History Chapter 1 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is history?

The study of the people and events of the past (correct)

The study of animals

The study of geography

The study of the future

Who are historians?

People who study history.

How does learning about the past help us?

It allows us to understand the present better.

Historians label time in different ways to identify and describe when something happened.

Labeling Signup and view all the answers

How many years are in a decade?

10 years Signup and view all the answers

How many years are in a century?

100 years Signup and view all the answers

How many years are in a millennium?

1,000 years Signup and view all the answers

What does Prehistory refer to?

The era before people developed writing. Signup and view all the answers

What calendar did Julius Caesar develop?

Julian calendar Signup and view all the answers

Does the Gregorian Calendar lose time?

False Signup and view all the answers

Who uses the Gregorian Calendar today?

Most of the world. Signup and view all the answers

What do B.C. and A.D. stand for?

B.C. is years before Christ; A.D. is years after Christ. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a timeline?

To show the order of events over a period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What do archaeologists study?

The past by looking at what people left behind. Signup and view all the answers

____ study fossils to learn from the remains of plant and animal life.

Paleontologists Signup and view all the answers

What do historians use to interpret what happened in the past?

Evidence from historical sources. Signup and view all the answers

What are primary sources?

Firsthand pieces of evidence created by people who experienced the event. Signup and view all the answers

What does bias mean in historical research?

Unreasoned, emotional judgment about people and events. Signup and view all the answers

What is the use of note cards in research?

To write questions and answers when researching a topic. Signup and view all the answers

What should evaluations of history be based on?

Evidence and not on today's understanding of rights and society. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Understanding History

History examines the past, focusing on people and events, emphasizing changes over time.
Historians investigate the causes behind historical events.

Importance of Studying the Past

Learning history enhances understanding of the present and informs future decision-making.

Time Measurement and Labeling

Time is labeled in various ways: decades (10 years), centuries (100 years), and millennia (1,000 years).
Eras segment history into larger periods.

Calendars and Timekeeping

Various cultures have developed around 40 different calendars, often influenced by nature.
The Julian calendar, initiated by Julius Caesar, counted years from the founding of Rome and included leap years.
The Gregorian calendar, established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, began counting from Jesus’ birth and is widely used today.

Historical Dating Systems

B.C. (Before Christ) denotes years before Christ's birth; A.D. (Anno Domini) signifies years after.
B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era) are secular terms to reference the same periods, avoiding religious connotations.
Dates in B.C. count backward from A.D. 1, with no year zero.

Timelines

Timelines illustrate event sequences and the duration between them, organized into equal segments.

The Role of Writing in History

The invention of writing enabled the documentation of significant events, providing historians insight into the past.
Pre-writing eras require alternative methods for understanding history.

Archaeology involves studying physical remains to understand past cultures.
Paleontology examines fossils to learn about extinct life forms.
Anthropology focuses on cultural development and values over time.

Interpreting Historical Evidence

Historians analyze primary sources (firsthand evidence) and secondary sources (interpretations created later).
Trustworthiness of sources is vital; bias can compromise reliability.
Inferences are drawn from evidence to reconstruct past events.

Research Practices in History

Historians assess the credibility of sources and seek diverse perspectives to gain clarity on events.
Accurate representation of history is essential, with peer reviews ensuring factual correctness.

Tools and Techniques

Note cards facilitate organized research and summarization of findings.
General reference books like encyclopedias and textbooks provide foundational knowledge.

Ethical Research Conduct

Distinguishing between fact and opinion is crucial to evaluating source reliability.
Plagiarism is presenting another's work as your own; proper citation and paraphrasing are necessary to avoid this.

Evaluating Historical Perspectives

Historical evaluations should be evidence-based, recognizing that contemporary views may differ from past contexts.

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Description

This quiz focuses on Chapter 1 of history, exploring what historians do and the significance of studying history. Through flashcards, you'll learn essential definitions and concepts related to the past and its impact on the present.