Introduction+to+History

=Why study history?= toc History is a study of the past. Studying history provides a window into the past that provides understanding of the present-day, and how individuals, nations, and the global community might develop in the future. We can learn how societies came to be and examine cultural, political, social, and economic influences across time and space. It also builds the personal understanding of how we, as individuals, are the sum of a vast range of past experience and are part of the process for creating the history of tomorrow.

Through the study of history, we can explore how things change as well as how they stay the same over time. History tells a story about how cultures change over time.

=What is culture?= Everyone has a culture. It shapes how we see the world, ourselves, and others. What exactly is culture? Culture is a system of beliefs, values, and assumptions about life that guide behavior and are shared by a group of people. How does it shape the way we see the world, ourselves, and others? The collective experiences of a group of people __help__ to shape their knowledge and understanding of the world. In turn, customs, beliefs and, values are created based on those experiences and are passed down from generation to generation.

The structure of our Government, our laws and the way people relate to each other have great influence on our actions and attitudes. There is a culture in this country whether spoken or unspoken that manifests itself in everything we say, do, or think. For example, in the United States we expect to compete in every aspect of our lives. At the same time we expect to compete, we also expect to be given equal opportunity to grow to our potential. We believe we all have equal rights under the law. We expect American Industry to put out a quality product and for our Nation to be a leader in the world. . =What is a Historian? = Historians are important to our understanding of the past.They study and interpret the past based on evidence. Just like scientists, they must free themselves from their personal bias and emotions. They must view the evidence with objectivity.

historians examine the causes for events and explain why things are the way they are. By understanding the past, it helps us to understand the present. It also helps us to make decisions about our future and teaches us who we are.

There are many different types of historians that use different types of information to help us reconstruct the past.

Archaeologist - these historians use artifacts to help understand the way people lived and interacted. Artifacts are objects that were made or used by humans in the past. Paleontologist - these historians study fossils to learn about the past. Fossils are parts of living things or imprints made by living things. Anthropologist - these historians study past cultures Geologist - studies rocks and minerals to find clues about the past

=Measuring Time=

To study the past, historians must have a way to identify and describe when things happened. They do that by measuring and labeling time in different ways.

Decade: a group of ten years Century: a group of one hundred years Millennium: a group of one thousand years Era: a commonly used word for //long period// of time. Examples include
 * Periods of Time**
 * prehistory: before the invention of writing
 * Ancient history: from prehistory to 500AD
 * Middle ages: 500AD to 1400AD
 * Modern history: 1400 AD to present

Timelines help us understand history. They also tell us what happened when and how much time went by between events. Historians use timelines to track things like the growth of a civilization, the progress of a war, and the development of a new technology.
 * Timelines**

Usually timelines are divided into even sections of time. this makes it possible to see the amount of time between events. when a large period of time lapses between events, a jagged line or a slash is often used to indicate a break in time.

To make a timeline, you can follow the directions here. Use this site to create a timeline.

Calendars are a system for arranging days in order. Throughout history there have been about forty different calendars. Julian Gregorian
 * Calendars**

BC AD BCE CE
 * Dating Events**

=Primary and Secondary Sources=

Historians analyze historical sources in different ways. First, historians think about where, when and why a document was created. They consider whether a source was created close in location and time to an actual historical event. Historians also think about the purpose of a source. Was it a personal diary intended to be kept private? Was the document prepared for the public? Historians use a wide variety of sources to answer questions about the past. In their research, history scholars use both primary sources and secondary sources. Some sources may be judged more reliable than others, but every source is biased in some way. As a result, historians read sources skeptically and critically. They also cross-check sources against other evidence and sources.

Primary sources are actual records that have survived from the past, such as letters, photographs, articles of clothing. Some primary sources are published documents. They were created for large audiences and were distributed widely. Published documents include books, magazines, newspapers, government documents, non-government reports, literature of all kinds, advertisements, maps, pamphlets, posters, laws, and court decisions. When reviewing published documents, remember that just because something was published does not make it truthful, accurate, or reliable. Every document has a creator, and every creator has a point of view, blind spots, and biases. Also remember that even biased and opinionated sources can tell us important things about the past. Many types of unpublished documents have been saved, and can be used as primary sources. These include personal letters, diaries, journals, wills, deeds, family Bibles containing family histories, school report cards, and many other sources. Unpublished business records such as correspondence, financial ledgers, information about customers, board meeting minutes, and research and development files also give clues about the past.

Oral traditions and oral histories provide another way to learn about the past from people with firsthand knowledge of historical events. Recently, spoken words that make up oral histories have gained importance as primary sources. Historians and others find out about the lives of ordinary people through spoken stories and tales. Oral histories provide important historical evidence about people, especially minority groups, who were excluded from mainstream publications or did not leave behind written primary sources. Oral histories are as old as human beings. Before the invention of writing, information passed from generation to generation through the spoken word. Many people around the world continue to use oral traditions to pass along knowledge and wisdom. Interviews and recordings of community elders and witnesses to historical events provide exciting stories, anecdotes, and other information about the past.

Visual documents include photographs, films, paintings, and other types of artwork. Because visual documents capture moments in time, they can provide evidence of changes over time. Visual documents include evidence about a culture at specific moments in history: its customs, preferences, styles, special occasions, work, and play. Like other primary source documents, a visual document has a creator with a point of view -- such as a painter, sculptor, or film maker. Even photographs were created by photographers using film and cameras to create desired effects.

Secondary sources are accounts of the past created by people writing about events sometime after they happened.For example, your history textbook is a secondary source. Someone wrote most of your textbook long after historical events took place. Your textbook may also include some primary sources, such as direct quotes from people living in the past or excerpts from historical documents.

People living in the past left many clues about their lives. These clues include both primary and secondary sources in the form of books, personal papers, government documents, letters, oral accounts, diaries, maps, photographs, reports, novels and short stories, artifacts, coins, stamps, and many other things. Historians call all of these clues together the historical record.

=Calendar= 2001-attack on U.S 2003- Iraq War 2009-first black U.S. president elected 2011-Japan Tsunami ||  ||   || early dismissal due to flooding ||  || media type="custom" key="10376876" || CW: class timeline for history 1 ||  ||   || You are on a team of archaeologists that has completed excavations of village sites along the Little River in Montgomery county. A few hundred years before Europeans arrived, tribes influenced by an art style archaeologists call the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex lived in these villages. Prior research shows many of the artifacts these people left are different from those of other tribes living in the area. Those influenced by the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex made, for example, conch shell pendants called forgets carved with representations of crosses or serpent symbols. To keep the two kinds of cultures distinct, archaeologists named the one influenced by the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex "Pee Dee." With the excavation finished, you must now analyze the artifacts brought back to the laboratory to find out more about the lifeways of the people belonging to the Pee Dee culture. You will use a series of questions to structure your inquiry. || HW: Print/draw a picture ||  ||   || This is lesson is in recognition of Constitution Day ||  ||   || HW: Summer Talk ||  ||
 * September 1, 2011 ||  || CW: What is History and Culture ||   ||   ||
 * September 2, 2011 ||  || Notes: Timelines ||   || media type="custom" key="10373920" ||
 * September 6, 2011 ||  || Create a timeline of your life and include
 * September 6, 2011 ||  || Create a timeline of your life and include
 * September 6, 2011 ||  || Create a timeline of your life and include
 * September 7, 2011 ||  || Notes: Historians
 * September 8, 2011 ||  || No school - flood ||   ||   ||
 * September 9, 2011 ||  || No school ||   ||   ||
 * September 12 ||  || No school ||   ||   ||
 * Sept 13 ||  || Notes: Historians for history 2 and 3
 * Sept 13 ||  || Notes: Historians for history 2 and 3
 * September 14 ||  || CW: Artifact Classification
 * What was the diet of the sites' Pee Dee culture residents?
 * What did they use for personal adornment?
 * Could any artifacts have been used for ceremonial or leisure purposes?
 * How many different ways did Pee Dee culture people decorate their pottery?
 * How many different kinds of raw materials did they use to make their tools? ||  || [[file:artifact classification.pdf]]
 * September 15 ||  || CW: Class timeline
 * September 16 ||  || CW: Get Off Our Backs
 * September 19 ||  || Notes: Primary and Secondary Sources ||   || media type="custom" key="10504162" ||
 * September 20 ||  || Project: Time Capsule ||   ||   ||
 * September 21 ||  || quiz and clicker assignment ||   ||   ||
 * September 22 ||  || CW: Time Capsule ||   ||   ||
 * September 23 ||  || CW: Time Capsule ||   ||   ||
 * September 26 ||  || CW: Project ||   ||   ||
 * September 27 ||  || CW: Project ||   || Completed projects ||
 * September 28 ||  || CW: Review ||   ||   ||
 * September 29 ||  || No School ||   ||   ||
 * September 30 ||  || CW: Study Guide ||   || [[file:Uncovering the Past Study Guide[1].docx]] ||
 * October 3 ||  || Unit 1 Test ||   ||   ||
 * October 4 ||  || No class ||   ||   ||
 * October 5 ||  || Notes: Understanding the Earth ||   || media type="custom" key="10798812" ||
 * October 6 ||  || CW: Understanding the Seasons
 * October 4 ||  || No class ||   ||   ||
 * October 5 ||  || Notes: Understanding the Earth ||   || media type="custom" key="10798812" ||
 * October 6 ||  || CW: Understanding the Seasons

|| CW: Latitude and Longitude ||  || media type="custom" key="10798806" ||
 * October 7 ||  || CW: 5 Themes of Geography ||   || [[file:5 Themes of Geography.docx]] ||
 * October 10 ||  || Notes: Latitude and Longitude
 * October 10 ||  || Notes: Latitude and Longitude
 * October 11 ||  || CW: Packing My Bag ||   || [[file:packing my bag.pdf]] ||
 * October 12 ||  || Latitude and Longitude Quiz ||   ||   ||