Sources Of History SS3 Nigerian History Lesson Note

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to

1. Describe the sources of history                         
2. Identify the two sources of history
3. Identify some common dating techniques.         

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES: 

• Identification, 
• explanation, 
• questions and answers, 
• demonstration, 
• videos from source

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: 

• Videos, 
• loudspeaker, 
• textbook, 
• pictures.

NOTE

History is the study of past events. To learn about the past, historians need information. This information comes from different places called “sources” or “evidence.” Without these sources, we cannot know what happened in the past. This lesson explains the different types of historical sources and how historians figure out when things happened in the past.

What Are Sources of History?

Sources of history can be defined as the various means through which historical information is preserved and transmitted from one generation to another generation. Sources can also be called EVIDENCE. Just like a detective needs clues to solve a mystery, historians need sources to understand history.

Types of Historical Sources

Sources of history can be categorized into two main types: primary sources and secondary sources.

1. Primary Sources

These are firsthand accounts or evidence created during the period being studied. They are original materials that come directly from the time period historians are studying. Primary sources are like witnesses to history.

Examples of primary sources include:

• Diaries and Journals: Personal writings where people recorded their daily activities and thoughts
• Letters: Written communication between people in the past
• Official documents: Government records, treaties, laws, birth certificates, marriage licenses
• Artifacts: Physical objects made or used by people in the past like tools, weapons, pottery, clothing
• Oral histories: Stories told by people who experienced historical events and passed down through generations
• Newspapers and magazines from the time period being studied
• Photographs, films, and videos that capture events as they happened
• Art and literature created during the time period
• Buildings and structures from past times
• Inscriptions on monuments, tombs, and buildings
• Coins and currency from different time periods
• Personal belongings of historical figures

Primary sources are very valuable because they give us direct information about the past without someone else’s interpretation. However, they can sometimes be biased or incomplete because they represent just one person’s view or experience.

2. Secondary Sources

These are interpretations or analyses of primary sources. They are created after the period being studied and often provide context or commentary. Secondary sources are created by people studying primary sources and writing about them.

Examples of secondary sources include:

• History books written about past events
• Scholarly articles analyzing historical events or periods
• Biographies written about historical figures
• Documentaries and films about historical events
• Textbooks that summarize historical information
• Encyclopedias and reference books
• Historical fiction based on real events
• Museum exhibitions that interpret historical artifacts
• Lectures and presentations about historical topics
• Websites and online resources about history
• Historical maps created to show past events

Secondary sources are helpful because they organize information from many primary sources and help us understand the bigger picture. However, they include the author’s interpretation, which might not always be completely accurate.

3. Tertiary Sources

Some historians also recognize a third type of historical source:

Tertiary sources are collections or summaries of primary and secondary sources. They provide a broad overview of a topic without in-depth analysis. Examples include:

• Textbooks
• Encyclopedias
• Historical dictionaries
• Indexes and bibliographies

How Historians Use Sources

Historians use both primary and secondary sources to understand the past. They follow these steps:

1. Gathering sources: Collecting as many relevant sources as possible
2. External criticism: Checking if a source is genuine (not fake)
3. Internal criticism: Evaluating if the information in the source is reliable and accurate
4. Corroboration: Comparing different sources to see if they agree
5. Interpretation: Making sense of what the sources tell us about the past

Dating in History

For historians, “dating” means figuring out when events happened or when objects were made. Knowing when things happened helps historians put events in order and understand cause and effect in history.

Dating Techniques

Historians use various methods to determine the age of historical events, artifacts, and documents:

1. Relative Dating

This method involves determining the age of an artifact or event relative to other artifacts or events. It tells us if something is older or younger than something else, but not the exact age.

Examples include:

• Stratigraphy: Studying layers in the ground (deeper layers are usually older)
• Typology: Comparing the style and design of objects
• Seriation: Arranging similar artifacts based on changes in their features over time
• Cross-cultural dating: Identifying connections between different cultures that existed at the same time

2. Absolute Dating

Also known as chronometric dating, this method provides an exact age or range of ages for an artifact or event. It gives us specific dates or years.

Examples include:

• Carbon dating (Radiocarbon dating): Used for organic materials up to about 50,000 years old
• Dendrochronology (Tree-ring dating): Counting tree rings to determine age
• Thermoluminescence: Used for pottery, burned stones, and soil
• Potassium-Argon dating: Used for rocks and fossils millions of years old
• Archaeomagnetic dating: Based on changes in the Earth’s magnetic field
• Uranium dating: Used for very old materials like rocks and fossils

3. Historical Records and Calendars

Written documents, inscriptions, and other historical records often include dates or chronological markers that help historians establish timelines for events.

Different cultures used different calendars:

• Julian and Gregorian calendars: Used in Western countries
• Islamic calendar: Based on lunar cycles
• Chinese calendar: A lunisolar calendar
• Maya calendar: Complex system used by Maya civilization
• Egyptian calendar: Based on the flooding of the Nile River

4. Archaeological Dating

Archaeologists use specific methods to date sites and artifacts:

• Context dating: Dating objects based on where they were found
• Stylistic dating: Identifying the time period based on artistic styles
• Technological dating: Determining age based on the technology used to create an object
• Inscriptions and coins: Providing direct dates or references to known events

Limitations of Historical Sources and Dating

Challenges with Sources

• Bias: Sources may reflect the personal views or prejudices of their creators
• Gaps: Not all historical periods or regions have the same amount of surviving sources
• Preservation: Some materials decay or get destroyed over time
• Access: Some sources may be in private collections or difficult to reach
• Language barriers: Sources in ancient or foreign languages require translation

Challenges with Dating

• Margin of error: Most dating methods have some degree of uncertainty
• Contamination: Samples for scientific dating can be contaminated
• Cultural differences: Different societies measured time in different ways
• Calendar conversions: Converting dates between different calendar systems can be complex

Importance of Sources and Dating in History

Understanding sources and dating is crucial for history because:

• They provide evidence for historical claims
• They help create accurate timelines of events
• They allow historians to understand cause and effect relationships
• They help separate facts from myths or legends
• They provide context for understanding human experiences in different time periods

Evaluation

1. Identify and discuss the two main types of history sources.
2. Mention 4 dating techniques that you know and explain how each works.

Classwork

1. Identify and discuss the two main types of history sources.
2. Mention 4 dating techniques that you know and explain how each works.
3. Give three examples each of primary and secondary sources.
4. Why is it important for historians to use both primary and secondary sources?
5. What are some challenges historians face when trying to date ancient artifacts?

Conclusion

The teacher commends the students positively for their participation and understanding of the sources of history and dating techniques. The teacher reminds students that historians are like detectives who use different types of evidence and scientific methods to piece together stories about the past. By understanding where historical information comes from and how we determine when events happened, we can better appreciate how historians work and why history is both a science and an art.

Assignment

1. Find one example of a primary source and one example of a secondary source related to your country’s history. Explain why each is classified as primary or secondary.
2. Research one dating technique not covered in detail during the lesson and write a short paragraph explaining how it works and what types of historical items it can date.