of a person’s life written by someone else.
• Autobiographies: written by the person themselves. They are also primary sources for how the writer saw their own times.
• Newspapers and magazines: primary when they report events of their own day. Later articles that analyse past events are secondary.
• Documentaries and historical films: mix old footage or documents with narration and analysis.
• Government reports: analyse trends or conditions using data collected earlier.

What are the types of tertiary sources?

There are four common types of tertiary source: encyclopedias, dictionaries and glossaries, bibliographies and indexes, and almanacs and chronologies.

• Encyclopedias: short articles on many topics, built from several sources, for quick reference.
• Dictionaries and glossaries: give the meanings of historical terms, concepts and events.
• Bibliographies and indexes: list primary and secondary sources on a topic to help researchers find them.
• Almanacs and chronologies: collect facts, statistics and timelines, often arranged by date.

How do historians evaluate historical sources?

Historians evaluate a source by testing its authenticity, reliability and bias, context, corroboration and purpose.

• Authenticity: is the source genuine, or has it been changed or forged? Radiocarbon dating and handwriting analysis can help.
• Reliability and bias: who made it, and what views or motives might affect its accuracy?
• Context: when and where was it made, and what was happening then?
• Corroboration: do other independent sources agree with it? A source that contradicts reliable evidence needs careful checking.
• Purpose: was it made to inform, persuade, entertain or keep a record? Purpose affects what is included.

Why do historians use multiple sources?

Historians use multiple sources because no single source gives a complete picture of the past.

• Each source gives only a partial view, shaped by its maker’s knowledge and bias.
• Comparing sources shows where they agree and disagree.
• Comparing sources helps historians spot patterns and trends.
• The result is a fuller and more accurate account of events.

What challenges do historians face when working with sources?

The main challenges are gaps in the record, limited access, language barriers, changes in word meaning and bias in what was kept.

• Gaps in the record: wars, disasters, deliberate destruction and decay have removed many sources. Some groups were rarely recorded.
• Access: some sources are far away, fragile, privately owned or restricted. Many are not yet digitised.
• Language and culture: sources may be in unfamiliar languages or refer to customs that are now obscure.
• Changes in terminology: words in older sources may have different meanings today.
• Bias in creation and preservation: surviving sources often reflect powerful groups. Women, the poor and the unlettered are often under-represented.

Evaluation

1. What are sources of history?
2. Name the three main categories of historical sources.
3. Explain the difference between a primary source and a secondary source.
4. List four examples of primary sources.
5. State two challenges historians face when working with historical sources.

Assignment

1. Explain why historians use more than one source when studying the past.
2. Describe any two factors historians consider when they evaluate a historical source.