Introduction to the Ancient World History Skills

1. A Question I meant to ask at the beginning of the
year:
If any student is offended by photos of
videos of people who have died since the
photo or video was taken
or are offended by viewing images of
skeletal remains please see me after class.
I need to know this so I can take care not to offend
anyone in this class

3. The work ‘history’ comes from the ancient Greek word
historia, which means ‘investigation’. Understanding
that history is an ongoing investigation (or inquiry) is
the key to this subject.
History is about thinking, understanding and developing
research and other skills that are useful in life.
History is investigation

4. Historians use all the tools of science, maths,
literature, economics, geography and more to
help solve the riddles of the past.
In this way historians are like time detectives.

5. Historians use an inquiry approach when they investigate
controversies and mysteries of the ancient past.
They:
• Conduct research to gather evidence from a range of sources
• Evaluate the usefulness of the sources and analyse the evidence
they gather from them
In many cases, when investigating the ancient past, some of the
evidence is missing. For this reason, historians need to piece
together the past from various types of sources – kind of like
putting together a giant jigsaw puzzle that is missing some of its
pieces.
History is investigation

6. Types of Sources or Evidence
Sources
Artefacts such as
human remains, pottery,
weapons, tools, coins and
art
Writing including
inscriptions carved
in stone, and
writing on walls,
papyrus, clay, wood
and paper
Oral histories past down
from generations or
recorded in paintings,
dances and ceremonies
Images
(photographs and
film from recent
history

8. Types of Artefacts

9. Types of Artefacts
Art
Archaeologists think early rock art may have been a
‘magical’ ritual to ensure success in an important activity,
such as a hunt

10. Types of Artefacts
Art

11. Types of Artefact Sources

12. Types of Writing Sources

13. Types of Oral Sources
North American Indians oral
traditions

14. Types of Image Sources

16. Archaeology
Archaeology is the study of the remains of the past.
Archaeologists locate and uncover sources of evidence of past
peoples. This can include:
• skeletal remains
• the ruins of buildings and tombs
• artefacts they made such as pottery, weapons, tools and coins
• Inscriptions and stone carvings
• Rubbish dumps (middens)

17. Some archaeologists even work underwater to find
sources on the sea bed such as ancient shipwrecks

18. Excavating Archaeological sites
Most sources found on land are buried. They might be
covered by soil from floods or by sand blown by the
wind or overgrown by dense jungle. Some lie beneath
other buildings built over time on the site.
Archaeologists work to locate and excavate artefacts
and other sources of evidence.

19. Once archaeologists have located an historical site they
thing may provide important artefacts and information
about the past, it is roped off from the public.
These sites are referred to as archaeological digs.

20. When excavating an archaeological dig great care is taken to
remove the overlying rocks and dirt, sometimes even using
teaspoons and small brushes.
Once an artefact is fully exposed and excavated, the
archaeologist photographs and numbers it and records details of
its description and the exact location where it was found.
Oinochoe Wine
jug ShabtiCalyx Krater Terracotta Army

21. Primary & Secondary Sources
*Primary Sources are the most
reliable
*

22. • Inscriptions (Writing carved in stone)

23. Ancient Greek law inscribed in
stone
War Diary