What Is History? Becoming a History Detective
Atlas lifts an old clay pot from a museum shelf, peers through a magnifying glass at the carvings on its side, and turns to the reader with a grin, ready to explain every clue.
- Define history as the study of what really happened in the past.
- Identify three kinds of evidence people from the past left behind: objects, writing, and pictures.
- Explain why historians examine evidence instead of just guessing.
- Sort everyday items into evidence that can help us learn about the past.
Key terms
- history
- the study of the real past
- evidence
- a real clue from the past
- object
- a thing people made or used
- examine
- to look very closely at something
What History Means
History is the story of what really happened a long time ago and even just yesterday. It is true, not made up. We cannot go back in time to watch it, so we become detectives. We hunt for real clues that people left behind. Those clues help us learn how people lived, played, ate, and worked.
Three Kinds Of Clues
Detectives of the past look for three kinds of clues. Objects are things people made or used, like a pot or a toy. Writing is words people wrote, like a letter or a diary. Pictures are images people drew or took, like a painting or a photo. Each clue helps us learn a little more about the past.
Worked examples
Is an old toy good evidence?
- Ask: did a real person make or use this toy long ago?
- Yes, a real child played with it.
- A toy is a thing people used, so it is an object.
Answer: Yes, it is real evidence and it is an object.
Is a guess good evidence?
- Ask: is a guess a real thing from the past?
- No, a guess is only an idea in your head.
- Real clues are things you can see or touch.
Answer: No, a guess is not evidence.
Activity
Sort each item into Evidence That Helps Us Learn About the Past or Just a Guess.
Practice
Name one real clue from the past and tell why it helps.
Is a clay pot an object, writing, or a picture?
Common mistakes to avoid
- History is made-up storiesHistory is true, and it uses real clues called evidence.
- We just guess about the pastWe look at real clues closely instead of only guessing.
Check your understanding
What is history?
How do historians learn what happened long ago?
Which of these is a piece of evidence from the past?
A historian finds a clay cooking pot buried in the ground. What kind of evidence is it?
Recap
History is the true story of the past. We are detectives who find real clues called evidence. Clues can be objects, writing, or pictures. We look closely instead of guessing.
Reflect
What clue would you save to teach the future about you?