MEANING, SOURCES OF HISTORY AND DATING Lesson Note
This SS1 History lesson note covers MEANING, SOURCES OF HISTORY AND DATING for First Term, Week 1.
Learning Objectives
- At the end of the lesson, learners should be able to 1. Define history
- 1. Define history
- 2. Write reasons for learning history
- 3. Write sources of history
- 4. Write dating in history
Lesson Note
A. DEFINITION
History is the study of past events concerning human beings, societies, nations and civilizations. It examines what happened in the past, why it happened, and the effects or consequences of those events. History helps us to understand how societies developed from the past to the present.
B. IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY
i) It helps us understand our past.
ii) It teaches us about the achievements and mistakes of past generations.
iii) It promotes national consciousness and unity.
iv) It helps us understand the origin of institutions and traditions.
v) It provides lessons for solving present-day problems.
vi) It helps to preserve the culture and heritage of a people.
vii) It develops critical thinking and research skills.
C. SOURCES OF HISTORY
Sources of history are the materials or evidence historians use to obtain information about the past. Sources of history can be divided into primary and secondary sources.
1. Primary Sources
Primary sources are original materials or evidence produced during the period being studied.
Examples include oral traditions, archaeological remains, written documents, Letters and diaries, coins and currency, pottery, tools and weapons, buildings and monuments, photographs and official records
2. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are materials produced after the events being studied, usually based on information obtained from primary sources.
Examples include, history textbooks, biographies, newspapers, journals, encyclopedias and documentaries
D. ORAL TRADITION
Oral tradition is the transmission of information about the past from one generation to another through spoken words.
Examples include, myths, legends, folktales, praise songs, proverbs, genealogies and traditional histories
Advantages of Oral Tradition
i) It helps preserve the history of people who had no written records.
ii) It provides information about customs and traditions.
iii) It is useful in studying ancient societies.
iv) It can provide information about the activities of past rulers and communities.
LIMITATIONS OF ORAL TRADITIONL
i) Information may be forgotten over time.
ii) Stories may be exaggerated.
iii) Some narrators may deliberately change facts.
iv) It may be difficult to establish exact dates.
E. DATING IN HISTORY
Dating is the process of determining or establishing when an event happened in the past. Dating is important because historians need to arrange events in their correct chronological order.
F. METHODS OF DATING
1. RELATIVE DATING
Relative dating determines whether an event, object or civilization is older or more recent than another, without necessarily giving an exact date.
For example, if archaeological evidence shows that Object A was found beneath Object B, Object A may be considered older.
2. ABSOLUTE DATING
Absolute dating attempts to determine the actual or approximate numerical date of an event or object.
Examples include:
i) Radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dating – used mainly for dating once-living materials such as wood, bones and charcoal.
ii) Dendrochronology – dating by studying the growth rings of trees.
iii) Thermoluminescence dating – used to date certain fired materials such as pottery.
G. IMPORTANCE OF DATING
i) It helps historians arrange events in chronological order.
ii) It helps establish the age of archaeological discoveries.
iii) It makes historical accounts more accurate.
iv) It helps historians compare events that occurred in different places.
v) It helps us understand the development of societies over time.
H. CONCLUSION
History enables us to understand the past and its relationship with the present. Historians depend on different sources, such as oral traditions, archaeological evidence and written records, to reconstruct the past. Dating helps them establish when historical events and discoveries occurred
Evaluation
1. History is the study of ______.
A. future events
B. past events
C. imaginary events
D. weather conditions
2. A person who studies and writes about past events is called a ______.
A. geographer
B. historian
C. scientist
D. politician
3. Which of the following is a source of history?
A. Oral tradition
B. Mathematics
C. Chemistry
D. Physics
4. Which source of history involves information passed from one generation to another by word of mouth?
A. Archaeology
B. Oral tradition
C. Written records
D. Artefacts
5. Examples of written sources include ______.
A. songs and dances
B. interviews and legends
C. letters and diaries
D. tools and pots
6. Archaeology is the study of ______.
A. ancient remains and artefacts
B. future events
C. weather conditions
D. political parties
7. Dating in history means determining the ______ of an event or object.
A. colour
B. age or time
C. size
D. location only
8. Which of the following is used to determine the age of very old organic materials?
A. Carbon-14 dating
B. Map reading
C. Interview
D. Storytelling
9. An object made or used by humans in the past is known as a/an ______.
A. artefact
B. alphabet
C. environment
D. institution
10. Which of these is an example of an oral source of history?
A. Newspaper
B. Old coin
C. Interview with an eyewitness
D. Government document
Theory Questions
1a) Define History and explain three reasons why the study of history is important.
b) Mention five sources of history and explain any three of them.
2a) What is dating in history?
b) Mention three methods used by historians to date past events or objects.
Differentiate between oral sources and written sources of history, giving two examples of each.