History Study: Terms and Concepts

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What is the period of events before the invention of writing systems considered?

Prehistory

What sources do historians use to seek knowledge of the past?

Written documents, oral accounts, art and material artifacts, and ecological markers

How is history different from myth?

History is supported by verifiable evidence, while myth is not.

What is the umbrella term comprising past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of these events?

History Signup and view all the answers

What do historians debate regarding the nature of history?

Historians debate the nature of history as an end in itself, and its usefulness in giving perspective on the problems of the present. Signup and view all the answers

Who is often considered the 'father of history'?

Herodotus Signup and view all the answers

What is the origin of the word 'history'?

The word history comes from historía (Ancient Greek: ἱστορία, romanized: historíā, lit. 'inquiry, knowledge from inquiry, or judge'). Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Herodotus and Thucydides in the study of history?

They helped form the foundations for the modern study of past events and societies. Signup and view all the answers

How did the word 'history' evolve from Ancient Greek to Old English?

The Greek word was borrowed into Classical Latin as historia, then borrowed from Latin into Old English as stær, and finally, as Latin became Old French (and Anglo-Norman), historia developed into forms such as istorie, estoire, and historie. Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of the modern study of history?

It is wide-ranging and includes the study of specific regions and certain topical or thematic elements of historical investigation. Signup and view all the answers