Video Lesson

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Describe the importance of Sources in History.
• Identify primary and secondary sources of history.
• Describe the importance of dating in history
• Differentiating Gregorian and Islamic calendar

Brainstorming Questions

• What is sources in History?
• How can identified Gregorian and Islamic calendar?
• which sources are tangible to reconstructing history?
• What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Key Terms

2.2. Dating in History

• Dating in History figures or numerical statements that express the time of historical events or processes.

• The battle of Adwa took place on March 1, 1896.
• Ethiopian Renaissance Dam was initiated on April 2, 2011,

The duration in time could be short or long, to express the duration of time by using certain unites, Therefore, Historians describe the period of events by using certain subdivisions or units of time. These units are a decade, century, and millennium.

• A Decade refers to a period of ten years.
• A Century is one hundred years,
• A Millennium refers to a thousand years.

For example:

• The years from 1900 to 1909 are the first decade of the 20^thc.
• The years from 1900 to 1999 are the 20^th centaury
• The years from 1000 to 1999 are the second millennium

Dating in history is to organize past events according to their sequence by using Calendars called Chronology. The two widely used calendars are the Gregorian and Islamic.

2.2.1. Gregorian Calendar

Gregorian calendar time is counted forward and backwards from the time of the birth of Jesus Christ. BC (Before Christ),whereas the time after the birth of Jesus Christ is expressed in AD (Anno Domini), a Latin term meaning “The Year of the Lord”. Ethiopia uses its calendar and periodization is seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.

2.2.2 The Islamic Calendar

Islamic Calendar follows the event called the Hijra to count time forwards and backwards. The Hijra was the flight of the prophet Mohammed and his early followers from the town of Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. Hence, BH stands for the years before the Hijra, and AH refers to the years after the Hijra. In addition, the timeline shows you when and where events happened during the discussion period. See the timeline below.

Historians organize the human past into separate periods This is what we call periodization in history. Accordingly, history is conventionally divided into Ancient, Medieval and Modern history.

1.2 The Discipline of History

Definition

History is a branch of social science focused on the study of human actions and events from the past. It examines changes in the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of past societies.

1.2.1 The Importance of History

• Understanding the Past and Present: History helps us comprehend past events and their impact on current issues, enabling us to predict future developments.
• Civic Engagement: It fosters awareness of national and international issues, including democratic principles and nationalism, encouraging active participation in society.
• Critical Skills Development: Studying history enhances research and analytical skills, providing a sense of identity and context in today’s world.

1.2.2 Historiography and Historical Interpretations

A. Historiography

• Definition: The study of how historical knowledge is acquired and conveyed.
• Key Figures:
  • Herodotus: Often called the “father of history”; his work marks the beginning of systematic historical narration.
  • Thucydides: Known for critical and accurate historical writing.
  • Leopold Von Ranke: Established history as an academic discipline in the 19th century; known as the “father of modern historiography.”
• Ethiopian Context: Ethiopia developed its own tradition of history writing, evolving from chronicles to a more academic approach in the 1960s.

B. Historical Interpretation

• Selection of Topics: Historians choose specific events or issues for study, which leads to diverse interpretations of history.
• Systematic and Objective Study: History follows established rules and procedures, aiming for objective truth despite inherent biases.
• Interpretation Process: Involves description, analysis, evaluation, and explanation of past events, based on primary and secondary sources.

1.2.3 Sources of History

• Definition: Sources are crucial for studying history; they provide evidence of past events.
• Types of Sources:
  • Primary Sources: Directly related to the events being studied. Examples include:
    • Artifacts (coins, tools, inscriptions)
    • Written materials (diaries, letters, legal documents)
    • Audiovisual materials (photos, videos)

• Secondary Sources: Derived from primary sources, offering indirect information. Examples include:
  • Textbooks, articles, biographies, and oral traditions.

• Critical Evaluation: All sources must be critically evaluated for authenticity and reliability to ensure accurate historical representation.

1.2.4 Dating in History

• Purpose: Dating helps organize past events chronologically.
• Units of Time
  • Decade: 10 years
  • Century: 100 years
  • Millennium: 1,000 years
• Calendars
  • Gregorian Calendar: Uses BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini) for dating.
  • Ethiopian Calendar: Begins on September 11 of the Gregorian calendar, approximately 7-8 years behind.
  • Islamic Calendar: Based on the Hijra (622 AD), using BH (Before Hijra) and AH (After Hijra).
• Timelines: Visual representations of events in chronological order, providing clarity on the sequence and context of historical developments.

• Periodization: Historians categorize history into distinct periods (e.g., ancient, medieval, modern) based on significant developments.