Download Intro to course and why_study_history_and_famous_students

ANCIENT HISTORY
Mr. Spencer
Rm 2011
What is History?
• Write your own definition of History in your
notebooks.
• Jacob Burkhardt, a Swiss Historian, stated
“history is what one age finds worthy of note
in another age”.
• It is the study of change over time.
• Cicero stated, “Not to know what happened before one was
born is to remain a child.”
Ancient History
• Our annual calendars focus on the life of
Christ. (Christian calendar)
– B.C. (What does it mean?)
• Before Christ
– A.D. (Does it mean “after death”?)
• No – Anno Domini – Latin for “after the birth”.
• There is another calendar which uses
– B.C.E – Before Common Era
– A.C.E – After Common Era
Bias in History
• What is bias?
–It is a slanted view of something.
A one-sidedness.
POLITICAL
Rush Limbaugh, Radio Talk Show Host
Example: Proclaimed right wing
republican uses his talk show to
promote his party's platform beliefs.
SELF-PROMOTERS
Authors of books, websites, or various
written works promote their works
for self-gratification.
Example: Toyota Today Magazine rating
its Toyota cars as the best in its
class based on some specifications
outlined by them.
FINANCIAL
A individual or company creates website
to advertise a product or service.
Example: Receiving Tax Tips from a
website designed and maintained by
H&R Block.
SPONSORS
A individual or company supports a
website with the intention of gaining
exposure.
Example: Gaining interview and resume
writing tips from a website
sponsored by Kelly and Manpower
Temporary Services.
Bias
• How can this hurt history?
– It can distort the real story. It can misinterpret
the information.
Historian’s Theories
• Historians have to fill in the missing pieces
with educated guesses.
• They make these guesses by gathering as
much information as possible from using:
– Artifacts – human made objects (pottery, utensils,
weapons.)
– Primary Sources – written by people of the
period. (newspapers, diaries)
– Secondary Sources – written about past
events. (autobiographies, encyclopedias,)
Historians areas of focus
• Historians focus on figuring out 4 areas of
the past:
• Politics – how the people organized and governed
themselves
• Economics – how the communities worked
regarding trade and $.
• Society – social groups, what shaped society
• Culture – what were the important piece that made
the community unique. (dress, activities, language)
Other Sciences
• There are many sciences that help historians in
developing theories or putting information together:
Anthropology - ?
study of humans.
Archaeology –
study of remains of humans, animals and habitats.
Geology –
study of the land.
Philology –
study of languages
Psychology –
study of the mind and human behaviour.
Sociology –
Study of society.
Paleontology –
Study of fossil remain to understand past geological
periods.
Why Study History?
• History helps you discover how your world
evolved.
• History trains your mind and teaches you
how to think and process info.
• The pursuit of historical events and people
is fun - a form of time travel.
• A lack of historical knowledge prevents
people from truly understanding the world
they live in
Why Study History?
• History helps you understand the origins of
modern political and social problems.
• History lets you learn how and why people
behaved as they did, whether they are
Elizabeth I, Hitler or John Lennon...
• History makes you appreciate that people
in the past were not just 'good' or 'bad', but
motivated in complex and inconsistent
ways, just like us.
Why Study History?
• History helps you make sense of most
other subjects.
• History provides you with the skills
employers are looking for.
• History gives you back your past.
• Without an understanding of the past, the
present doesn't make much sense
Why Study History?
"Those who cannot
remember the past
are condemned
to repeat it."
What do you think this statement means?
Do you agree with it? Why/not?
History Students that Became Famous
Edward Norton
•Famous actor
•studied History at Yale
History Students that Became Famous
Mira Sorvino
•Famous actress
•studied History at Harvard
History Students that Became Famous
Chris Martin
•Band: Coldplay
•Stuied UCL
History Students that Became Famous
Sting
•Famous musician
•History teacher