The Study of HistoryThe Study of HistoryThe Study of HistoryThe Study of HistoryUnit 1. Introduction to the Study of HistoryUnit 1. Introduction to the Study of History

PH1007 Evolution of the Great CivilizationsCreated by Carmen Zamora

PH1007 Evolution of the Great CivilizationsCreated by Carmen Zamora

What is history?What is history?

• The record of what people have done in the past.

Does this means that if it’s not recorded somehow, its not history?

• Also, history is a methodological study of evidence of the human past.

• The record of what people have done in the past.

Does this means that if it’s not recorded somehow, its not history?

• Also, history is a methodological study of evidence of the human past.

• Historians rely on other disciplines to study the evidence of the past...

• because we cannot fully understand it from only one perspective.

• Historians rely on other disciplines to study the evidence of the past...

• because we cannot fully understand it from only one perspective.

chronologychronology

• Time is linear ...

•for some cultures...

• for others time is actually circular.

• Throughout history, many different ways of measuring the passing of time have been developed.

• Time is linear ...

•for some cultures...

• for others time is actually circular.

• Throughout history, many different ways of measuring the passing of time have been developed.

• Jews and Muslims use lunar calendars to mark their religious celebrations.

• The Chinese calendar counts years according to 60-year periods, which repeat over and over.

• The Maya used a combination of various calendars, but did not count the years.

• We use the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar designed so Easter would coincide with the spring equinox.

• During the French revolution a “republican” calendar replaced the Gregorian one.

• Jews and Muslims use lunar calendars to mark their religious celebrations.

• The Chinese calendar counts years according to 60-year periods, which repeat over and over.

• The Maya used a combination of various calendars, but did not count the years.

• We use the Gregorian calendar, which is a solar calendar designed so Easter would coincide with the spring equinox.

• During the French revolution a “republican” calendar replaced the Gregorian one.

• We divide history into blocks of time (periods or eras), so it’s easier to analyze.

• These blocks vary according to:

culture

geographical regions

historical experiences

• We divide history into blocks of time (periods or eras), so it’s easier to analyze.

• These blocks vary according to:

culture

geographical regions

historical experiences

Periodization of historyPeriodization of history

• B.C. (Before Christ) or B.C.E. (Before the Common Era)?

• B.C. (Before Christ) or B.C.E. (Before the Common Era)?

C.E. - what happened to A.D.?

C.E. - what happened to A.D.?

The Muslim calendar starts to count in the year 622 C.E.

The Muslim calendar starts to count in the year 622 C.E.According to the Jewish calendar, it is the year 5771.

According to the Jewish calendar, it is the year 5771.

Human HistoryHuman History

European perspective

European perspective

AncientAncient Medieval

Medieval

ModernModern Contemp.

Contemp.

AncientAncient Post-classical

Post-classical

ModernModern Contemp

Contemp

Classical

Classical

Early ModernEarly

ModernMesopotamia

Egypt

China

India

Olmec

Mesopotamia

Egypt

China

India

Olmec

Greece

Rome

Han China

Gupta India

Maya

Greece

Rome

Han China

Gupta India

Maya

Muslim

Medieval

Mongol

Aztec

Muslim

Medieval

Mongol

Aztec

Renaissance

Reformation

Explorations

Isolation

Renaissance

Reformation

Explorations

Isolation

Age of Revolutions

Industrial Age

Imperialism

Age of Revolutions

Industrial Age

Imperialism

World War I

World War II

Cold War

New World Order

World War I

World War II

Cold War

New World Order

Global perspective

Global perspective

• Primary sources

• Secondary sources

• Primary sources

• Secondary sources

A Historian’s ToolsA Historian’s Tools