2
Historical sources
Textbook: pp. 7–9
GoalKnow what a historical source is and the difference between material and written sources.
New words
historical source · tarixiy manbamaterial source · moddiy manbawritten source · yozma manbaarchive · arxiv
Explanation
The science of history is built on historical sources. A historical source is any object, document or book that gives information about the past. Sources are of two kinds. Material (object) sources include bones, tools, ruins of homes and fortresses, coins, seals and jewellery; archaeologists find them by excavating. Written sources include inscriptions carved in rock, manuscripts, books and documents kept in archives. One of the ancient written sources for the history of our land is the “Avesta”; ancient Greek, Roman and Chinese authors also wrote about our region.
Worked examples
An ancient clay pot, a fortress wall and a coin are material sources. A manuscript book, a ruler’s decree and an archive document are written sources.
A clay fragment with writing belongs to both kinds: it is an object (material) and carries a text (written).
Class activity
“Source hunters”: the teacher hands out picture cards (coin, book, tool, decree, statue); groups sort them into “material” and “written” columns.
Practice
1
What is a historical source?
All objects, documents and books that give information about the past.
2
Give two examples each of material and written sources.
Material: a coin, a tool. Written: a manuscript, an archive document.
3
Which sources could a future historian use to learn about your class?
Written: the class register, notebooks. Material: desks, books, photographs and the school building.
4
Why can material sources alone not answer every question?
An object does not tell people’s names, language, thoughts or exact dates; written sources often supply that.