What Is History?Studying the Past

What is History?“History is fundamentally applied common

sense.” Robin W. Winks, Yale Historian“History is the witness that testifies to the

passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings us tidings of antiquity.” Cicero, Roman Author, Orator and Politician, 106 BCE-43 BCE

“History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” Napoleon

“Some people make headlines while others make history.” Philip Elmer-DeWitt, in Time Magazine

What is History?History is the story of the human community. History details how people live on a daily basis,

share ideas, how they rule or are ruled and how they fought.

History is the story of people’s dreams, weather they are fulfilled or not.

When did history begin? History began when people were able to document events in writing.

Events that occurred before people could write them down are considered prehistoric.

Humans began writing about 3500 BCE.

Dating the PastThere are 4 major methods scientists use to

date the past. They are as follows:Historical RecordsDendrochronology-Tree Ring DatingRadiocarbon DatingPotassium Argon Dating (Measures the Decay

Rate of 40K Atoms)

Historical Records

Geolithic PeriodThe current Geolithic period is the

Quaternary, which is divided into two epochs:Pleistocene-Ice Age (about 2.4 million years

ago).Holocene-Holos is Greek for “recent.” This is

the period of time after 10,000 BCE. It is the present time.

Categories of HistoryHistory can be organized into the following

categories:PoliticalEconomicSocialReligiousScientificCultural

Studying HistoryAnthropology is the term used for the science

that studies humans as a species.Archaeology is the term used for the study of

past cultures and civilizations through the examination of their artifacts (items made by humans.)

Historiography is the written form of history.

Civilization A civilization is a complex, developed culture

associated with specific achievements such as:

AgricultureUrban LifeSpecialized LaborWriting System

Civilization Civilizations have:Urban FocusPolitical StructuresMilitary StructuresSocial Structure based on Economic PowerDevelopment of More Complexity in a

Material SenseDistinct Religious StructureDevelopment of Writing ArtisticIntellectual Activity

Civilization

CultureCulture is the human created part of the

environment, “way of life.”The concept of culture was developed by

anthropologists to describe the unique adaptive system used by human beings.

A cultural system is a complex system which includes interacting variables such as tools, burial customs, ways of obtaining food, religious beliefs and social organization.

Material Culture is concrete objects that people create.

Culture

Diffusion TheoryDiffusion Theory is the knowledge of new

techniques spread through human contacts.

Diffusion Theory