Flashcards Toolkit Vocabulary

Vocab that us historians use in our work

Artifact

an object made, shaped, or altered by human, often from a specific time period in history

Primary Source

A record or an artifact created during the time period being studied; or a firsthand account of someone who witnessed an event

Secondary Source

A record created after the fact; it is an account of a past event written at a later time

Perspective (POV)

the unique lens through which a person “sees” an event, based background, experiences, and place in society

Bias

Prejudice in favor for or against a person, group, or thing, usually in a way considered to be unfair

Credible Source

A source that provides information you can trust to be truthful and not biased (AKA "reliable Source")

Era

A period identified by some prominent figure or feature. For eg.: the era of the horse and buggy

Decade

A period of 10 years. Ex: the 1860's, the 1970s, or the 2010's

Century

A period of 100 years. Ex: 19th Century, (1800's: 1801-1900), the 15th Century (1400s: 1401-1500), or the 1st Century (1 CE to 100 CE)

C. or Circa

At approximately, in approximately, or of approximately —used especially when exact historical dates are unknown. Ex: "She was born circa 1600."

Culture

The social behavior, norms, and practices shared by a group of people, encompassing art, beliefs, customs, and traditions.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of cultural trends across locations, When cultural values, ideas, or even cultures are adopted by different groups

Geography

(1) The study of the earth's surface, physical features, divisions, products, population, etc. (2) the way in which the physical features of a place are arranged

Longitude

Imaginary lines (that run north and south) that measure the distance of a place east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) meridian

Prime Meridian

The imaginary line of longitude that runs north to south from pole to pole, and has a longitude of 0 degrees E/W

Latitude

the distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured in degrees

Equator

An imaginary line (of latitude) around the earth at an equal distance from the North and South Poles. Measured in 0 degrees N/S

Economic

Everything relating to the production and trading of goods (the economy)

Political

All that to do with government, elections, and how society is run, and how power is held in a society

Rural

An area relating to low-populated areas dominated by agriculture (synonyms: the country, the countryside)

Urban

Areas relating to, or designating a city or town, historically connected with trading and cultural activities

Climate

The regular pattern of weather conditions of a particular place (Examples: tropical/warm/mild/temperate/cold climate)

Environment

The natural world in which people, animals and plants live