Overview of History

Study Notes

History is the study of the past, particularly human history.
It involves examining written documents, historical evidence, and analyzing past events.
The word “history” stems from the Greek word "historia," meaning "knowledge acquired through inquiry or investigation."
History is a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events.

It reveals the roots of current culture.
It provides insights into human nature through recurring patterns and trends.
It teaches historical facts and how various factors shape society, such as religion, greed, cultural interactions, technology, and more.
It helps us learn from past mistakes.

Archaeology investigates the past through the analysis of objects left behind by people.
Archaeologists excavate the earth for artifacts.
Artifacts are objects made by humans, such as tools, pottery, weapons, and jewelry.
These artifacts provide information about past lifestyles.

Paleontology focuses on prehistoric eras.
Paleontologists study fossils, the preserved remains of plants and animals from earlier time periods.

Anthropology examines human culture.
Anthropologists also study artifacts and fossils, seeking clues about what people valued and believed.
Evidence in anthropology can be tangible objects like uniforms or pottery, or written documents.

Secondary sources are documents or works created by individuals not directly involved in the event.
They are produced after an event.
Secondary sources interpret and analyze primary sources.

Prehistory refers to the period before the development of writing systems.
It spans from the emergence of human-like beings until the introduction and use of writing.
The time frame of prehistory differs across civilizations, as the evolution of human civilizations varies.
Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia were the first to develop writing systems, during the early Bronze Age.
Other civilizations entered the historical period during the Iron Age.
Human prehistory encompasses the period between the use of the first stone tools (approximately 3.3 million years ago) and the invention of writing systems (around 5,300 years ago).
The end of prehistory varies based on different locations, as writing was adopted at different times in different societies.

A decade comprises 10 years.
A century consists of 100 years.
A millennium encompasses 1,000 years, or 10 centuries.
An era refers to a period of several centuries.
Prehistory is the earliest era, dating back to the time before the invention of writing.
Ancient History follows prehistory.
The Middle Ages, sometimes referred to as the medieval period, come next.