The Historian Flashcards
Definition of history
The study of the past
Definition of a historian
Someone who is an expert in or a student of history
Definition of a source
Something that gives us information or evidence about a person, place or thing in the past
Definition of prehistory
The period of time before writing was used.
Definition of Archeology
The study of the remains left by people in the past
Definition of an archaeologist
Someone who investigates places and objects left by people in the past
What’s a primary source
A primary source is a source from the time in question; it is first hand information directly from the past
What’s a secondary source
A secondary source is a source from a later date, after the time in question
Name 5 examples of a primary source
Artefacts
Letters
Posters
Autobiography
Diaries
Name 5 examples of a secondary source
Films
Podcasts
Websites
History books
Handling boxes
Definition of a historical repository
a Place where evidence of the Past can be stored and maintained eg artefacts, PhotograPhs , government documents. Example’s include libaries archives and museums.
Definition of an Archive
A place that catalogues and stores a collection of written or printed sources, e.g. national archives of Ireland in Dublin
Definition of a museum
A place that collects and displays objects for public education and appreciation, e.g. national museum in Dublin
Definition of cross checking
Is when more than one source is used to make sure information is correct
Give 3 reasons why we study history
To learn how people lived before us
To recognise patterns of change
To avoid making mistakes that our ancestors made
Definition of accuracy
Involves judging how correct the information is
Definition of bias
Is when an account is not balanced, but unfairly favours one side
Definition of Exaggeration
Is when something is represented as better or worse than it actually was
Definition of propaganda
Is information that has been designed to influence the attitudes and behaviours of people
Definition of reinterpretation
Means to see something in a new or different light.
Definition of a census
An official survey of the population. In Ireland, a census is held every five years
What is an artefact
A man made object from the past e.g. tools, weapons, toys and pottery
What is a handling box
It’s a box containing an exact replica of artefacts , so that anyone can examine them without damaging the original
What is chronology
Putting events into the order or sequence in which they happened
How long is a decade
10 years
How long is a century
100 years
How long is a millennium
1000 years
What does BC or BCE stand for?
Before Christ or before common era
What does AD or CE stand for?
Anno domini or common era
Definition of archaeology
Is the study of the remains left by people in the past
Definition of excavation
Is when an archaeologist digs up the ground to find evidence left by people in the past
What’s a rescue archaeology
By carrying out a dig before a new building or road is build to ensure no artefacts are lost or damaged
What was found by the farmer digging potatoes
Ardagh chalice
Definition of a tactile source
A source that can be touched - like a physical object
Definition of research archaeology
Using old documents/ maps to investigate whether an ancient building or structure once existed on the site
Definition of aerial photographs
It may reveal ancient structures not visible on ground level
What are test trenches
They are holes that archaeologists dig to decide wether the site is worth excavating
Explain radio carbon dating
All living things - humans, animals and plants - contain a substance called carbon-14 when they are
alive. After death, the level of carbon-14 in the once-living tissue begins to drop at a steady rate.
Explain drendrochology
Tree-ring dating, or dendrochronology, is a method that uses tree rings to determine age. Each ring represents one year of growth, with wider rings indicating faster growth during favorable conditions, such as a good summer.
This makes it possible to find out when a tree was cut down to make an artefact or structure and so it can be used to date wooden objects.
Explain stratigraphy
The method of stratigraphy is used to date artefacts and evidence by how deep in the ground they were when found: the deeper they are, the older they will be.
Explain pollen analysis
Pollen analysis is the study of pollen remains to find out what was growing at a site during a particular time period. Archaeologists have records of when certain pollens were common, so if they find that pollen when excavating, they can match it to the correct period.
Explain geophysical surveying
A geophysical survey is like an X-ray of the ground: maps and images of any archaeological evidence underground are made without an excavation.
