SOURCES AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

Meaning and Importance of History

Background of the topic

History is an academic subject taught as part of a primary and secondary education. This chapter tackles the significance of history as a discipline in both primary and secondary levels. It gives the basics of history and lays a solid foundation of this subject. It traces the different definitions of history, the importance of studying history as a subject as well as the different ways by which information that constitutes history is obtained.

Meaning of history

History is the study of man and his activities in different period of times. These activities enable man to obtain his needs. Man’s basic needs are food, cloths, and shelter 

Importance of History of studying history.

1. Understand how African societies were formed, how they developed and the factors that influenced this development. It also allows us to develop an understanding of the events, conditions and factors that shaped the past and those which have shaped the present conditions of the world in order to predict the future.

2. Historical knowledge makes the present comprehensive which is why journalists and writers of sensational stories spend some time explaining the history of a particular incident; it is only when one knows the past of a person or an incident that the present can became meaningful.

3. Develop an understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological advancements made by African societies before and after colonial rulership.

4. Develop the basic skills of critical thinking, reasoning, judgment, empathy and effective participation in human developmental activities. Studying history also helps us to understand and appreciate the efforts made and strategies used by African people to regain their independence and resist neo-colonialism

5. Develop, understand and appreciation the need for African unity, cooperation and interdependence, conflict resolution and effective participation in social, economic and political development of Africa. It also helps us to develop an understanding of the relationships between African’s development problems and foreign intrusion, colonial domination, cultural subjugation and economic exploitation at various stages in history.

6. Acquire knowledge for its own sake as you enjoy a novel with fiction, a film with an interesting plot. It is not clear why people are interested in these ventures and in the same way people do enjoy to know the history of particular topics.

7. Develop our patriotism, history students know their heroes and heroines and traitors. This make history a sensitive subject in places where political leaders are not sure of their legitimacy.

8. Enlightens people about the advantages of certain economic practices for example, the way the development in the world today is measured by the industrial revolution that took place in Europe in 1750

9. Understand the level of development at different stages of human development. Without history it is very difficult to determine or to tell what humans were doing in the past. Therefore, it is through history that one can extensively understand the level of development that humans have reached at in a given period in time.

10. Helps us learn about technological transformations, for example primitive livelihood to advanced livelihood (using of stones and wood tools to iron tools)

11. Understand how humans adapted to their environment and how the struggled to earn a living from the environment. This therefore looks at the long struggle of man by exercises of his reason to understand the environment and to act up on it.

12. Understand the relationship that existed between humans, and between humans and the environment.

13. Acquire skills in historical issues and becoming professionals in history, some people such as archaeologists and historians study history for career purposes.

     SOURCES OF HISTORY

Sources of history refers to the avenues that can be used to get historical information. It requires an inter-disciplinary approach in order to get the actual historical information. Replying on a single source of history evidence will not satisfy your curiosity as one source links you to the other. It is therefore crystal clear that no single source of history can stand on its own.

Therefore, the following are sources of history/historical knowledge: 

·         Oral tradition

·         Historical sites

·         Written records/documents

·         Archives

·         Museums

·         Archeology

·         Anthropology

·         Linguistics

       1. ORAL TRADITION

This involves the passing information by word of mouth through talking and listening.

Oral tradition pass historical information into two ways

1.      Through culture practices like art, music, religion, riddles, songs, proverbs, superstition, poems and stories.

2.      Narration of past events.

FUNCTION OF ORAL TRADITION

1.      It preserves historical information of society

2.      I t collects and pass historical information between generations in the society.

3.      It helps researchers in data collection.

ADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION

1.      It preserve and reveal historical information which are not recorded

2.      Both illiterate and literate people can obtain historical information.

3.      Within oral tradition there are warning and teachings.

4.      Is the easiest and cheapest method of obtaining information.

5.      It is more live source, since it involves physical interaction.

       

DISADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION

1.      It need much attention and power of memory

2.      False information can be given by story teller.

3.      Narration of historical events are centered to those people of status i.e Kings, Queens, Chief. White talking little about common society.

4.      There is language problems when narrator use vernacular language.

5.      It is difficult to distinguish what is real and what is imaginary information.

6.      Translation is very difficult because some languages are no longer in existence.

2. HISTORICAL SITES

Are special places where by the past human remains can be found and shown to the public.

These are places in which the remains of once lived human in the past can be found.

1.      They comprise man’s physical development, tools that were made and used from time to time.

2.      In these areas we find /see past human products and animal bones. Example of historical sites include Isimila, Olduvai George, Kondoa Irangi, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mafia, Engaruka, Kagera etc in Tanzania.

Nsongezi, Biggo, Ntubi, Rusinga island, Magosi and Ishago in Uganda.

Lake Rudolf(Turkana), Lake Naivasha, Njoro, Olongesailie, Lake Magadi, Lamu, Mombasa and mt. Kenya in Kenya.

FUNCTIONS OF HISTORICAL SITES

1.      Preserves historical information for the coming generations.

2.      They are useful sources of information and to reconstruct history.

3.      They are the symbols of social cultural heritage to the society concern past human tools, rock, paints et c.

     DISADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES

1.      They helps for practical historical learning

          Eg. Through observation of past human tools, rock, paints.

2.      Used to reveal past settlement patterns, levels of technology, economic development of political organization reached by the past societies.

3.      Acts as centers of tourism.

4.      They helps in transforming theoretical teaching of history to practical historical learning.

5.      It acts as the resource centers to researchers.

6.      It provides employment opportunities eg: guiders

     DISADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES

1.      It brings confusion to interpret the remains found in historical sites

2.      Many of historical sites are found on remote areas hence difficult for many people to visit them.

   3. ARCHAEOLOGY

This refers to the scientific study of past human remains
This is the study of material remain of man’s past through scientific methods
The one specializes in archeology is called ARCHAEOLOGIST
Archaeology involve excavations (digging) of the remains of man’s past historical sites and interpretation 
The famous archaeologist in East Africa was Dr. Louis Leaky with his wife Mary Leakey
   Archaeology involves the use of carbon 14 dating to determine plants and animal remains.

 
FUNCTIONS OF ARCHAEOLOGY

1.      Gives important information about man through different stages.

2.      It is a useful method of revealing soil covered historical remains.

3.      It arouse curiosity of searching past man historical information.

  

        ADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY

1.      It helps people to know when and how people lived in a certain place.

2.      Past objects tells us about the life and culture of past people.

3.      It helps us to know and reveal the technology, pastoral, agricultural and commercial activities of the past man.

4.      Through excavation we get knowledge of artifacts eg. Pottery, building etc.

5.      It reveal religious beliefs of the past man

6.      We can compliment other sources of information through archaeology eg. History

7.      We can know the past relationship between different people such as trading activities, migration, marriage, birth, death and political relation.

    DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY

·         It consumes time because of excavation.

·         It can not reveal the past people’s language.

·         It can not give out the out reasons for historical events such as wars.

·         It needs full experts and advanced technology.

·         Poorly interpreted remains can bring false information

It can not tell anything about the past social organization

4  ARCHIVES

These are places where collection of public and private documents and old record are preserved.

    These documents includes personal letters, early travelers and missionary records, traders writings, personal and government files, political parties documents, etc.

 FUNCTIONS OF ARCHIVES

(a)                Archives preserves public and private records that has enduring value to the society.

(b)               The records in archives are made available for use by the public.

               However not all records can be viewed by everyone.

(c)                Archives collect records of enduring value from various places.

            For example, the nation archives have records from different  

            regions of the country.

(d)               The archives staff maintains registers of the record in the archives.

(e)                Archives have facilities for restoring damaged documents of enduring value.

(f)                Archives have facilities for restoring damaged documents of enduring value.

(g)               The historical information in the archives ensures continuity. For example, company policies from previous years can still guide the employee today.

   Easy to identify ideas and literacy level of the past man.

2.      It is easy to identify the exact date of historical event.

3.      It used to store historical information.

4.      Easy to get historical information from different places and different people.

     DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHIVES

1.      It may lead false information, if author is biased.

2.      Illiterate people can not get historical information.

3.      It is not easy to get information of society whose information are not documented.

4.      It is difficult to get remote information from archives.

5.      It is non renewable once disrupted either by wind or other external force.

5. MUSEUMS 
 These are places or buildings where information and objects are preserved
  It involves all terms which shows culture, political economic and technological development from the past to the present. 
 Objects can be early coins, clothes, mineral cowries, religious and ceremonial symbols. 
  Museum can be national, Regional, District and village. e.g National Museums in Dar es salaam, Bagamoyo, Butiama, Kalenga Iringa.

FUNCTIONS OF MUSEUMS

1.      Preserve historical documents and objects.

2.      Shows concreate remains of objects.

3.      It is the place for tourist and study tour.

4.      It is the center for cultural and national identity.

ADVANTAGES OF MUSEUMS

1.      It preserves objects which are used as the teaching aids.

2.      Museum preserve culture and national identity.

3.      It used by researcher (source of information)

4.      It acts as tourist center.

5.      People learn about technological development.

6.      Enable learners to arouse creativity.

DISADVANTAGES OF MUSEUMS.

1.      It need knowledgeable people.

2.      It is possible to distort information through biases by the museum attendant.

3.      Poor preservation of the past items e.g coins, pieces of cloth, slaves chain can distort information.

4.      It need extensive care to maintain it’s beauty or origin.

6. WRITTEN RECORDS

Are the documents which comprise written historical information. 
 These includes books, letters, maps, magazines, journal, news paper, minutes of meetings and conferences.
Written records can be found in libraries, schools, colleges, universities, internet cafes, offices etc.

FUNCTIONS OF WRITTEN RECORDS

(a)                Written records provides pictures of society.

(b)               These records reflect public opinion at the time of writing. For example, the letter to the editor in news paper express the readers’ feelings on current issues.

(c)                Written records serve as stores of a large variety of information, including discoveries, government policies, statements, religious beliefs, fashion, speeches and agreement.

(d)               In-depth reports of daily events are kept as written records. For example in a diary, news paper or biography.

ADVANTAGES OF WRITTEN RECORDS.

·         It is easy to get information.

·         Easy to make references

·         It is helpful in doing researches.

·         They can be kept for long time.

DISADVANTAGES OF WITTEN RECORDS

1.      It can give false information if they are biased by the author

2.      It is difficult to read everything from written records

3.      They are subject to be badly written.

4.      Illiterate  people can not get information.

    7. LINGUISTICS

Is scientific study and analysis of language.

It includes study of sound, structure, information and relationship between various language groups.

ADVANTAGES OF LINGUISTICS

1.      It helps to get information from various sources.

2.      Enables to discover links between different people.

3.      It help to determine dates f historical event e.g “Aluta continua” (Period of struggle for independence in Mozambique)

LIMITATIONS OF LINGUISTICS

1.      It consumes time and finance learning a particular language

2.      Through translation one can commit some important work.

3.      The present language may be corrupted.

      8. ANTHROPOLOGY

Is the study of the society’s cultural systems, beliefs, ideas etc.

The study can give important information about movements, settlements and production activities of the past.

     HOW  TO DETERMINE DATES

Dates are instrument in a science of history, this historians divided dates into four way;

1.      Recalling events:- here important events are recalled/remembered e.g drought, farming, floods, birth, eruption of diseases etc.

2.      By studying languages:- Some names helps people to remember dates of some events. e.g Word “Karafuu” started when Cloves were introduced in Zanzibar.

3.      Carbon 14 is a scientific method of determining  dates. It used in the finding dates for remains of animals or plants which died beyond 5000 years ago. Carbon 14 is a gas found in carbon-dioxide which exist in the atmosphere.  It absorbed by plant and other living organisms. When died carbon 14 that starts to decay at a fixed rate from the time of death.

4.      Orders of events: ways showing order of events, period and ages, among them are:-

·         Time graph

·         Time chart

·         Time line

·         Family tree

(a)                Example of time chart

S/N	PERIOD A.D	EVENTS
1	1884-1885	The Britain Conference
2	1914-1918	The first World war period
3	1939-1945	The second world war period
4	1961	Tanganyika become independent
5	1962	Tanganyika became republic
6	1992	Introduction of multipartism in Tanzania.

b)            Example of time graph

1995	Tanzania holds its first multi-party
1978		Tanzania and Uganda war
1977			Chama cha mapinduzi (CCM) was formed.
1967				Arushadeclaration
1964					Zanzibar Revolution

                                         

                                                                       

(c) Example of time line

1	2	3	4	5	6
300 BC	200 BC	100BC	100 AD	1000 AD	1800

(d) Family tree 

1909 Great Grandfather

1922 Great Grandmother

1923 Great Grandfather

1927 Great Grandmother

1920 Great Grandfather

1922 Great Grandmother

1917 Great Grandfather

1928 Great Grandmother

                                                                                                                                                                       

1949   Maternal Grandmother

1943 Maternal Grandfather

1909 Parental Grandfather

1945   Parental Grandfather

   

1966                Raza’s father

1969          Raza’s mother

                                                                                                                                    

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