In this activity, you will research the origins of an object of historical significance and then make note of your findings.
Part A
Historians do more than study primary sources. They try to look beyond the source to the larger culture that created it. As you can see from the examples in this lesson, every primary source has a story. Historical research and interpretation helps us tell those stories.
Look at the artifact in the picture. Click the links provided to get started with your research. As you review your research, remember to look beyond the facts and try to understand the artifact’s importance in history. Ask yourself these questions:
Historians do more than study primary sources. They try to look beyond the source to the larger culture that created it. As you can see from the examples in this lesson, every primary source has a story. Historical research and interpretation helps us tell those stories.
Look at the artifact in the picture. Click the links provided to get started with your research. As you review your research, remember to look beyond the facts and try to understand the artifact’s importance in history. Ask yourself these questions:
- Why was this object was created?
- Why might it have been important to the people who made or used it?
- What might it tell us about the culture it belongs to and the specific time period in which it was made?
Part B
After you’ve completed your research, write a short paragraph of 100 to 150 words explaining what you’ve learned. Keep these ideas in mind:
After you’ve completed your research, write a short paragraph of 100 to 150 words explaining what you’ve learned. Keep these ideas in mind:
- You may find a lot of information about the object, more than what you can include in one paragraph. Identify the information that is most relevant and include it in your answer.
- If you were to continue to research the object, what questions would you ask? Where would you go for answers? Libraries? Museums?