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.
The Meaning of History
Explain
the meaning of History
Definitions of history
Various definitions have been put
forward to define history as a discipline some of them are:
·
History
is a record of events pertaining to human activities, his social, economic and
political development from the past the present and the future.
·
History
refers to the study of past events, present situation and prediction of the
future or it is the study of changes in the process of material production.
·
History
is defined as knowledge that entails chronologically presented narrations about
human activities pertaining to social, economic, technological and political
aspects from the past to the future.
In general history can also refer to
an academic discipline which uses a narrative to examine and analyse the
sequences of past events and objectively determine the patterns of cause and
effect that determine them. It’s the record of human activities which enable man
to survival and attain essential needs from the environment.
The basic needs of humankind include
food shelter and clothing. Due to social, political, cultural, economic and
technological transformations humankind's activities have to change from time
to time.
Actions taken against nature aim to
change natural objects into conditions that can satisfy human needs; these
activities against nature are what we call material production. Material
production includes can be observed in sharpening of sticks to make a spear,
digging trenches to trap wild animals and many more.
The
Importance of Studying History
Explain
the importance of studying History
Studying history is important
because it allows us to:
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.
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.
Develop an understanding and
appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological
advancements made by African societies before and after colonial rulership.
Developthebasic 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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Helps us learn about technological
transformations, for example primitive livelihood to advanced livelihood (using
of stones and wood tools to iron tools)
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.
Understand the relationship that
existed between humans, and between humans and the environment.
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:
1.
Oral
traditions
2.
Historical
sites
3.
Written
records
4.
Archives
5.
Museums
6.
Archaeology
7.
Linguistic
studies
8.
Anthropology
9.
Ethnographic
sources
The
Functions, Advantages and Limitations of the following Sources of History; Oral
Traditions, Historical Sites, Written Records, Archives
Assess
the functions, advantages and limitations of the following sources of history;
oral traditions, historical sites, written records, archives
Oral traditions
This refers to the history handed
down by word of mouth from one generation to another. It is usually done by
talking and listening usually to elders who are believed to be more
knowledgeable about past events. It is also the study of our past as revealed
by what has been handed down by word of mouth from one generation to another.
Its manner of transmission differs from written sources thus making it a
historical source of a special nature. Oral traditions are widely used in areas
where people did not practice the art of writing.
Types
of oral traditions
·
Cultural
practices e.g. art, music, religion riddles an jokes
·
Proverbs,
superstitions, poems and stories
·
Narrations
of past events (primary and secondary sources)
Advantages
of oral traditions
Can easily be understood by
everyone, oral
traditions does not segregate; it can be understood by everyone. It is
therefore convenient for both the educated and the uneducated as it only
requires one to listen as long as it is in a language that everyone can
understand.
It is accessible as in every
area narrators are present,; here the historian is in better position to assess the
value and his reliability source because he is working with the living people.
At any time and place the historians or the person who is searching material
can easily access the information as the information are available
It is cheap or costs less.Generally, elderly people are are
willing to provide information free of charge, this makes the source cheap. One
does not need to pay his/her grandfather/mother in order for them to tell one a
story. In many societies people used to sit beside a fire and the elders will
tell them about whathappened in the past and this was passed over from one
generation to the other.
Helps in the reconstruction of
history, it
does require several sources in order to tell a story, oral traditions bridge
the gap as it is provides evidence to written sources or primary source. Many
historical sources including the most ancient ones were based on oral
traditions.
It is two way traffic form of communication. This means that when someone does
not understand questioning is possible, this therefore makes it a live and
interactive source and interesting source of historical information.
Avails us with unwritten or un
documented history. Through
oral tradition it is easy to reveal information which is not documented or
recorded. In African history the major source of information is passed through
oral traditions simply because much of what was taking place was not written
down.
Bridges the gap left by other
sources of history. As
artifacts cannot talk it is oral tradition that does the talking there by
filling in the gaps that might have been left by other sources.
First handinformation. Many people who tell stories through
different oral tradition are the primary source or the people who were present
at the scene of the matter. This therefore means that the historian will be in
a position of getting firsthand information from the respondent.
Disadvantages
of oral tradition
Can easily be lost if someone
who knows the data dies.In
many societies it is the elderly who have the information which is passed over
from generation to generation, in case the elder dies it means the information
he/she had has disappeared with that person.
Language barrier.As oral tradition involves the
passing down of history by use of the word of mouth, the problem of a language
barrier is a big hindrance. For example, a person who might have valuable
information might be using a language the historian does not understand this therefore
will limit the process of communication.
Cannot stand on its own. Poems, stories, jokes etc. do not
tell history directly they simply contain valuable information of how people
produced and reproduced themselves leaving out the important aspects of the
historical touch. It therefore gives the historian a hard time to supplement
and analyse the given informationcritically.
Their reliability is rather
problematic. It
is impossible to judge how much is true history and how much only folklore
fiction, legends and myth. This can be evidenced in the stories that are told
to young children for example stories of the hare, the lion and many others.
Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish what is the fact and what is
imaginary.
Conscientiousness of that person.
Is he/she transmitting them the way he heard them or he corrected them for some
purpose or other. It
is very difficult to understand if someone is telling you the event as he was
told or is he adding in other information.
Variation in language. In some instances different
languages might have similar words but with differing meanings. This will
therefore result confusion on the side of the historian or researcher as some
of the information might be lost.
Most of narrations are centered
on people of status in society. Kings, chiefs, queens are often talked about in such
stories, there is often little consideration about the masses.
Its preservation in many
societies mainly depends on the power of the memories of successive generations
of human beings.
All oral traditions are influenced by the culture of the society that produce
them, this means that the traditions that exist in a given society chiefly
depend on the political organisation of a given society.
Other disadvantages include:
·
Can
also pass over immoral cultural acts.
·
Translation
might be difficult because some languages have become extinct.
·
It
requires too much patience, attention and the power of the memory.
·
Usually
is limited to a given locality and to recent information.
·
Easily
awakens hatred amongst different societies.
·
Full
of biases.
·
It
can be time consuming if the narrators are in accessible.
Historical sites
These do contain remains which show
humanity's physical development, activities and the tools they made and used.
The major function of historical sites is to make historical facts more
practical.
There are two types of
historical sites namely;
·
Areas
with physical remains of man and his artifacts.
·
Ancient
towns with both ruins of old buildings and old buildings which still exist.
Examples of historical sites
with physical remains of man and his artifacts include the following:
·
Olduvai
Gorge, Isimila, Engaruka and Kondoa Irangi in Tanzania.
·
Nsongezi,
Biggo, Ntusi and Magogi in Uganda.
·
Olorgesailie
Gilgil and Lake Turkana in Kenya.
·
Koobi
for a in Ethiopia.
·
Ingombe-Ilede
in Zambia.
·
Ishango
in the D.R.C.
On the other hand examples of
ancient towns in Africa with ruins of old buildings and existing old buildings
include:
·
Timbuktu,
Gao, Jenne and Audaghost in West Africa.
·
Bagamoyo,
Zanzibar and Kilwa in Tanzania.
·
Lamu
and Mombasa in Kenya.
THrough the study of historical
sites we can reveal the works of art by previous generations for example rock
paintings etc. As time elapses more historical sites are being discovered due
to extensive research being carried out. The remains that are discovered in the
historical sites are worked on by archaeologists.
The major function of historical
sites is to represent actual materials of man’s existence and preserving the
material remains of man for the coming generation, plus acting as symbol of
social heritage and referral point to the society that are concerned.
Advantages
of historical sites
As a symbol of social cultural
heritage of different societies. Here the society concerned will be symbolized in the site.
Historical sites do break the
boredom that is evidenced in the theoretical nature of history as a discipline. In this sense history is given
a practical touch as people can see or observe what they were studying
practically for example past human tools, rock paintings and human remains.
Helps in the building or the
reconstruction of history, as
they bridge the gaps that might have been left by other sources.
The sites also act as a source
of revenue for both the government and private individuals. This is achieved when they act
as centre of tourism, and when the tourists visit.
The sites act as avenues for
research for archaeologists and other scientists. People who carry out research
in regards to man’s past will use historical sites as their libraries and
laboratories, for example Dr. Leakey and his wife.
Generally, discoveries from
historical sites can be used to reveal past settlement patterns, levels of
technology, economic development and political organisation reached past
societies in different times and environments.
Disadvantages
of historical sites
It brings confusion to
interpret the remains found in the historical sites, for example, rock paintings can
bring about different interpretations between historians.
Historical sites cannot stand
on their own to tell history. This means that historical sites do not fully cater for all
historical information required even for societies without documented history.
History found in the sites
cannot be interpreted by everyone andrequires a qualified personnel to interpret the
information.
Historical sites are located in
remote areas which are not accessible. This makes it time consuming and expensive working on them.
Places where the historical sites are located are often also poorly developed.
The historical sites
maydisappear,
as they are often destroyed by natural hazards and changes in the earth like
weathering and denudation.
Many of the sites are selected
on the basis of probability,
for example it is assumed that early man lived in caves where there was water
nearby and plenty of animals to hunt, fish or catch. This therefore brings in
the issue of try and fail that in turn becomes costly in terms of time and
resources.
Examples of historical sites in
East Africa include:
·
Nsongezi-
western Uganda
·
Magosi-
eastern Uganda
·
Biggobyamugenyi
(Biggo)- central Uganda
·
Lolui,
Mubende in Uganda
·
Rusinga
Island- southern Uganda
·
Olorgesailie-
Kenya
·
Lake
Rudolf- Kenya
·
Njoro
in Kenya
·
Bagamoyo-
Tanzania coast
·
Kilwa-
Tanzania coast
·
Isimila-
central Tanzania
·
Kondoa-
central Tanzania
·
Lake
Eyasi southern Tanzania
·
Olduvai
Gorge in Tanzania etc.
Written records
This refers to the history which has
been written down or documented. This is the most common and modern source of
history as it cuts across different boundaries. It is the principle source of
materials for historians in east Africa as they have been valuable for the past
200 years or less. The written records are grouped into two the primary sources
and secondary sources as for the historians it is better to first deal with the
secondary source and then handle the primary sources.
Written records include: Books,
letters, magazines, newspapers, minutes of meetings, official and private documents,
official publications by the governments and parliaments of the colonial
powers, peace treaties and other agreements concluded by the great powers
between one another and African chiefs, legislative acts, edicts, dispatches of
the colonial administration, documents from African companies and individual
merchants, letters etc.
It also include books written by
contemporaries, produced by aliens, narrative of explores, reminiscences of
soldiers, missionaries or colonial officials, the impressionistic sung of the
journalists and the imaginative reconstruction of the novelists. The written
records can easily be accessed in the libraries, schools, colleges, archives
and in some offices.
Functions
of written records
Reconstruction of history, history can be reconstructed
through a multidisciplinary approach. The written records play an important
role of constructing history as they do bridge the gaps that might be left by
other sources.
To collect and preserve written
historical information,
as this is the modern and most common source of historical information it plays
the function of preserving written records so that those who come in the future
will also be able to use this source of historical information.
Advantages
of written records
Covers a wide section of ideas
and different views. Different
aspects concerning different views can easily be accessed in one written
material for example a text book can contain historical information concerning
different aspects and areas. Therefore, this simplifies the work of the
historian as he will concentrate on that one source and discover a variety of
given information. Therefore, it’s true to say that written records cover a
wide coverage as different aspects can be commented up on.
It is easily accessible, as almost all areas have books,
written materials are like a stone thrown into a pull causing ripples that flow
out right across its surface.This therefore means that in at least any place
there is at least a written source of something. In addition to that written
records are easy to keep and to retrieve, the accessibility therefore
simplifies the work of the historian as she/he has the material at their
disposal.
Usually well explained and well
elaborated. Many
written records for such as textbooks are well researched, explained and
elaborated by the authors. This therefore gives the person using the source
actual and vivid material. Usually contains well-researched and concrete data
which gives confidence to the researcher or historian
Bridges the gap left by other
sources . The
written records as a source of historical information play an important role of
bridging or filling in the gaps that have been left by other sources. As it is
well known that no single source of history can stand on its own to tell history
the written records do fill up the gap that other sources might have left. For
example it gives evidences to oral traditions.
Cannot easily disappear.As in the case of oral traditions,
if the narrator dies the historical information is most likely to follow him on
the deathbed, for written records this is not the case as material that is
written down is very difficult to fade away as it is documented and usually in
many copies.
It is very helpful when
carrying out research. For research purposes the most helpful source can be found
in written records as it has guidelines, which help the researcher in his/her
research. As the information in most cases is well researched and elaborative
this gives the researcher ample time in his research.
Easy to get valuable and rare
information. It
is mainly from written sources that valuable and rare information can be
obtained. Many written records are very important as they provide evidence were
needed.
Easy to make references. If written material is well
organised; many of the written sources act as reference material for the
different needs and written records as a source of reference.
Disadvantages
of written records
It is expensive. Written records require a lot of
time and resources to prepare, this makes them expensive to produce as compared
to oral tradition. Also purchasing the written material is very costly.
Can easily be distorted or
misunderstood. As
written records are in most cases written in English which recipients might
easily misunderstand. Also there might be distortion in the sense that writers
might be biased when writing or they might have different approaches on to the
same issue.
Applicable to educated people
only. Written
records are limited to a few people in a society. As the people who do not know
how to read and write will not benefit from this source of history as he/she
will not understand what has been written. This therefore makes it limited to a
given section of people.
Based mainly on the writer's
opinion. Many
writers are biased in the sense that they write in their favour of example
Eurocentric and Afro centric ideas.
Historians cannot be expected
to come to the same conclusion, this therefore means that written records are continuously
rewritten and revised Unless the historian is able to sort out relevant
information many written records contain some information that might be
irrelevant to the historian there by wasting a lot of time in a given source.
Generally, it is very difficult to understand history unless you understand the
historian himself first.
Archives
This refers to collections of
private and public documents. This means the place where such documents are
kept or found. Archives are collections of public and private documents.
They includes books, and the written
records of early missionaries, explores, traders and colonialists kept in books
or files. Examples of archives include: Arusha in Tanzania, Entebe national
archives in Uganda. They also contained current records of government, parties
and other organisations. The major function of archives is to collect and
preserve historical information
Advantages
of archives
It is the best method of
collecting and preserving historical information. Most written documents which do
contain historical information are preserved in the archives for future use.
It archives a variety of
information. It
is very easy to get historical information of different people and issues at a
given time without wasting time and resources.
Getting firsthand information
is possible,
as the documents in archives are the extract materials that were written by the
people concerned. For example political parties documents, memories etc.
It is very easy to get and
identify the exact date of historical events, such as the travels of Vasco Da Gama, African
resistance, the scramble for and partition of Africa plus many other important
occurrences.
Understanding the ideas and the
literacy level of the past is very easy. This can be done by analysing the
documents in archives and relating them with what we have at the present time
and also borrowing ideas from them. For example a current government can use a
document of a former government to recognise itself.
Disadvantages
of archives
Preserving documents is very
expensive. This
therefore makes the source more expensive as compared to other sources. Keeping
the documents in archives requires much attention and care.
This method is also
discriminative,
as it is only the literate (educated) that can utilise the information as it is
usually written in a language that someone who is not educated might not
understand.
Societies whose information was
not documented will not be represented. Societies with no recorded past will not be represented.
Retrieving information from the
archives is not easy,
as it requires a lot of time and perseverance. This therefore makes it hectic
on the side of the impatient historian.
Archives are not evenly
distributed when
compared to other methods like oral tradition. For example, in Tanzania one has
to travel to either Dar es Salaam or Arusha in order to find an archive.
Generally, in the case of societies
without history that is written down the archives is less meaningless as there
is not any trace of their history in that place. This therefore means that such
a community will have it history missing in action.
Museums
Museums are special places created
for preserving historical information. These are places where information about
people and past events are stored.
Specialists in a museum who help
explain objects to the people are called Museum Curators. They date and arrange
the remains and artifacts which demonstrate in the easiest way possible the
technological, cultural, economical and social development of the people.
Museums are created to preserve
historical information and also act as tourist centers. Museums contain a
collection of all sorts of items which show cultural, social, political,
technological and economical developments from the past to the present.
There national, regional, district
and local museums of East Africa. Examples of museum in Tanzania are Kalenga in
Iringa, Bujora in Mwanza and Halwego and Handebezyo in Ukerwe. In Kenya the
Hyrax Hill museum site in Nakuru district, Kawanda in Uganda and many others.
Advantages
of museums
They preserve the historical
information and material, Itis in the museum that many of historical remains are
preserved for future use and referral.
They contain a variety of
historical items. It
is only in the museum that one can be find a variety of historical remains
ranging from artifacts to written records and oral tradition. Therefore a
museum is relatively important to historical study.
Museums provide objects that
give history a practical touch, as they working as teaching aids. Students of history have
the opportunity to put into practice what they study as they see the objects in
museums.
It is possible to learn about
the development of technology of early man from museums.The curators play an important role
in explaining artifacts to the people and how they were used.
Museums arouse creativity and
craftsmanship on the side of the learner. This comes about as the learner sees
more and more remains and became more eager to discover more.
Note other advantages may include:
·
Attracts
tourists.
·
Generating
income for the people working in the museums and the government.
·
Source
of foreign exchange.
·
Provision
of employment for example the museum curators.
·
Easy
to identify the social, political and economic developments of a given society
from the museum.
·
Many
of the museum act as the major source of information for those carrying out
research for educational purposes.
Disadvantages
of museums
They are very expensive to
maintain and build. Starting
up and maintaining A museum requires a lot of funds. Obtaining and maintaining
artifacts is also relatively expensive.
Require skilled manpower to
operate. Museum
curators should have historical bearings and know about the artifacts in the
museum.
Distortion of historical
information,
in the museum is possible when the curator is biased. The curator will
therefore distort the historical information, as he is subjective in the way he
interprets the historical facts.
Attitude of the people affects
the museum so much that some museums have been forced to be closed. People are not visiting museums due
to unknown reasons, a case in point the Hyrax site museum in Kenya says that it
receives only 10-20 customers on a busy weekend which is very small number
compared to the inputs in the museum.
Poor preservation of artifacts, for example the pieces of
cloth, chains if not well handled can distort the information and the relevance
of the historical facts. Due to poor preservation many museums have lost their
historical artifacts to the fires other unforeseen circumstances costing them
dearly.
Archaeology
This refers to the science that
deals with the study of past materials historical remain of man. Or it is a
study of artifacts that have been dug from the earth. Artifacts are the remains
of the material culture made by the people of the past. People who study
archaeology are called archaeologists.
Archaeologists like Dr. Leaky have
concentrated on the period of early man; others like Dr. Posnansnky have worked
on sites relating to the Chwezi Empire, Chittick and Kirk man have excavated
coastal sites of the 12th -16th centuries. How they carry out their
excavations is a long story.
Excavation is a long and laborious
process as each piece of the material found has to be examined carefully and
recorded so that the archaeologists can give a complete reconstruction. A
historian studies the artifacts with the hope of reconstructing patterns of
settlement, level of technology and skills acquired by the inhabitants of the
site after excavating them. Archaeologists removes layer after layer carefully
recording all what they find and in try to explain the relationship between the
different objects.
The major function of archaeology is
that it reveals important information about man through the different stages of
his transformation. Not only that but also plays the function of arousing
curiosity of searching past historical information on the side of historian.
Advantages
of archaeology
It provides evidence or
authenticity on to historical facts, as the remains are examined thoroughly by the
concerned there by supplementing the other sources which might be lacking
evidence.
Knowledge of artifacts is
exposed after excavation. For example pottery, building, rooting plus telling us a
great deal about the life and culture of the people long ago through uncovering
the buried objects.
Archaeology simplifies the past as it helps us to know the
past relationships between different people such as in trading activities
immigration, emigration, birth and death plus political relations.
It is probably the only source
that can help us in knowing when and how people lived in a certain place and at
what time. This
is attained through the use of carbon dating which is a scientific method of
finding out the age of dating objects and artifacts .
Archaeology helps us to reveal
the technology, pastoral agriculture and commercial activities of the past
societies. This
is achieved through cross examining the remains excavated by the
archaeologists.
Archaeology is relatively
important in supplementing facts that are given by other sources of history. As no source can stand on its
own to tell history, therefore it can be reconstructed by the use of
archaeology.
Disadvantages
of archaeology
Archaeology demands much
patience.Many
artifacts are fragile and delicate which calls a lot of care in the handling of
for example fossils.
It involves many processes to
obtain data out of remains,.
For example in excavations require radioactive elements and many other
procedures which make the process very expensive.
Archaeology consumes a lot of
time.The
archaeologists or researchers take a lot of time during the preparation for
excavation, testing the artifacts and in the interpretation of the data.
The remains that are excavated
cannot tell the full details of a given historical phenomenon. It is therefore clear that one
cannot fully depend on archaeology as the complete source of history.
Generally, the first discovery of an
archaeological find or of an archaeological site is commonly found by an
ordinary person who does not have the techniques of excavating the remains.
During the excavation process
remains of less historical importance for example a richly furnished royal
tomb, works of art of great beauty are not seen as important. Excavation is not
a treasure hunt, what they are seeking for is knowledge, information and data
which will enable them fill up the picture of the past more accurately.
Linguistic studies
This means the study of language. It
refers to study and analysis of languages, their sounds, structure and
formation. There is a relationship between the different and various language
groups. It is believed that people who speak the same language have been in
close contact in the past. Linguistics can suggest approximately when and how
the language spoke in East Africa came into existence.
Languages are never static but
constantly changing and adapting some survive while others die. For proper
classification and grouping the people of East Africa the work done by the
linguistics is a principal way. Many linguists insists that the original
language of mankind consisted of a few short words, possibly not over 200,
since many now use only about 300.
Advantages
of linguistic study
Linguistic studies are a
lubricant of oral tradition,
as it is through oral tradition that given information is acquired from the
different sources. This therefore shows the interconnectedness between
different sources of history.
Through the linguistics it is
possible to tell the possible origin of our languages and how the languages
have been distorted. As
languages that we do use need to be understood in order to understand who we
are and where we are going.
Bridging the gaps left by other
sources. Linguistic
studies assist in bridging the gaps that are left by other sources. Basing on
the fact that the reconstruction of history requires an interdisciplinary
approach therefore linguistic studies are relatively important like other
sources.
Assists in the development of
language. It
assists in the discovery of different links between the people of a given
communities. Through the use of languages it’s possible to say that at one time
the people in the world lived together due to the similarity of some words in
the different languages.
Language barrier is the major
factor that is limiting linguistics. It is clear that not everyone understands all the
different languages. It is therefore possible that useful historical
information might not be understood due to the language problem.
It might result to the omission
of some important information, thereby creating a gap in historical information. In
the process of translating given historical information from one language to
another
It is expensive in terms of
time and money,
because is not easy to learn a given language this therefore means that one has
to take a given period of time and resources in terms of finance to learn a
given language.
It can easily be diluted by
external influences. Different
languages have been influenced by external forces which causes those languages
to change drastically from their original forms and this therefore disturbs the
historian in his effort to reconstruct history. For example many Swahili words
have been mixed with other languages.
Anthropology
This is concerned with the study of
existing social institutions and their relationships. The scientific study of
the origin, behavior, physical, social and cultural development of humans. The
study is concerned with present day societies but much of it can be used in
interpreting the past especially where we have a good reason to believe on that
societies in certain areas have not altered so much in recent times.
It is no coincidence that
anthropology has its roots in the Renaissance; it is a discipline that is
firmly grounded in the modern era, no longer drawing on metaphysics but instead
looking to the here and now of human existence. Combining philosophical ambitions
with physiological and psychological questions, thus from its beginning,
anthropology looked at issues which are today considered medical, psychological
and philosophical as well as anthropological in the modern sense.
An anthropologist is a person who
studies the above aspects of society; he has to live among those people and
learn their culture thereby enabling him to understand the aspects of life of a
certain society and to determine the truth about that society.
Advantages
of anthropology
Helps the historian to find
traces of the past in the present social structures of the society. Therefore using the current reliable
information helps us to understand how the past was.
Helps the historian to
reconstruct the past elements of all cultures. The historian studies the
information and research techniques used by the anthropologist to arrive at a
certain conclusion.
Generally, anthropology enables a
comparison of social institutions of various societies which helps the
historian in tracing the original homeland of social features.
Disadvantages
of anthropology
A comparison of the social
institutions of various societies over a wide area might indicate the influence
of one culture upon another and the time when these cultures developed and
spread which may create misunderstanding and hatred between the different
societies
The works of anthropology are
very limited to time and environment. Inthe present people may be living in a condition far
different from what their ancestors lived; in the long run the anthropologist
will not get the necessary information required in his study.
The knowledge of the anthropologist
in this case is very important as one can easily exaggerate or underestimate or
interpret basing on his knowledge a thing that will affect the whole process of
trying to reconstruct history. This therefore means that objectivity of history
does not mean objectivity of facts but interpretation.
This method is too tiresome. The anthropologist has to live
among the people and learn their culture which enables him to understand all
the different aspects of life of a given society and to determine whether it is
authentic and worth studying.
Ethnographic sources
This is another source of history
which is not commonly used and usually neglected by many scholars however, it
is relatively important as other sources. Ethnographic evidence does involve
two aspects the material and immaterial.
The material things in nature are
the artifacts while the immaterial include culture, custom and beliefs or
cultural evidence which is written down. Under this the historian is mostly
interested in cultural documents because of the unique characteristics as they
are timeless
NOTE:As already elaborated
no single source of history can stand on its own to tell history but rather it
requires interdisciplinary approach for successful history reconstruction. This
means that no source is better than the other on the side of the historian
carrying out his/her research in any field of study but rather each supplement
the other.
Dating in history
Refers to the assigning of dates or
time on given historical events or facts, to record history properly a good
knowledge of dating or calendar is needed. Historians divide time into seconds,
minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, age, periods, centuries,
millennia and generation.
A decade is a period of ten years. A
century is a period of hundred years. Millennium is a period of thousand years.
A generation is the average of time between one groups of period in a family to
another group of family. Period is determined by one continuous event, which is
in year.
Age refers to a period based on
man’s activities and the types of tools that are being used. In history there
are different ages namely:
·
Stone
age
·
Iron
age
·
Industrial
age
·
Nuclear
age
·
Copper
age
·
Bronze
age
Ways of determining dates
There are two sets of ways to
determine dates.
·
Local
methods
·
Scientific
methods
Local methods are simple methods
whereby dates are fixed through;
·
recalling
facts relating events
·
tracing
family chronologies
·
tracing
the origin of languages
Scientific methods involve
experiment in laboratories whereby material remains are studied through such
processes as;
·
Radio
Active Dating (Radio metric)
·
Radio
Carbon Dating (Radio Carbon 14)
Dividing time is in starting of 0,
which is the year when Jesus Christ was born .A.D. (Anno Domino) is the years
after the birth of Jesus Christ and they are known as years of the Lord. B.C.
are years before the birth of Jesus Christ. (Before Chris)
TABLE SHOWING TIME PERIODS AND
THEIR DURATION
|
1 day |
24 hours |
|
1 week |
7 days |
|
1 year |
12 month |
|
1 month |
4 weeks |
|
1 year |
365 days |
|
1 decade |
10 years |
|
1 century |
100 years or 10 decades |
|
1 millennium |
1000 years or 10 centuries |
|
A generation |
A group of people born in the same
period, or it refers to the average differences in age between a child and his/her parents. |
Muslims start their calendar at
Hijra A.H (Al Hijra or after Hijra) this is when Prophet Muhammad S.A.W fled
from Mecca to Medina in order to spread Islam in the year 622 A.D. He was born
in the year 570 A.D. and died in the year 632 A.D.
Historians use chronological order
of events, periods and ages such as family tree, time lines, time charts and
time graphs to tell time.
Methods
of dating in history
Carbon
14
This is the scientific method of
determining dates in history and it is the most common and modern method of
determining dates in history. The archaeologists commonly use this method after
discovering remains.
Radiocarbon
dating
During the life time all living
animals and vegetable matter absorbs a minute amount radioactive carbon (carbon
14) from the atmosphere. After death the level of carbon 14 in the object
gradually declines at a steady, measurable rate. Thus by measuring the amount
of carbon 14 in ancient fragments of the former living matter such as born or
charcoal, scientists are able to calculate the approximate age of the object.
The results are never very accurate but they are an invaluable aid to the
archaeologists concerning more with the chronology than with the very precise
dates.
Language
dating
Historical events can be dated by
the use of language. Here some word used in a given language can help to
understand when a given event occurred. For example in Kiswahili there are some
words that are used that they do tell when a given events took place for
example the use of the word ‘Karafuu’ marks the
beginning of the use of cloves in East Africa.
Remembering
changes and event dating
Events can help in dating history
for example famine, harvesting period, tsunami, hurricanes etc. By using these
changes one is able to tell what event took place and also reflect the time at
which that event took place.
Order
of event dating
This shows the arrangement of events
in series for example family and clan chronology (family tree), chronological
order of events (time line, time graph and time chart)
TIME
LINE
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
300
BC |
200 BC |
100BC |
100 AD |
1000 AD |
1800 |
TIME CHART
|
COLUMN I |
COLUMN II |
|
PERIOD (YEARS) |
EVENTS |
|
1000AD |
Th`e
discovery of iron |
|
1498 |
Vasco Da Gama arrived at the cape |
|
1500 |
Emergence of Ntemi system of organization |
|
1698 |
Fall of fort Jesus |
|
1700 |
End
of Portuguese rule in East Africa |
|
1741 |
Mombasa establishes itself as an independence
sheikhdom |
|
1840 |
Sultan
Said shifts his capital from Muscat to Zanzibar |
|
1800 |
The industrial revolution in Europe |
|
1900 |
Signing
of the Buganda agreement |
|
1961 |
Independence of Tanganyika |
|
1964 |
The
Zanzibar revolution |
|
1992 |
Multiparty politics in Tanzania |
|
1999 |
Death
of Mwl. Julius Nyerere |
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