Mwl DOTTO YOTHAM -0719240730 HISTORY FORM ONE TOPIC 1: SOURCES AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY Meaning of history History is the study of man and his activities in different times. These activities enable man to obtain his needs. Man’s basic needs are food, cloths, and shelter In general, history can also refer to an academic discipline, which uses a narrative to examine and analyze the sequences of past events, and objectively determine the patterns of cause and effect that determine them. It is the record of human activities, which enable man to survival and attain essential needs from the environment. IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HISTORY. 1. Understand how African societies were formed, how they developed and the factors that influenced this development. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. Develop an understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological advancements made by African societies before and after colonial rulers. 5. Develop the basic skills of critical thinking, reasoning, judgment, empathy and effective participation in human developmental activities. 6. 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 7. 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. 8. 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. Page 1 of 224 9. -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. 10. Develop our patriotism, history students know their heroes and heroes and traitors. This makes history a sensitive subject in places where political leaders are not sure of their legitimacy. 11. 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. 12. 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. 13. Helps us learn about technological transformations, for example primitive livelihood to advanced livelihood (using of stones and wood tools to iron tools) 14. 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. 15. Understand the relationship that existed between humans, and between humans and the environment. 16. 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 Refers to the avenues that can be used to get historical information. It requires inter-disciplinary Sources of history approach in order to get the actual historical information. Therefore, the following are sources of history/historical knowledge: a) Oral tradition b) Historical sites c) Written records/documents d) Archives e) Museums f) Archeology g) Audio- visual record, e.g. Cassets, Cd’s, and TV programs etc. h) Anthropology i) Linguistics 1. ORAL TRADITION: This involves the passing information by word of mouth through talking and listening. Oral tradition passes historical information into two ways a) Through culture practices like art, music, religion, riddles, songs, proverbs, superstition, poems and stories. b) Narration of past events. FUNCTION OF ORAL TRADITION • It preserves historical information of society Page 2 of 224 • I t collects and pass historical information between generations in the society. • It helps researchers in data collection. ADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION • It preserve and reveal historical information which are not recorded • Both illiterate and literate people can obtain historical information. • Within oral tradition, there are warning and teachings. • Is the easiest and cheapest method of obtaining information? • It is live source, since it involves physical interaction. DISADVANTAGES OF ORAL TRADITION 1. It needs much attention and power of memory 2. False information can be given by storyteller. 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 a language problem when narrator uses 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. 3. HISTORICAL SITES: Are special places where by the past human remains can be found and shown to the public. It is a place where 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. Examples of historical sites in Tanzania include Isimila, Olduvai George, Kondoa Irangi, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar, Kilwa, Mafia, Engaruka, Kagera etc In Uganda Nsongezi, Biggo, Ntubi, Rusinga Island, Magosi and Ishago. In Kenya. Lake Rudolf (Turkana), Lake Naivasha, Njoro, Olongesailie, Lake Magadi, Lamu, Mombasa and mt. Kenya FUNCTIONS OF HISTORICAL SITES (a) Preserves historical information for the coming generations. (b) They are useful sources of information and to reconstruct history. (c) They are the symbols of social cultural heritage to the society concern past human tools, rock, paints etc ADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES 1. They help for practical historical learning e.g. 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 e.g.: guiders DISADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES Page 3 of 224 (i) It brings confusion to interpret the remains found in historical sites (ii) 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 remain. It is the study of material remains of man’s past through scientific methods. The one specializes in archeology is called ARCHAEOLOGIST. Archaeology involves 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 (a) Gives important information about man through different stages. (b) It is a useful method of revealing soil covered historical remains. (c) It arouse curiosity of searching past man historical information. ADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY (a) It helps people to know when and how people lived in a certain place. (b) Past objects tell us about the life and culture of past people. (c) It helps us to know and reveal the technology, pastoral, agricultural and commercial activities of the past man. (d) Through excavation, we get knowledge of artifacts e.g. Pottery, building etc. (e) It reveals religious beliefs of the past man (f) We can compliment other sources of information through archaeology e.g. History (g) 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 cannot reveal the past people’s language. · It cannot 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 cannot 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 • Archives preserve public and private records that have enduring value to the society. • The public makes the records in archives available for use. • However not all records can be viewed by everyone. • Archives collect records of enduring value from various places. For example, the nation archives have records from different regions of