Name:
Date:
Chapter 1: Uncovering the Past
Section 1: Studying History (pages 6-11)
Key Terms:
History
Artifacts
Culture
Primary source
Archaeology
Secondary source
Fossil
Infamous
Info to Know
Tools of the Trade. In their excavations, archaeologists use tools that are common in American homes,
but they use those items differently. Archaeologists use ladles, spoons, dustpans, and paint brushes to
move small amounts of dirt that cover artifacts. To remove larger amounts of dirt and rubble,
archaeologists use shovels and trowels.
The Father of History. Herodotus was a Greek author who lived during the 400s BC. He has been called
the Father of History for attempting the first real historical narrative. Herodotus’s great work is an
account of Greece’s wars with Persia. Inserted into history are amusing short stories, dialogue, and
speeches. Readers still study the works of Herodotus for insight into the ancient world.
Connect to Science
Tree-Ring Dating. Archaeologists have many methods available to them for determining the age of
artifacts. To find the age of wooden objects they may use dendrochronology, or dating by tree-ring
growth. Because the growth of annual rings reflect climate conditions, scientists can correlate growth
patterns with particular years. In the United States, dendrochronology is particularly useful in the
Southwest, because the dry climate there preserves wood well.
History Humor. What is the definition of an archaeologist?
As you read, look for information about the clues historians use to understand the past. Record your
notes in a diagram like the one below.
Clues
Clues
Clues
Clues
Clues
The Study of the Past
History is the study of the past.
1. Define. Who are historians? People who study history
2. Describe. What kinds of information contribute to an understanding of people’s culture? Their
knowledge, beliefs, customs and values
3. Draw Conclusions. What might the discovery of an ancient people’s dishes tell us about how
they lived? Materials that were available, level of technological skill, artistic taste, how many
different kinds of food and drink they had
Understanding Through History
We can improve our understanding of people’s actions and beliefs through the study of history.
1. Identify. Name two groups of Americans who might interpret our county’s history differently.
Native Americans, European settlers, Asian immigrants, enslaved Africans
2. Summarize. How does history help citizens around the world know their own countries better?
It teaches people about their past, how their government’s came into being, their nation’s
triumphs and tragedies, and the experiences people have been through together.
3. Predict. What may tomorrow’s history books say about today’s world? Boston massacre,
Hurricane Sandy, Syrian crisis
4. Recall. How do you learn about other topics when studying history? Because history is the
record of humanity’s combined efforts and is concerned with the entire range of human
activities
5. Compare. How is the saying about forgetting the past similar to the view of Greek historian
Polybius? Both stress that learning from the past can prevent future mistakes.
Using Clues
Historians use clues from various sources to learn about the past.
1. Define. What is a fossil? A part or imprint of something that was once alive
2. Draw Conclusions. How do fossils and artifacts help teach us about the past? Fossil ach us
about the tools and objects used by humans in the past.
3. Predict. What are some things that historians of tomorrow may use as primary sources?
Recordings of television speeches, digital photographs, a soldiers letter home
Analysis Skill: Analyzing Primary Sources
History Makers (page9)
1. What words does the author use to make history sound interesting? Captains, kings, saints,
fanatics, traitors, rogues, villains, pathfinders, explorers, thinkers, creators, heroes, significant,
admirable, matter, actors