How Do You Study History? | Educational Videos for Kids

Summary

This video script delves into the essence of history, emphasizing its relevance beyond past events to understanding present circumstances. It outlines how historians utilize primary and secondary sources to interpret the past, and discusses the creation of timelines and the division of historical periods. The script also highlights the collaborative efforts between historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists in reconstructing ancient civilizations, even those without written records, using methods like carbon-14 dating. The personal anecdote of visiting the Cave of the Hands in Argentina adds a vivid touch to the exploration of early human life.

Takeaways

• 📚 History is not just about past events but can provide insights into the present by interpreting past actions and events.
• 🔍 Historians use historical sources, which can be material (oral or written) or artistic (graphic), to research past events.
• 📖 Sources are classified as primary or secondary, with primary sources being closer to the time under study, like an engraving from a pharaoh's tomb.
• 📚 Secondary sources are documents or recordings made by other historians on a particular topic, such as a book on ancient Egypt.
• 🗓️ Timelines are used by historians to display past events in chronological order, with different starting points based on the calendar used, like the birth of Jesus Christ.
• 🔢 The use of BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) helps historians denote events before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, respectively.
• 🕰️ Historians divide the past into historical ages like ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary to facilitate easier analysis and study.
• 🌐 The division of historical ages was initially based on European past events, but now includes civilizations without writing systems, expanding the scope of history.
• 👥 Historians often collaborate with anthropologists and archaeologists to analyze ancient history and reconstruct the past using various methods, including carbon-14 dating.
• 📈 The carbon-14 method measures the radioactivity in remains to determine their age, allowing historians to reconstruct the history of civilizations without written records.
• 🎨 Examples of historical research include the study of cave paintings, like the Cave of the Hands in Argentina, which provide insights into the lifestyle of early humans.

Q & A

What does the script suggest about the nature of history?

The script suggests that history is not just about events from the distant past but also about understanding the past to learn lessons applicable to the present.

What role do historians play in interpreting the past?

Historians interpret the past to provide explanations for present events, helping us to understand our current situation and identify the origins of many problems.

What are the two types of historical sources mentioned in the script?

The two types of historical sources mentioned are material sources, which can be oral or written, and artistic or graphic sources.

What is the difference between primary and secondary sources in historical research?

Primary sources are documents or artifacts that are close to the time under study, while secondary sources are documents or recordings made by other historians on a particular topic, often providing analysis or interpretation of primary sources.

Can you explain the concept of timelines in historical research?

Timelines are used to display past events in chronological order. They can be designed based on different calendars, with the Christian era often used as a reference point, marking the birth of Jesus Christ as year one.

What does the script say about the use of the term 'prehistory' among historians?

The script indicates that the term 'prehistory' is no longer used by historians, as civilizations without writing systems are now also considered part of history due to other communication methods they developed.

How did historians in the 19th century approach the division of the past into different ages?

Historians in the 19th century divided the past into ages such as ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary history, based primarily on European past events to ease the analysis of historical occurrences.

What is the relationship between historians and anthropologists in studying ancient history?

Historians often work in collaboration with anthropologists, especially when studying ancient history. They may work in teams and at archaeological sites to analyze findings that help reconstruct the past.

What method is used by historians and anthropologists to date material remains found at archaeological sites?

The carbon-14 method is used to date material remains. It measures the radioactivity content in the remains, which is assumed to have decreased since the death of the living being, allowing the dating of certain material remains.

What is the significance of the Cave of the Hands in Argentina mentioned in the script?

The Cave of the Hands in Argentina is significant as it contains paintings of hands by men and women from the Paleolithic age, providing insights into the lifestyle of the first human beings who lived millions of years ago.

How can the information from the script be used to enhance learning about history?

The script provides insights into the methods and interdisciplinary nature of historical research, which can be used to deepen understanding of history by emphasizing the importance of primary and secondary sources, collaboration with other disciplines, and the use of scientific methods for dating and analysis.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding History Through Research

This paragraph discusses the concept of history and its significance beyond just past events. It emphasizes the role of historians in interpreting the past to explain present events and the importance of understanding history to identify the origins of current problems. The paragraph also introduces the use of historical sources, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources, and the types of sources such as material, oral, written, artistic, and graphic. It highlights the method of researching past events through these sources.

🗓️ Timelines and Historical Eras

This section delves into the tools historians use to organize and study history chronologically, such as timelines. It explains the reference points for timelines, including the Christian era and the use of BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) to denote events before and after the birth of Jesus Christ, respectively. The paragraph also touches on the division of history into different historical ages like prehistory, ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary history, which was initially based on European events to facilitate easier analysis.

🤝 Collaboration Between Disciplines

This paragraph highlights the interdisciplinary nature of historical research, where historians often work in teams and collaborate with anthropologists and archaeologists. It describes the process of reconstructing the past through the analysis of artifacts found at archaeological sites, using methods like carbon-14 dating to determine the age of material remains. The paragraph also mentions the inclusion of civilizations without writing systems in historical studies, indicating a more inclusive approach to history.

🖌️ The Cave of the Hands: A Glimpse into Prehistoric Art

The final paragraph narrates a personal experience of visiting the Cave of the Hands in Argentina, a site with prehistoric paintings of hands. It reflects on the insights gained about the lifestyle of early human beings and the challenges they faced. The paragraph serves as a bridge between the academic discussion of historical research methods and the tangible, experiential understanding of history through art and archaeology.

Keywords

💡History

History refers to the study of past events, particularly human affairs. It is not limited to ancient times but can provide insights into the present by interpreting past actions and events. In the video, history is depicted as a tool for understanding the present and identifying the origins of current problems, as it is said that 'if you can understand the past, it may teach us something about her present.'

💡Historians

Historians are scholars who research, interpret, and write about the past. They use various sources to explain historical events and provide context for understanding the present. The script mentions that historians 'interpret the past to be able to provide an explanation on present events,' highlighting their role in connecting the past with the present.

💡Historical Sources

Historical sources are the evidence used by historians to study and understand the past. They can be divided into material sources, which are either oral or written, and artistic or graphic sources. The script specifies that 'they use historical sources or documents which can be grouped into two types: material sources either oral or written and artistic or graphic.'

💡Primary Sources

Primary sources are original documents or artifacts from the time period being studied. They provide direct evidence of the past. An example from the script is 'an engraving found in some pharaoh's tomb becomes a primary historical source in the hands of a historian who's studying the ancient Egyptian civilization.'

💡Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are documents or recordings created by others about a particular topic, often based on primary sources. They are used to provide analysis or interpretation. The script mentions secondary sources as 'those documents or recordings made by other historians on some particular topic such as a book on ancient Egypt.'

💡Timelines

Timelines are graphical representations of events in chronological order. They help historians and others to visualize the sequence of historical events. The script discusses timelines in relation to the design and starting point, stating 'historians have agreed on dividing the past into historical ages to be able to order it chronologically and study it easily.'

💡Chronological Order

Chronological order refers to the arrangement of events in the order in which they occurred over time. It is essential for creating timelines and understanding history. The script mentions that timelines 'display past events in chronological order.'

💡Historical Ages

Historical ages are periods of time defined by historians for the purpose of categorizing and studying history. The script refers to this concept when it says 'historians have agreed on dividing the past into historical ages,' such as ancient history, middle ages, modern history, and contemporary history.

💡Prehistory

Prehistory is the period before written records, often associated with the study of early human societies and civilizations. The script notes that 'prehistory' is no longer used by historians in the way it was in the past, as now 'all those civilizations which ignored writing are also included in history as they produced instead other methods of communication.'

💡Anthropologists

Anthropologists are social scientists who study human societies and cultures and their development. They often work with historians, particularly in the study of ancient civilizations. The script mentions that 'historians work together with anthropologists' and 'anthropologists work in different archaeological sites digging for remains.'

💡Carbon-14 Dating

Carbon-14 dating is a method used by scientists to determine the age of an object containing organic material by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in the object. It helps in reconstructing the history of civilizations. The script refers to this method when discussing how 'the carbon-14 method... allows to know the date of certain material remains.'

Highlights

History is not just about past events; it can teach us about the present.

Historians interpret the past to explain present events.

Understanding history helps identify the origins of current problems.

Historical research involves the use of primary and secondary sources.

Primary sources are close to the time under study, like an engraving from a pharaoh's tomb.

Secondary sources are created by other historians, such as books on specific topics.

Timelines are designed to display past events in chronological order.

Timelines use the Christian era as a reference point, with BC and AD markers.

Historians divide the past into ages for easier analysis.

The division of historical ages is based on European past events.

Prehistory is no longer used by historians to refer to periods without writing.

All civilizations, even those without writing, are now included in history.

Historians collaborate with anthropologists to analyze ancient history.

Archaeologists and anthropologists work together to dig for remains.

The carbon-14 method is used to date material remains from archaeological sites.

Radioactivity measurement helps reconstruct the history of civilizations without written records.

The Cave of the Hands in Argentina provides insight into the lifestyle of Paleolithic humans.

The first human beings had to deal with many problems to survive.

Transcripts

good morning to you all whenever we

refer to history do we necessarily refer

to actions or events in the past no not

always

true history doesn't simply deal with

those events that happened a long time

ago if you can understand the past it

may teach us something about her present

sure what historians do is to interpret

the past to be able to provide an

explanation on present events very well

michael

thus by understanding how and why things

happened

we'll be able to understand better our

present and to identify the source of

origin of many of our problems how do

historians research into past events

what do you think about it by means of

historical sources yes jamie they use

historical sources or documents which

can be grouped into two types material

sources either oral or written and

artistic or graphic yes besides i've

also read that the sources may be

primary or secondary according to when

they've been produced

primary sources are close to the time

under the historian study

yes for example an engraving found in

some pharaoh's tomb becomes a primary

historical source in the hands of a

historian who's studying the ancient

egyptian civilization

that's right secondary sources are those

documents or recordings made by other

historians on some particular topic such

as a book on ancient egypt now what

other resources are available for

historians for example the timelines to

display past events in chronological

order how do they design the timelines

what's the starting point well it

depends on the events and the calendar

used by the historians if the timeline

is designed taking the christian era as

a reference the starting point will be

jesus christ's birth to the right of

year one jesus christ's birth the events

will be told on a positive scale

while to the left are negative figures

if the event took place before jesus

christ's birth we must use the acronym

bc

however if it happened after jesus

christ's birth we must write a d

historians have agreed on dividing the

past into historical ages to be able to

order it chronologically and study it

easily i've heard about prehistory is it

possible yes nat but that word to refer

to that period is no longer used by

historians

some time ago historians considered that

history started with the origins of

writing then although societies which

didn't have writing systems weren't

considered as part of history nowadays

all those civilizations which ignored

writing are also included in history as

they produced instead other methods of

communication in the 19th century

historians got together and decided to

divide the past into ages the only

criterion applied to divide those ages

were european past events thus the past

was fragmented into different ages

ancient history middle ages modern

history and contemporary history this

division has been carried out to ease

the analysis of past events historians

work together with anthropologists right

teacher that's it nat in order to

analyze the ancient history for example

the life of the first human beings

historians usually group together in

work teams and they work jointly with

archaeologists and anthropologists

anthropologists work in different

archaeological sites digging for remains

which may provide them with information

to reconstruct the past the found

objects are recorded and analyzed by

means of uh

by means of the carbon-14 method which

allows to know the date of certain

material remains the content of

radioactivity in the found remains is

measured this radioactivity is supposed

to have decreased since the living

being's death thus the history of many

civilizations can be reconstructed even

when they have left no rhythm record

[Music]

my family and i have visited a beautiful

place you can't imagine it's jamie the

cave of the hands in argentina we

visited a series of caves with paintings

of hands painted by men and women who

according to the tourist guy coming with

us lived during the paleolithic age now

i know much more about the lifestyle of

the first human beings who lived

millions of years ago it's great to

imagine how the people who painted those

caves lived the first human beings had

to manage to deal with many problems in

order to subsist

hey don't forget to subscribe and answer

the question you can also click the

links on the right to continue learning

and click the like button we appreciate

your help see ya