TOPIC 1: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY

 

Meaning of history

History is the study of events of past events, and which might influence the present. These events and processes are about social, political and economic development of people and society.  

It helps us to understand how people lived, what they did, why they did it, and how the past shaped the present.

 

Qualities of historical events

History is studied not just to know what happened in the past, but to understand why events matter and how they shape human life.

 

(i) Diversity

Historical events are diverse and cover a wide range of topics. These topics may include social, political, economic, scientific and cultural events.

 (ii) Context

Events must be studied within their specific historical place. Social, political and economic Context helps us understand why people acted the way they did, instead of judging the past using modern standards.

(iii) Interpretation

History involves analysis and explanation, not just memorizing facts.
Different historians may interpret events differently based on evidence and perspective, which develops critical thinking and deeper understanding.

(iv) Long-term Effects

Historical events should show lasting consequences, not short-lived outcomes.
This helps us understand how past actions affect the present and future. For example, how colonialism still influence modern societies.

(v)  They are studied for lessons.

History should teach lessons, values, and skills such as patriotism, unity, leadership, responsibility, and problem-solving. This help people to learn from success and failure.

(vi) Time

History must be related to time and chronology—knowing when events happened and how they are connected over time.
This helps learners understand change, continuity, cause and effect, and the sequence of events.

(vii) They are Significant (important)

History should focus on important events, people, and developments that brought a major change or impact on the society.

WAYS OF DATING HISTORICAL EVENTS

Historians usually divide time into several categories, namely

Day – is a duration of twenty four hours (24hrs)

A week – is a duration of seven days (7days)

Month – is the duration of four weeks (4 weeks)

A year – is a duration of twelve months (12 moths)

A decade – is a duration of ten years (10 yrs)

A century – is the duration of one hundred years (100 yrs)

A millennium – is the duration of thousand years (1000 yrs)

A generation – is the average differences on ages between a child and his/her parent.

Age – is the period based on ma’s economic activities and type of tools used e.g. stone age, iron age, industrial age, science and technology age, etc.

A period – is determined by one continuous event lasting for number of years

E.g. Period of slave trade in East Africa.

 

Time division in History

The starting point for the time division in history has been chosen. The starting time is known as year zero. The period from zero onwards is called the Common era (CE). Previously, this period was known as Anno Domino, which means that year after birth of Jesus Christ. The period before year zero is called Before Common Era (BCE, previously known as Before Christ (BC) For example the ruler of Roman Empire, Julius Caesar, died in in 44BCE.

 

                  

 

 

Dating historical events/How to determine dates

There are four main ways of determining dates. These are recalling events, language, studies, Carbon 14 and Potassium argon.

Dates are instrument in a science of history; these historians divided dates into four ways;

      1. Recalling events: - here important events are recalled/remembered e.g. drought, farming, floods, birth, eruption of diseases etc.

      2. By studying languages: - Some names helps people to remember dates of some events. E.g., Word “Karafuu” started when Cloves were introduced in Zanzibar during slave trade.

      3. Carbon 14 is a scientific method of determining dates. It used in the finding dates for remains of animals or plants, which died beyond 5000 years ago. Carbon 14 is a gas found in carbon dioxide, which exists in the atmosphere.  It absorbed by plant and other living organisms. When died carbon 14 that starts to decay at a fixed rate from the time of death.

      4. Potassium argon; this technique dates archaeological remains associated with inoraganic materials, particularly volcanic rocks or ash that were formed million years ago.

     

      Ordering historical events:

      Is the ways showing order of events, period and ages, among them are

·         Time graph

·         Time chart

·         Time line

·         Family tree

 

 

 

 

             

         

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IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HISTORY

 (i)  Understanding the Present
History helps us understand how past events, decisions, and actions have shaped the world we live in today—politically, socially, and economically.

(ii)  Learning from Past Mistakes
By studying history, societies learn what went wrong in the past (such as wars, injustices, or poor leadership) and try to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

(iii)  Building National Identity and Unity
History teaches people about their origins, heroes, struggles, and achievements, which strengthens patriotism and national unity.

(iv)  Developing Critical Thinking Skills
History trains learners to analyze evidence, compare different viewpoints, and make reasoned judgments rather than accepting information blindly.

(v) Promoting Cultural Understanding and Tolerance
Studying different societies and civilizations helps people appreciate cultural diversity and respect others.

(vi) Providing Moral and Social Lessons
History offers lessons about good and bad leadership, justice, responsibility, and human values that guide behavior in society.

(vii)  Preparing Responsible Citizens
Knowledge of history enables citizens to participate wisely in civic life, make informed decisions, and support good governance

(viii) Understand how African societies were formed, how they developed and the factors that influenced this development.

(ix) 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

 

SOURCES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION

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

 

A. ORAL TRADITION:

This involves the passing information by word of mouth through talking and listening.  Through Oral tradition historical information transmitted from one generation to another.

Oral testimonies

These are narration of the past provided by people who witnessed the event or the process being examined. They provide information on events or processes within the living memory of the narrators. For example, soldiers who participated in the Kagera war 1978-1979 can provide valuable testimonies.

 

Ways of transmitting oral tradition

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

·         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

i. It needs much attention and power of memory

ii. False information can be given by storyteller.

iii. Narration of historical events are centered to those people of status i.e. Kings, Queens, Chief. White talking little about common society.

iv. There is a language problem when narrator uses vernacular language.

v. It is difficult to distinguish what is real and what is imaginary information.

vi. Translation is very difficult because some languages are no longer in existence.

 

B. 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.

§  They comprise man’s physical development, tools that were made and used from time to time.

§  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

(i) Preserves historical information for the coming generations.

(ii) They are useful sources of information and to reconstruct history.

(iii) They are the symbols of social cultural heritage to the society concern past human tools, rock, paints etc

 

ADVANTAGES OF HISTORICAL SITES

(i) They help for practical historical learning e.g. through observation of past human tools, rock, paints.

(ii) Used to reveal past settlement patterns, levels of technology, economic development of political organization reached by the past societies.

(iii) Acts as centers of tourism.

(iv) They helps in transforming theoretical teaching of history to practical historical learning.

(v) It acts as the resource centers to researchers.

(vi) It provides employment opportunities e.g.: guiders

 

LIMITATIONS OF HISTORICAL SITES

(i) It brings confusion to interpret the remains found in historical site

(ii) Many of historical sites are found on remote areas hence difficult for many people to visit them.

 

C. 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

(i) Gives important information about man through different stages.

(ii) It is a useful method of revealing soil covered historical remains.

(iii) It arouse curiosity of searching past man historical information.

 

ADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY

(i) It helps people to know when and how people lived in a certain place.

(ii) Past objects tell us about the life and culture of past people.

(iii) It helps us to know and reveal the technology, pastoral, agricultural and commercial activities of the past man.

(iv) Through excavation, we get knowledge of artifacts e.g. Pottery, building etc.

(v) It reveals religious beliefs of the past man

(vi) We can compliment other sources of information through archaeology e.g. History

(vii) We can know the past relationship between different people such as trading activities, migration, marriage, birth, death and political relation.

 

DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHAEOLOGY

· (i) It consumes time because of excavation.

· (ii) It cannot reveal the past people’s language.

  (iii) It cannot give out the out reasons for historical events such as wars.

·     (iv) It needs full experts and advanced technology.

·     (v) Poorly interpreted remains can bring false information

-          (vi) It cannot tell anything about the past social organization

 

D. 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

(i) Archives preserve public and private records that have enduring value to the society.

(ii) The public makes the records in archives available for use.

(iii) However not all records can be viewed by everyone.

(iv) Archives collect records of enduring value from various places. For example, the nation archives have records from different regions of the country.

(v) The archives staff maintains registers of the record in the archives.

(vi) Archives have facilities for restoring damaged documents of enduring value.

(vii) Archives have facilities for restoring damaged documents of enduring value.

(viii) The historical information in the archives ensures continuity. For example, company policies from previous years can still guide the employee today.

ADVANTAGES OF ARCHIVES

(i) Easy to identify ideas and literacy level of the past man.

(ii) It is easy to identify the exact date of historical event.

(iii) It used to store historical information.

(iv) Easy to get historical information from different places and different people.

 

DISADVANTAGES OF ARCHIVES

(i) It may lead false information, if author is biased.

(ii) Illiterate people cannot get historical information.

(iii) It is not easy to get information of society whose information is not documented.

(iv) It is difficult to get remote information from archives.

(v) It is nonrenewable once disrupted either by wind

 

E. MUSEUMS

These are places or buildings where information and objects are preserved. It involves all terms, which shows culture, political economic and technological development from the past to the present.  Objects can be early coins, clothes, and mineral cowries, religious and ceremonial symbols. Museum can be national, Regional, District and village. e.g. National Museums in Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Butiama, Kalenga Iringa.

FUNCTIONS OF MUSEUMS

(i) Preserve historical documents and objects.

(ii) Shows concrete remains of objects.

(iii) It is the place for tourist and study tour.

(iv) It is the center for cultural and national identity.

 

ADVANTAGES OF MUSEUMS

·         It preserves objects, which are used as the teaching aids.

·         Museum preserves culture and national identity.

·         It used by researcher (source of information)

·         It acts as tourist center.

·          People learn about technological development.

·         Enable learners to arouse creativity.

 

LIMITATIONSS OF MUSEUMS.

·         It needs knowledgeable people.

·         It is possible to distort information through biases by the museum attendant.

·         Poor preservation of the past items e.g. coins, pieces of cloth, slaves chain can distort information.

·         It needs extensive care to maintain its beauty or origin.

 

F. WRITTEN RECORDS

Are the documents, which comprise written historical information. This includes books, letters, maps, magazines, journal, newspaper, minutes of meetings and conferences. Written records can be found in libraries, schools, colleges, universities, internet cafes, offices etc.

 

FUNCTIONS OF WRITTEN RECORDS

·         Written records provide pictures of society.

·         These records reflect public opinion at the time of writing. For example, the letter to the editor in newspaper expresses the readers’ feelings on current issues.

·         Written records serve as stores of a large variety of information, including discoveries, government policies, statements, religious beliefs, fashion, speeches and agreement.

·         In-depth reports of daily events are kept as written records. For example in a diary, newspaper or biography.

 

ADVANTAGES OF WRITTEN RECORDS.

·         It is easy to get information.

·         Easy to make references

·         It is helpful in doing researches.

·         They can be kept for long time.

 

DISADVANTAGES OF WITTEN RECORDS

v  It can give false information if they are biased by the author

v  It is difficult to read everything from written records

v  They are subject to be badly written.

v  Illiterate people cannot get information.

 

G.  LINGUISTICS

Is scientific study and analysis of language. It includes study of sound, structure, information and relationship between various language groups.

 

ADVANTAGES OF LINGUISTICS

v  It helps to get information from various sources.

v  Enables to discover links between different people.

v  It helps to determine dates f historical event e.g. “Aluta continua” (Period of struggle for independence in Mozambique)

LIMITATIONS OF LINGUISTICS

v  It consumes time and finance learning a particular language

v  Through translation, one can commit some important work.

v  The present language may be corrupted.

 

H. ANTHROPOLOGY

Is the study of the society’s cultural systems, beliefs, ideas etc. The study can give important information about movements, settlements and production activities of the past.