Instructions
Read the information below about history and answer the questions that follow.
What is History?
History is the study of the past. There are different types of history, such as military history, which focuses on wars, and social history, which looks at how people lived. We learn about the past from various types of evidence, including objects, writings, and other sources.
Film and photographs can be used as historical evidence. They show us what people wore, where they lived, and what they did in their spare time.
Archaeology is the study of history through digging up historical sites to find remains left behind by people from the past. The people who do this work are called archaeologists.
Museums are places that store objects used by people from the past. Curators choose the items to display in museums and research these objects to help visitors understand how they were used.
Historians use written documents, such as ancient books and diaries, to find out about life in earlier times. The period before writing was invented is called prehistory.
Art, such as paintings, drawings, and sculptures, can tell us a lot about history. A painting might show what the houses, landscapes, or clothing of a certain time looked like.
Old houses and their designs can give us insight into life before modern technology when everything had to be made by hand.
Memories are valuable sources for the history of more recent events. Oral historians study history by talking to people and documenting their stories.
Questions
1. What are two types of history mentioned in the text?
2. What do archaeologists study, and how do they do it?
3. What role do curators play in museums?
4. What is prehistory?
5. How can art help us understand history?
6. Why are memories important in studying history?