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    Problems With Evidence

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    api-88846630
    There are several problems that historians encounter when reconstructing the past based on evidence. Significant gaps exist in the historical record due to destroyed evidence over time. Some surviving evidence is fragmented or damaged, making interpretations difficult. Additionally, ancient texts must be decoded, but translations can contain mistakes that skew understandings. Historians must also consider how their own perspectives or theories could influence their interpretations of evidence. Reliance on biased sources provides limited or one-sided views of events. Historians must carefully evaluate the reliability and limitations of all evidence used to understand events in the past.

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    Problems With Evidence

    Uploaded by

    api-88846630
    3K views17 pages
    There are several problems that historians encounter when reconstructing the past based on evidence. Significant gaps exist in the historical record due to destroyed evidence over time. Some surviving evidence is fragmented or damaged, making interpretations difficult. Additionally, ancient texts must be decoded, but translations can contain mistakes that skew understandings. Historians must also consider how their own perspectives or theories could influence their interpretations of evidence. Reliance on biased sources provides limited or one-sided views of events. Historians must carefully evaluate the reliability and limitations of all evidence used to understand events in the past.

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    There are several problems that historians encounter when reconstructing the past based on evidence. Significant gaps exist in the historical record due to destroyed evidence over time. Some surviving evidence is fragmented or damaged, making interpretations difficult. Additionally, ancient texts must be decoded, but translations can contain mistakes that skew understandings. Historians must also consider how their own perspectives or theories could influence their interpretations of evidence. Reliance on biased sources provides limited or one-sided views of events. Historians must carefully evaluate the reliability and limitations of all evidence used to understand events in the past.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    3K views17 pages

    Problems With Evidence

    Uploaded by

    api-88846630
    There are several problems that historians encounter when reconstructing the past based on evidence. Significant gaps exist in the historical record due to destroyed evidence over time. Some surviving evidence is fragmented or damaged, making interpretations difficult. Additionally, ancient texts must be decoded, but translations can contain mistakes that skew understandings. Historians must also consider how their own perspectives or theories could influence their interpretations of evidence. Reliance on biased sources provides limited or one-sided views of events. Historians must carefully evaluate the reliability and limitations of all evidence used to understand events in the past.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 17

    Historiograph

    y
    Mistranslations
    - Anachronisms
    - Pet Theories

    Reliability of
    Evidence
    - Bias
    - Conflicting
    Evidence

    Proble
    ms of
    Evidenc
    e

    Decoding
    Ancient
    Texts

    Gaps in
    Evidence

    PROBLEMS OF EVIDENCE
    There are many problems that historians and
    archaeologists encounter when trying to
    reconstruct the past.

    GAPS IN EVIDENCE
    Because a great deal of evidence from the ancient past has been
    destroyed, there are often significant gaps in the historical and
    archaeological record.
    Some material is discovered in very bad condition, making it difficult
    to draw conclusions from, especially if it is the only source of its kind.
    Eg. The Turin Canon from ancient Egypt is a list of Pharaohs on
    papyrus. Because of its condition, many names are missing making it
    difficult to work out the sequence of rulers.
    Since information (especially from written sources) is primarily about
    the upper classes in ancient society, there is a lack of information
    about the regular people of a society.

    The Turin Cannon

    DECODING ANCIENT TEXTS


    Some ancient writings are not spoken or written
    today. These are more difficult to decode such
    as the scripts of the ancient Maya of South
    America, whose writing is still to be decoded.
    Clues to decode an ancient language can be
    found in other known languages or for something
    that indicates what a letter or symbol might
    mean.
    Eg. Rosetta Stone from ancient Egypt recovered
    in 1799 by French scholars. It was written in 3
    texts, two forms of Egyptian and one in Greek.
    This stone made it possible for Jean-Francois

    The
    Rosetta
    Stone

    HISTORIOGRAPHY
    Historiography is the study of the way history is
    written.
    That means: examining different writers, their
    viewpoints and perspectives.
    In other words. it is the study of the opinions of
    the historian, and their influence in reconstructing
    the past.

    MISTRANSLATIONS
    Problems with the translation of language.
    Although languages of the past can be
    translated / interpreted, mistranslations can occur
    which affect our understanding of the past.

    Stela with
    Mayan
    inscriptions

    ANACHRONISM
    Anything that is out of place in time or context.
    Eg. Roman soldier wearing a watch.

    Modern or specific cultural terms / expressions


    used in translations.

    Scene from the movie


    Ben Hur

    PET THEORIES
    How historians / archaeologists choose a theory /
    hypothesis about the past.
    Can lead to the selection of sources / evidence to
    prove a theory while ignoring evidence that may
    question it.

    BIAS
    What is bias?

    A one-sided view of an historical event or argument.


    Favours one side of a particular point of view.

    Can bias sources be useful?

    Yes. It shows that particular point of view, and can


    give insight into the authors perspective / feelings
    about an historical issue.

    BIAS
    What types of Bias are there?

    Deliberate > leaving out information or using emotive language.

    Limited access > to evidence can lead to a one sided account.

    Prejudice > against race, class, gender or religion.

    Personal > The author writes based on their personal feelings.

    Political > The author writes for a particular political purpose.

    Gender > Male domination of history.

    The Roman Emperor


    Caligula

    The Roman Emperor


    Caligula Caligula was a very tall man.
    He had thin legs and a thin
    neck.
    He had broad and glowering
    eyes, sunken deep into his
    forehead.
    He had thin, curly hair, and the
    top of his head was bald.
    However, the rest of his body
    was very hairy; it reminded
    people of a goat. "During his
    reign it was a crime punishable
    to look down on him as he
    passed by, or to mention a goat
    in his presence" (Emperor
    Caligula 1).

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