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Sources and history

Sources and history: source criticism, bias, the past through others’ eyes, and myths. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Evaluating sources

SourceWhat to remember
An excavated gold objectA primary object source
A trekker’s diary from 1837Primary source on the Great Trek
A slave ship’s logbookGives figures and dates
A photographNot always the whole truth: someone chooses the frame
A speech or letterThe leader’s own words

Use more than one source to compare and spot one-sidedness; independent sources that agree make a claim more reliable. Check the date to know if the source is from the time. Two countries tell the same war differently, because each tells its side. Archives keep old documents for researchers; archaeologists study objects and remains.

Sources show the past through different eyes.
Sources show the past through different eyes.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Time

17thcentury1601–170018thcentury1701–180019thcentury1801–190020thcentury1901–200021stcentury2001–21001652 falls in the 17th century; 1750 in the 18th century.
1834 is in the 19th century; 1652 in the 17th century.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • First question for any source: who made it and why? Studying how a source was made is source criticism.
  • A slave trader’s register counts people as cargo; a survivor’s testimony tells a life.
  • Much African history was long told through European eyes, because Europeans left the written sources.
  • A VOC official’s diary about the Khoikhoi shows only the Company’s side.
  • A myth or legend is a traditional story about the past that may not be completely true.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Ask every source the 5 W’s: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

    The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

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    For parents
    • Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
    • The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.

    Follows CAPS for Grade 7 Social Sciences (History). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

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