UNCOVERING THE PAST
 Studying History
 History is the study of the past, people who study history are called
historians.
 To understand history, historians study clues and evidence.
 Culture is the knowledge, beliefs, customs, and values of a group of
people.
 History can provide us with a guide to making better decisions in the
future.
 History shapes our identity and teaches us the values that we share.
 Values are ideas that people hold dear and try to live by.
 Understanding History
 History shapes our identity and teaches us values that we share.
 Tolerance is the respect and understanding the viewpoints of other
peoples.
 Using Clues
 A fossil is a part or imprint of something that was once alive.
 Artifacts are objects created by early humans.
 A primary source is an account of an event created by someone who
took part in or witnessed the event.
 A secondary source is information gathered by someone who did not
take part in or witness the event.
 Studying Geography
 Geography is the study of earth’s physical and cultural features.
 Human geography is the study of people and the places where they
live.
 Location is the exact description where something is.
 A region is an area with one or more features that make it different from
surrounding areas.
 Resources are materials found in the earth that people need and value.
 Geography Influences History
 Geography influenced the early development of cultures.
 People in areas with many natural resources could use their resources to
get rich. They could build glorious cities and powerful armies.
 Geography could also cause problems. Floods, for example, have killed
millions of people.
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