How We Know the Past
Historians act like detectives. They use “sources”—clues left behind by people—to re-create history.
Classification of Sources
Types of Evidence
- Archaeological: Physical objects like coins, buildings, and tools found through digging (excavation).
- Literary: Written records. Before the printing press, these were manuscripts (handwritten on palm leaves or bark).
- Inscriptions: Writing carved on hard surfaces like stone or metal. People who study these are called epigraphists.
- Scientific Data: Modern historians also use genetics (DNA studies) and climate data to understand the past.
Note
Why use multiple sources? Sometimes sources contradict each other. Historians must cross-check different pieces of evidence to see if the “jigsaw pieces” match.