Chapter 1 – Uncovering the Past
Section Notes
Video
Studying History
Studying Geography
Archaeology, History, and
Geography
Quick Facts
Chapter 1 Visual Summary
Maps
Studying Maps: California
Teotihuacán, c. AD 500
Images
Studying the Past
Understanding the World
Clues from the Past
Geography
Chapter 1 Lesson 1
Studying History
The Big Idea
Historians use many kinds of clues
to understand how people lived in the past.
Main Ideas
• History is the study of the past.
• We can improve our understanding of people’s actions and
beliefs through the study of history.
• Historians use clues from various sources to learn about
the past.
Main Idea 1:
I. History is the study of the past.
A. Historians are people who study the past
to understand
people’s culture.
1. Culture is the knowledge, beliefs,
customs, and values of a group of
people.
2. Archaeology is the study of the past
based on what people left behind.
B. Archaeology
1. Archaeologists, or people who study
archaeology, explore places where people
once lived, worked, or fought.
2. The things that people leave in these
places can range from stone tools to
computers.
3. Objects can be examined to learn about
the past and are clues to how people once
lived.
Main Idea 2:
II. We can improve our understanding of
people’s actions and beliefs through the
study of history.
History can…
• teach you about yourself
• teach you about other peoples and different
cultures
• provide you with a better understanding of
where you live
A. Knowing Yourself
1. Without your personal history, you would
not have an identity.
2. History is just as important for groups as
it is for individuals.
3.History teaches us about the experiences
we have been through and the values we
share.
B. Knowing Others
1. History shows how cultures are similar
and different.
2. You can understand why people think
the way they do by studying history.
3. This knowledge promotes tolerance and
can help build social harmony.
C. Knowing Your World
1. History explains how today’s events are
shaped by past events.
2. It also helps you develop mental skills,
such as asking questions.
3. History promotes good decision-making
skills.
Main Idea 3:
III. Historians use clues from various sources
to learn about the past.
1. Fossils and artifacts give information about early
humans.
2. A fossil is a part or an imprint of something that was
once alive.
3. Artifacts are objects created and used by humans.
4. Writing is another important source of information.
A. Sources of Information
1. A primary source is an account of an event that is
created by someone who took part in or witnessed the event.
2. A secondary source is information gathered by someone
who did not take part in or witness an event.
B. Sources of Change
1. As historians review and reanalyze information, their
interpretations can change.
Chapter 1 Lesson 2
Studying Geography
The Big Idea
Physical geography and human geography
contribute to the study of history
Main Ideas
• Geography is the study of places and people.
• Studying location is important to both physical
and human geography.
• Geography and history are closely connected.
Main Idea 1:
I. Geography is the study of
places and people.
1. Geography includes the study of both physical
and cultural features.
2. Physical geography is the study of the earth’s
land and features.
3. Human geography is the study of people and
the places where they live.
A. Physical Geography
1. Landforms are the natural
features of the land’s surface.
2. Climate is the pattern of weather
conditions in a certain
area over a
long period of time.
3. Landforms and climate are part of
a place’s environment.
B. Human Geography
1. Geographers study people and
the places where they live.
2. They also study how the
environment affects people.
Main Idea 2:
II. Studying location is important to both
physical and human geography.
• Location is the exact description of where
something is.
• To study various locations, geographers
use maps.
• Learning about regions is another key
part of studying geography.
II. Studying Location
1. Every place on the Earth has a specific
location.
2. No two places in the world are exactly
alike.
3. By comparing locations, geographers
learn more about the factors that affect
each of them.
A. Learning from Maps
1. A drawing of an area
2. Maps focus on different things, such as
features, cities, or boundaries.
3. Most maps have symbols to represent
different things.
B. Learning about Regions
1. An area with one or more features
that make it different from
surrounding areas
2. The features of a region can be
physical, such as forests or grassland.
3. Human features, such as language
or religion, also define regions.
Main Idea 3:
III. Geography and history
are closely connected.
1.Resources in an area were critical to
early settlement.
2. Early people developed vastly different
cultures because of their environments.
3. Geography has helped shape history and
has affected the growth of societies.
A. Geography Affects Resources
1. Materials found in the earth
that people need and value
2. Essential early resources
included water, animals, fertile
land, and stones for tools.
B. Geography Shapes Cultures
1. People developed different cultures based on
their environment.
2. Some people developed religious beliefs based
on the geography of their area.
3. Geography affected the growth of civilizations.
The first societies formed along rivers.
4. Some geographic features protected areas from
invasion.
C. Geography Influences History
1. People in areas with many natural
resources could use them to get rich and to
build powerful cities.
2. Geography causes weather-related
problems such as floods and food
shortages.
3. People can affect geography by planting
trees, building lakes, or creating
wastelands.
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