Exercises on Fundamental Historical Concepts

Is history just an area of ​​knowledge concerned with studying the past? Justify your answer.

Can historical facts be recognized only in the actions of great events and characters? Justify your answer with an example.

Establish the difference between chronological time and historical time.

Point out the division of historical time usually used by historians and other students in this area of ​​knowledge.

Explain how the historian is able to access the past.

What is anachronism, and how does it make working with the past difficult?

Not. Despite working with data that are in the past, historical science is an important tool for us to rethink the present situation of man. Whenever we turn to what has already been done, we look for information and developments from that act in our present time. In this way, it is of great importance in the reflection of lived experiences and in obtaining answers that can reorient our actions and behaviors.

Not. The realization of historical facts can happen by the action of completely unknown people or by collectivities. In an electoral process, for example, several people determine the choice of a ruler through individual action. In this way, we see that they participate in an important political event without having to be recognized or responsible for an action of great impact.

Chronological time works with constant time units that seek a valid pattern for a large number of people. Thus, when we talk about chronological time, we refer to minutes, hours, days, months, years... Historical time, on the other hand, has a dynamic form of organization, which varies according to the most significant transformations for a society. In this case, we see that each people has the autonomy to establish the division of its historical time.

Historians usually divide historical time as follows:Prehistory, which goes from the emergence of the first hominids (4 million years ago) to the invention of writing (4000 BC); Ancient Age, which goes from 4000 BC. until the 5th century AD; Middle Ages, between the 5th and 15th centuries; the Modern Age, which is between the 15th and 18th centuries; and the Contemporary Age, which runs from the late 18th century to the present day.

The historian's relationship with the past happens through the work with the so-called historical sources. These sources can encompass a series of records from the past, among which we can include work with official documents, reports, letters, archaeological artifacts, furniture, clothing, artwork, photographs and oral reports. As he gathers such sources, the historian seeks to answer the questions he raises about them.

Anachronism is any interpretation of the past carried out from the values ​​and concepts developed in the present time. Often, anachronism makes working with the past difficult by creating interpretations that are unrelated to the set of values ​​and ideas of the time being worked on. In such a way, this type of action can lead to the development of incoherent interpretations about the experiences, issues and ways of life of past societies.