In order to know if a source is reliable, historians need to ask a number of questions. Think of 3 of these questions.
Who is this information coming from? When was it written? Where was it written? Why did the author write this? What do other sources say? What evidence is used?
What century are we in now?
The 21st century
What does BC stand for?
Before Christ
What century is the year 30 in?
The 1st century
What is a secondary source?
Information that comes from after the time/event you are studying.
Would a movie made in the year 2000 about World War I be a primary or secondary source?
It's a secondary source.
What is a primary source?
Information that originates from the time/event you are studying
What does Anno Domini (AD) mean?
In the year of our Lord.
Would a dinosaur fossil be a primary or secondary source?
It's a primary source.
What are the non-religious equivalents of BC and AD?
BCE, CE
What is chronology?
Putting events in order.
Historians get a lot of information from human-made objects. What do we call these?
Artefacts
Historians need to make many inferences. What does this mean?
Historians need to connect evidence to come to conclusions about what happened.
What does reliable mean?
Something you can trust.
Put the following dates in order from oldest to newest: 400 CE, 1500 BCE, 30, 320 BCE.
1500 BCE, 320 BCE, 30, 400 CE
What is the name of the calendar that is the most internationally accepted in the world today?
The Gregorian calendar
Would a letter written from a soldier to his mom in the year 1940 be a primary or secondary source if we were studying World War II?
It's a primary source.
What do BCE and CE stand for?
Before the Common Era and Common Era.
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