how do archeologist, scientists sociologist and historians help in reconstructing the past
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all these people from.different fields allow todays generations to know about past ...
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The process of peeping into the past to deduce mankind's social, cultural, economical and technological progress through time is an extremely difficult and arduous process at best. Historians have a number of methodologies and tools to help them reconstruct the past.
Geography & History
The geography of a region plays a major role in influencing its history. Geography gives the broad context on which to base an understanding of the pattern of historical progress of the human society in that region. Knowledge of geography of a region helps give a proper perspective to the study and analysis of past events.
Historical Sources
Historical sources are the sum total of all evidence left behind by past human society which help in reconstructing history. For studying the details of past cultures, historians depend a lot upon historical sources to tease information out of them. There are two major categories of historical sources – literary and archaeological.
Literary sources
Literary sources consist of all writings of the past which can help piece together the political, economic, social and cultural dimensions of those times. They are categorised into
historical literature,
religious texts,
secular (non-religious) texts, and
foreign accounts.
Literary sources can be in two forms: as manuscripts or as textual literature.
A manuscript is an ancient handwritten book or document, written on parchment, papyrus, palm leaves or on bark from trees like the birch, which has survived through the ages.
Historical Literature
Historical literature can be classified into (a) historical works and (b) biographies.
Historical works are those which have recorded the political, economic, social and cultural attainment of the human society. Biographies honour the life and achievements of rulers, and are often partisan.
Religious Texts
Religious texts deal with religion, religious codes of conduct and mythology.
Secular (Non-religious) Texts
Secular texts describe the political, economic, social and cultural life of those times. They also include treatises on the arts and the sciences.
Foreign Accounts
Foreign accounts comprise writings by foreign authors and travelers on the region under historical study.
Archaeological sources
Archaeological sources comprise material remains (artifacts), bones, old ruins and monuments of past human societies and activities. The artifacts may be in the form of tools, pottery, coins, sculpture and carvings.
Archaeology is the scientific study of these remains of the past societies, and those who study archaeology are known as archaeologists. Archaeologists research the remains to determine the time period of the past society, as well as to reconstruct their way of life..
Fig 1: An archaeological site of an ancient temple in Egypt. (Source: Orna-Onstein, Archaeology Discovering Past, p. 15)
Archaeological sources are categorised into
archaeological sites & archaeological digs
inscriptions, and
coins.
Archaeological sites & Archaeological digs
Archaeological sites are areas being studied by archaeologists which show evidence of past human settlements and activities. These sites typically have old ruins, monuments and artifacts. Archaeological digs are archaeological sites excavated by archaeologists to reveal buried ruins, bones and artifacts which had been covered by earth with the passage of time.
Inscriptions
Inscriptions are writings engraved in historical artifacts of permanent nature like stones and metal plates. The study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy.
Inscriptions are generally of three types:
commemorative inscriptions, bearing witness to certain special events, normally incised on stone;
dedicatory inscriptions recording dedications of a monument, building, sculpture or image, normally incised on stone;
donative inscriptions bearing witness to grants, normally engraved on copper plates.
Inscription are considered reliable because of they are available in the original form, as compared to informati
Geography & History
The geography of a region plays a major role in influencing its history. Geography gives the broad context on which to base an understanding of the pattern of historical progress of the human society in that region. Knowledge of geography of a region helps give a proper perspective to the study and analysis of past events.
Historical Sources
Historical sources are the sum total of all evidence left behind by past human society which help in reconstructing history. For studying the details of past cultures, historians depend a lot upon historical sources to tease information out of them. There are two major categories of historical sources – literary and archaeological.
Literary sources
Literary sources consist of all writings of the past which can help piece together the political, economic, social and cultural dimensions of those times. They are categorised into
historical literature,
religious texts,
secular (non-religious) texts, and
foreign accounts.
Literary sources can be in two forms: as manuscripts or as textual literature.
A manuscript is an ancient handwritten book or document, written on parchment, papyrus, palm leaves or on bark from trees like the birch, which has survived through the ages.
Historical Literature
Historical literature can be classified into (a) historical works and (b) biographies.
Historical works are those which have recorded the political, economic, social and cultural attainment of the human society. Biographies honour the life and achievements of rulers, and are often partisan.
Religious Texts
Religious texts deal with religion, religious codes of conduct and mythology.
Secular (Non-religious) Texts
Secular texts describe the political, economic, social and cultural life of those times. They also include treatises on the arts and the sciences.
Foreign Accounts
Foreign accounts comprise writings by foreign authors and travelers on the region under historical study.
Archaeological sources
Archaeological sources comprise material remains (artifacts), bones, old ruins and monuments of past human societies and activities. The artifacts may be in the form of tools, pottery, coins, sculpture and carvings.
Archaeology is the scientific study of these remains of the past societies, and those who study archaeology are known as archaeologists. Archaeologists research the remains to determine the time period of the past society, as well as to reconstruct their way of life..
Fig 1: An archaeological site of an ancient temple in Egypt. (Source: Orna-Onstein, Archaeology Discovering Past, p. 15)
Archaeological sources are categorised into
archaeological sites & archaeological digs
inscriptions, and
coins.
Archaeological sites & Archaeological digs
Archaeological sites are areas being studied by archaeologists which show evidence of past human settlements and activities. These sites typically have old ruins, monuments and artifacts. Archaeological digs are archaeological sites excavated by archaeologists to reveal buried ruins, bones and artifacts which had been covered by earth with the passage of time.
Inscriptions
Inscriptions are writings engraved in historical artifacts of permanent nature like stones and metal plates. The study of inscriptions is called Epigraphy.
Inscriptions are generally of three types:
commemorative inscriptions, bearing witness to certain special events, normally incised on stone;
dedicatory inscriptions recording dedications of a monument, building, sculpture or image, normally incised on stone;
donative inscriptions bearing witness to grants, normally engraved on copper plates.
Inscription are considered reliable because of they are available in the original form, as compared to informati
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