Introduction to History and Historical Sources

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, and source types from the lecture on the meaning of history, its importance, and methods of historical research.

History

The study of the beliefs, desires, practices, and institutions of human beings—“the past of mankind.”

istoia

Greek root (same as ‘historia’) meaning learning or inquiry; origin of the word ‘history.’

Scientia

Latin term for systematic, non-chronological accounts of natural phenomena; precursor notion of ‘science.’

Aristotle’s View of History

A systematic account of a set of natural phenomena, whether or not presented chronologically.

Reasons to Study History

1) Understand roots of modern institutions and problems; 2) Appreciate diverse human perceptions and cultures; 3) Gain new perspectives to analyze present society critically.

Historical Method

The process of critically examining and analyzing records of the past to reconstruct events.

Historiography

The imaginative reconstruction and writing of history based on data obtained through the historical method.

Complete History

An attempt to recreate as closely as possible an accurate image of the past from available sources.

Primary Sources

Materials produced by participants or eyewitnesses of an event, such as diaries, letters, legal documents, photographs, and oral testimonies.

Archaeological Sources

Artifacts and physical remains uncovered through excavation that shed light on past societies.

Epigraphical Sources

Inscriptions on durable materials (stone, metal, etc.) used as evidence for historical research.

Numismatical Sources

Coins, medals, and currency studied to understand economic and political history.

Examples of Primary Sources

Photographs, sketches, maps, political cartoons, prehistoric drawings, statistical tables, oral histories, and published or unpublished eyewitness accounts.

Repositories for Historical Research

Museums, archives, courthouses, government libraries, parish records, and private collections where historical materials are housed.