1. What is history? 2. How does ‘history’ differ from ‘prehistory’? 3. What is a primary source? 4. What is a secondary source? 5. What is the difference between ‘source’ and ‘evidence’?
6. What is a (i) visual source (ii) tactile source? Give one example of each type of source.
7. What is the main difference between a ‘museum’ and an ‘archive’? Using Sources
How do historians use sources? Historians use information (evidence) from sources to tell the story of the past. Historians must distinguish between fact (what happened) and opinion (what people think about what happened).
Fact
‘The weapon that killed him, consistent [in agreement] with the evidence, was a Lee Enfield .303 and used by the man I believe shot Collins …’
Colm Connolly, The Shadow of Béal na Bláth (1989), RTÉ documentary on the killing of Michael Collins in 1922
Opinion
Explain how historians interpret sources
Demonstrate awareness of historical concepts (ideas)
Debate the usefulness and limitations of different kinds of sources
Key Words Viewpoint
Bias
Interpretations Chronology Propaganda Reliable AD
BCE Fact
Limitations Subjective
Historians can provide different stories (different interpretations or versions) of the same events because their sources or their viewpoint may be different. ● A historian’s viewpoint or point of view (also called perspective) can be influenced by gender, beliefs, values and interests.
Their viewpoint can be based on facts so it can be objective. The job of the historian is to be as objective as possible. ● Being objective means that historians must not be influenced by personal feelings or opinions when researching and writing history. If they are influenced by personal feelings or opinions they are being subjective.
Objective Useful BC CE
Opinion Strengths
Which front page shows Boris Johnson in a good light/is favourable to him? Which front page shows Boris Johnson in a bad light/is unfavourable to him?
In some cases though, a historian’s viewpoint can be biased (based on prejudice). Historians are biased if they deliberately favour one side over the other.