Analyzing Sources
Primary Resources:
It an original evidence of an occurrence of an event.
In an easier way to remember, it's an first hand source from a time period, ex. Letters, paintings, artifacts.
In science in order to prove a hypothesis, is a belief based on observations, and has to be supported by evidence. That evidence is experiments made by scientists before, and their observations and conclusions. That's a primary source. What I'm trying to say is that it is an object, a newspaper, fossil, shopping list, that comes from that specific time period. If you were to make a time capsule, and you buried. Imagine in a thousand years that capsule was to be found. That would be a primary source because it is an original artifact from a time period before your own. That's what makes artist like Michelangelo and William Shakespeare so important. They created art that represented an idea from their times, which considered by us is important and is a primary source.
Secondary Resources:
It is when the original sources are used to form a new piece of evidence.
The way I remember is that they use the original pieces to be able to make a new piece, like science.
For example, scientists have to base their own research and findings on other scientists that before them were doing the same research.
An easy example of a secondary source is your teachers. The fact is that every note that she gives you verbally, or written is a secondary source. S/he didn't live at the time the bubonic plague had spread, they weren't there with the families who's members died from the plague. Their information comes from textbooks, secondary source, their college teacher (Hopefully went to college), as well a secondary source ,but too their info can come from a dear made by a little royal girl at the time, a primary source. It is absolutely important to realize that for every secondary source that you find, it's based on various amounts of primary sources because without the primary source there wouldn't way to know what happened at the time. You can't ever have a secondary source who's evidence did not come from a primary source, because if it did that would mean you are reading someone's opinion, and not historical facts. And I don't think you would want to base your knowledge on anyone's opinion considering the fact that your teacher wouldn't exactly appreciate that. S/he would probably fail you. Good Luck!
It is when the original sources are used to form a new piece of evidence.
The way I remember is that they use the original pieces to be able to make a new piece, like science.
For example, scientists have to base their own research and findings on other scientists that before them were doing the same research.
An easy example of a secondary source is your teachers. The fact is that every note that she gives you verbally, or written is a secondary source. S/he didn't live at the time the bubonic plague had spread, they weren't there with the families who's members died from the plague. Their information comes from textbooks, secondary source, their college teacher (Hopefully went to college), as well a secondary source ,but too their info can come from a dear made by a little royal girl at the time, a primary source. It is absolutely important to realize that for every secondary source that you find, it's based on various amounts of primary sources because without the primary source there wouldn't way to know what happened at the time. You can't ever have a secondary source who's evidence did not come from a primary source, because if it did that would mean you are reading someone's opinion, and not historical facts. And I don't think you would want to base your knowledge on anyone's opinion considering the fact that your teacher wouldn't exactly appreciate that. S/he would probably fail you. Good Luck!
What is History?
Important thing to know:
History is always open to interpretation.
The thing about history is that it is made up of facts and opinions. There is this one quote that goes something like history is written by winners. What you write and how you write it will always be influenced by your beliefs, even if you're not aware of it. The fact is that most battles are writing from winning view, either morally or just factually. What I mean is take into account the battle of Thermopylae. There were 300 soldiers massacred in the Sparta against the Persian army. No one really cares that the Persians won, well they do but they were still portryed as evil so, what they do care is about the fact that 300 men died that day in order to defend their people and sacrificed their lives for a greater good. That's what I mean when I say morally won. That the battle was considered won because it showed good humans and self sacrifice. They gave up their lives and so they are applauded for it. Yet no one would remember them if they had fled with the rest of the army. The point is that they won because of their beliefs, and how that affected their actions, so we consider them heroes. Yet when you read about the battle of Thermopylae, you will become hostile towards the persian army because as we read it, and the person who wrote it, made the persians sound like were bad people because they caused the dead of 300 BRAVE and Strong soldiers. Technically, the Persians won the battle, but morally and humanly, the victory went to the Spartans.
Example:
Hitler
Opinion: He believed the world had to have a superior race.
Facts: He killed thousands of people trying to get the world rid of people he "dimmed" unworthy. He caused a genocide trying to complete his goal, and by forcing people to believed what he believed.
History is always open to interpretation.
The thing about history is that it is made up of facts and opinions. There is this one quote that goes something like history is written by winners. What you write and how you write it will always be influenced by your beliefs, even if you're not aware of it. The fact is that most battles are writing from winning view, either morally or just factually. What I mean is take into account the battle of Thermopylae. There were 300 soldiers massacred in the Sparta against the Persian army. No one really cares that the Persians won, well they do but they were still portryed as evil so, what they do care is about the fact that 300 men died that day in order to defend their people and sacrificed their lives for a greater good. That's what I mean when I say morally won. That the battle was considered won because it showed good humans and self sacrifice. They gave up their lives and so they are applauded for it. Yet no one would remember them if they had fled with the rest of the army. The point is that they won because of their beliefs, and how that affected their actions, so we consider them heroes. Yet when you read about the battle of Thermopylae, you will become hostile towards the persian army because as we read it, and the person who wrote it, made the persians sound like were bad people because they caused the dead of 300 BRAVE and Strong soldiers. Technically, the Persians won the battle, but morally and humanly, the victory went to the Spartans.
Example:
Hitler
Opinion: He believed the world had to have a superior race.
Facts: He killed thousands of people trying to get the world rid of people he "dimmed" unworthy. He caused a genocide trying to complete his goal, and by forcing people to believed what he believed.
"History is the story of humanity's past. History systematically records and explains what people have thought, said, and done. History deals with political, economic and social matters . . . History describes humanity's effort to improve the world. It recounts the achievements and setbacks in the long, upwards climb toward a high level of civilization."
Geography 101
Geography is the study of the planet. This meaning where countries are, their natural environments, and the culture.
"Our understanding of history is incomplete unless we also understand geography, the study of the relationship between earth and its inhabitants. From geographical perspective, history is in large part the story of the changing relationships between humans and their natural environment . . ."
- World History Traditions and New Directions
From this passage there are various important points that have been made:
- To be able to comprehend history you've got to be able to understand geography.
- History and geography go hand in hand
- The relationship of earth's inhabitants is what makes and shapes geography.
Terms that refer to geography:
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Economics
Definition: The study of the making of products, and the distribution of resources.
But for most people when they think of the economy one word comes into mind, money.
Types of resources:
Supply and Demand:
" . . . It is the amount of a resource or service available for meeting demand."
-- My definition: When there is a product that is needed, then they have to supply that product.
Ex. Gas. This is used by cars. If the gas ever ran out then the government of different agencies would have to supply gas to the public who needs it.
Scarcity:
This term is used a lot when a product is close to running out, or when something is about to disappear. Take for example when an animal is an endangered specie it means that that specific animal's population is about to run out because there are so few who are left.
The economy is in fact one of the most important reasons why earth is so diverse. Cultural diffusion happens because of the whole supply and command aspect of economy. The fact that goods need imported means that relation between nations or civilizations have to have been made. Now the important aspect of this bond or relationship is that ideas are shared such as religion, and technology. Imagine two girls, one who is a expert on global studies, and one an expert in english. They need the help from each other. While the girl who loves global teaches the other girl history, the global type, the other girl will help the global girl develop her writing style. It's like a give and take situation. They both have to share their own knowledge with each other in order for each one of them to become better at certain topics. This is an example of "cultural diffusion." When each civilization or country shared their knowledge with each other, it helped them become more advance in different ways.
But for most people when they think of the economy one word comes into mind, money.
Types of resources:
- Natural Resources: Oil, water, land, trees
- Human Resources: Labor (Working), talent, organization skills
- Capital: Tools, computers, machinery, financial investment
- Information: Research, Ideas
Supply and Demand:
" . . . It is the amount of a resource or service available for meeting demand."
-- My definition: When there is a product that is needed, then they have to supply that product.
Ex. Gas. This is used by cars. If the gas ever ran out then the government of different agencies would have to supply gas to the public who needs it.
Scarcity:
This term is used a lot when a product is close to running out, or when something is about to disappear. Take for example when an animal is an endangered specie it means that that specific animal's population is about to run out because there are so few who are left.
The economy is in fact one of the most important reasons why earth is so diverse. Cultural diffusion happens because of the whole supply and command aspect of economy. The fact that goods need imported means that relation between nations or civilizations have to have been made. Now the important aspect of this bond or relationship is that ideas are shared such as religion, and technology. Imagine two girls, one who is a expert on global studies, and one an expert in english. They need the help from each other. While the girl who loves global teaches the other girl history, the global type, the other girl will help the global girl develop her writing style. It's like a give and take situation. They both have to share their own knowledge with each other in order for each one of them to become better at certain topics. This is an example of "cultural diffusion." When each civilization or country shared their knowledge with each other, it helped them become more advance in different ways.
Scarcity:
This term is used a lot when a product is close to running out, or when something is about to disappear. Take for example when an animal is an endangered specie it means that that specific animal's population is about to run out because there are so few who are left. |
Supply:
It's the amount of products that can be sold because there is enough to sell without running out. " . . . It is the amount of a resource or service available for meeting demand." |
Demand:
It's when a product is wanted by the public, meaning that they want to have that product so they demand it. " . . . is the amount of a resource or service are ready and willing to consume." |
Politics
When you think about politics, you think of government and powerful positions. And you'd be right.
But there are different types of government, some better than other. The reason some of them are better than other because they are more beneficial for the public. That meaning it doesn't screw over the people who make up most of that country, say the French in the French Revolution, the commoners who are the reason that certain country flourishes. It's important to know each type of government in order to know what their benefits and faults are, and which would be better suited for a country.
But there are different types of government, some better than other. The reason some of them are better than other because they are more beneficial for the public. That meaning it doesn't screw over the people who make up most of that country, say the French in the French Revolution, the commoners who are the reason that certain country flourishes. It's important to know each type of government in order to know what their benefits and faults are, and which would be better suited for a country.
Tyranny:
Good: Peter the Great, Russia
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Historical Examples:
Good: Queen Elizabeth I
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Democracy:Types of Democracy:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Historical Examples:
Ex. Colombia, U.S.A, Canada |
Useful Vocabulary:
Political Science: The study of how governments are formed and interact.
Aristocrat: Noble and Rich
Political Science: The study of how governments are formed and interact.
Aristocrat: Noble and Rich