Geography and Environment

TOPIC AREA 1:  COLLECTING  AND ANALYSING HISTORICAL SOURCES

 Sub-topic area 1:  Concepts of History and Historical Research 

Unit 1:  Collecting and analysing historical sources 

Key unit competence 

To be able to examine the complementarities of material, immaterial and electronic sources of History.

1.1 Complementarities of historical sources

Activity 1.1 

Read the following narration from Rubiggira’s grandfather: Long time ago, my father took me to Ryamurari. I was still a young boy at that time. We visited an old man who lived next to the archaeological site in that area. He told us about some white people who had visited the place. He said that those people did some excavation. “At the end of it, they found some human remains. They also found other things which I did not know. One year ago, somebody told me that a book has been written about the place. He even said that a video was shot to tell the world about Ryamurari.” He said. 

1. Write down the different historical sources mentioned in the above narration. 

2. Explain how the different historical sources highlighted in the narration relate to each other.

From the above activity, you must have realised that sources of historical information depend on each other. They support each other. That is to say that they complement each other. Let us now study the following sources of historical information. Remember that our aim is to find out how they complement each other.

1. Oral traditional source

Oral tradition is defined as any information passed by word of mouth (verbally) from one generation to another. This is done through socialisation, especially between the young and the old. The complementarities of oral traditional sources with other historical sources include: 

(a) Linguistic sources – Linguistics involves studying and analysing languages, their sound, formation and relationship with other languages. The findings are then narrated to other generations. Through that, it complements the oral traditional sources. 

(b) Archaeological sources – Archaeology is about the study of dug up materials and remains of mans past. It complements oral traditional source whereby the findings are narrated to other generations. This makes the two sources complementary to each other.

            Fig 1.1: An old woman narrating stories to children

2. Written sources

These are basically written down materials where information can be read from. Examples include magazines, textbooks, newspapers and diaries. Written records are also complementary with other sources of historical information. For example, information that is written down is sometimes gathered from other sources such as oral tradition. Consider the following examples: 

a)  Oral traditional sources - Narratives from eye witnesses and testimonies are usually written down in diaries or books. The books later form written sources of historical information.

b)  Archaeology - The digging of the remains and materials of man’s past is another source of information to written records. It complements written sources whereby, after carbon dating, the results and findings made are written down. The written record is then presented to the public  either in textbooks, internet or magazines for reading.

          Fig 1.2: Newspapers are examples of written sources of History 

3. Anthropology

Anthropology involves the study of existing social institutions and relationship of people’s culture, tradition, norms, values and attitudes. The study cannot be done without the support of other sources of historical information. Among other sources which are complementary to anthropology are:

a)  Written sources - After studying and analysing values, norms and attitudes of people, such findings and conclusions are written down. The written records are intended to help the current and future generation and researchers get information. It is therefore clear that  both written sources of History and anthropology complement one another. For example, anthropologists study the social, economic and political organisations of African communities and later document it in books.

b)  Oral traditional sources - The narratives of past events further support anthropology. This is because through these narratives, anthropologists acquire relevant information about people’s cultures. They also learn about traditions and norms of different people.
4. Archaeology

This is the study of dug up materials or material remains of people’s past. Archaeology as a source of history is complementary with other sources of History such as:

a)  Oral traditional sources - Here, narratives and stories can help in the location of places where fossils can be found.

b)  Written sources - In this case, a person can study about fossils  from books and articles on archaeology. Written sources provide a  more permanent way of keeping archaeological records. Therefore,  information about the dug up materials and remains of man is not  forgotten.

c)  Audio-visual sources - Activities of archaeologists can be watched on television and video. Special programmes (documentaries) on archaeology are always aired on television. This enables interested  people see some of the dugout materials. Learners also get to see  the tools and equipment used during excavation.

    
        Fig 1.3:  A person shooting a video at an archaeological site

5. Linguistics
Linguistics deals with the study and analysis of languages, their sound structure and formation. Linguistics as a source of historical information is well complemented by other historical sources such as:

a)  Written sources - These sources complement linguistic sources on  the information about language analysis, sound and structure.
Some textbooks provide information on how some words should be pronounced. They also enable a person to learn about sentence structures of different languages.

b)  Anthropology - Anthropology is another complementary source of linguistic sources. The study of the existing social institutions and cultures involves people’s languages. Linguists can apply anthropology as their source of historical information. This makes the  two sources complementary. 

c)  Oral traditional source - This is another complementary source to linguistic sources. Oral traditional source gives a practical support to linguistic sources by providing the pronunciation of certain words in a given language. This facilitates linguistic sources. Linguistics also helps to explain the origin of some languages that are used in oral traditional sources of History. Through finding the origin of some of the languages, the original meaning of some words, phrases, songs as well as sayings are conveyed correctly, avoiding loss of meaning that may arise from transliteration. The study of Linguistics is a major source of information about the origin and migration of various communities living in a place. The meaning of the language used as it evolved as people interacted over time is best captured under the study of Linguistics. Words tend to get meaning depending on the context with which they are being used. This significantly depends on those who use this language and those they interact with. Linguistics is therefore an important part of passing information as used in oral tradition sources.
Activity 1.2

For this activity, you need the following items:

i. An old copy of newspaper

ii.A story book

iii.A Biology book

iv.A Geography book Let each of you pick one of the three books or the newspaper.

In groups of four, let each person read from the book or newspaper he or she has picked.

1. Discuss what you have read with your group members.

2. Tell the whole class about what you have discovered.

6. Electronic or audio-visual sources

   
     Fig 1.4: People accessing information using computers

Audio-visual sources enable us to get historical information by listening and watching. We often get the information on electronic devices such as computer, television and smart phones. It is the most recent source of historical information. Audio-visual sources have got common complementarities with other sources of History such as:

a)    Oral traditional sources – This is mostly appropriate in the cases of events that involve eye witnesses at the time of happening. For example, during a live football match, a journalist broadcasts news on television in a way of narration. He or she narrates to the viewers what is taking place in the stadium. At the same time, the play is shown live on television. Such narrative is equated to oral traditional source, thereby complementing audio-visual source of historical information.

b)     Archaeological sources – Remains of man’s past or material he used may be discovered in an area. The discovery may complement audio-visual sources. This is because once a site is discovered, a video recording can be done. The recording may be posted on the  internet for people to watch and listen to. It may also be broadcasted on a television station. This way, archaeology shall have become a complementary source of audio-visual sources.

c)    Written sources – Written sources of History complement Electronic or audio-visual sources through the various written documents that are required in aiding the recording and arrangement of information logically before being put in the electronic form. Photographs are part of the wider written sources of History that electronic sources require to aid the electronic sources. Remember! Just like all historical sources need each other, and depend on each other, we too need each other for a peaceful co-existence.

1.2 Challenges faced when using material, immaterial and   electronic sources
In traditional Africa, the type of education that existed was informal. In this case, children were told stories of the past by their elders. It was mostly during evening hours around fire places. This involved Interesting topics such as fighting with fierce animals and hunting. There was no record keeping because nobody knew how to read and write. As children grew up, some stories were forgotten because they were not recorded down. The elders who told such stories had long died. This was a challenge. The use of oral traditional source for stories can be forgotten when you have no chances of asking back because the eye witness died or lives far away.
Activity 1.3 

Use the internet to find out the challenges faced when using electronic, material and immaterial sources of collecting historical information. 

Use the above passage to guide your discussion.

a) Material sources
These include the use of important historical sources that can be considered while collecting historical information.
The following are challenges faced in using material sources:

• Written records cannot be used by illiterate people. It is only limited to those who can read and write.
• Some material sources such as archaeology and linguistics require skills. This explains why archaeologists and linguists are very rare in developing countries.
• Material sources such as archaeology are expensive to invest in. This is because they require professionals to participate in the digging up and interpreting the findings. Special equipment may also be required in the entire process which may be costly to acquire.
• Material sources are also time consuming. For example, archaeology may require a lot of time to identify the place where historical evidence can be dug up. It also requires time to correctly analyse the materials.
• Material sources such as written records can be easily destroyed by fire or water.

b) Immaterial sources
These are historical sources that are less used today in a particular situation. They include oral traditional and anthropology sources. The use of immaterial sources is associated with the following challenges:

• The use of oral traditional sources is not always accurate. Some information may be highly exaggerated to include few or no failures and weaknesses but more successes and achievements.
• Immaterial sources such as oral traditional are affected by the death of an eye witness. Once he or she dies, information can never be recovered.
• Anthropology requires skilled people and experts. These experts are very few. 
• Immaterial sources are affected by language barrier. Information may be collected in a local language which might be not easy to translate into other languages.

c) Electronic or audio-visual sources
These include the use of modern technology such as mobile phones, radios, television, cinemas and the Internet. The challenges faced when using electronic sources include the following:

• They require reliable power supply such as solar or electric power. Without power supply, they cannot be used.
• In remote areas without network coverage, television, mobile phones and internet cannot be used. Therefore with such state of affairs, it is really challenging to use electronic sources.
• They may be costly to acquire. Radios, mobile phones, television and cinemas require money to buy. This is a real challenge to low income earners, especially in developing countries.
• Electronic sources such as radios cannot be used by people with hearing impairment. Television cannot be used by those with visual impairment.
• The use of internet requires one to have knowledge about information and communication technology. He or she must know how to use the computer. A person who is not computer literate may not access information from it.

Activity 1.4

Discuss some of the challenges that a historian is likely to face when collecting historical information.
Remember!
We all face challenges. It does not matter whether you are male or female.
NOTE: In general, all sources of History involve a cost in acquiring and using them. However, some are more expensive than others.

1.3 Usefulness of different sources of History

Activity 1.5

In a certain school, a teacher of History asked Senior 2 students to explain the usefulness of different sources of History. Here is what Umuhoza, Umwali, Isaac, Kalisa and Iradukunda had to give as their answers:

Role play

Teacher: Let each of you suggest the usefulness of different sources of History.

UmUhoza:  Oral traditional source can be used by both educated and  illiterates.
Umwali:  I feel that, written records are so simple for those who can read and write. They can read a wide range of materials such as newspapers, magazines and books from where information can be got.

isaac:  I think archaeology is much better for it helps us to come up with first-hand information. This is because since it involves scientific interpretation as well laboratory testing.

Kalisa:    Linguistic sources can be more efficient for studying languages of the past and best understanding of African languages.

iradUKUnda: Audio-visual is more interesting and gives information backed  by images of live coverage. It can be used by many people in rural as well as urban areas.

Dramatise the role play above.

In reference to the above play, it is so evident that each source of History is useful in one way or another. Each source depends on the nature of the users, location and accessibility.

Oral traditional source

•  Other sources rely on it. For example, written sources use information from oral traditional sources. Such information include narratives from eye witnesses. Most of other sources originated from oral traditional source. 
• Some historical events may be witnessed first hand by people who later pass the information on to generations to come.
• Sometimes information can be verified whereby there is room for asking questions and getting feedback. This allows one to understand the content and context better.
• It can be used by all classes of people except those with hearing impairment. This is because it does not involve writing and reading.
•  It can be interesting and easy to spread over a wide range of people. The information can be spread through narration of stories, tales and proverbs.
• In some cases, it is cheaper compared to all other sources of History such as archaeology and written sources. The speaker may not require a lot of of money for payment for the information.

Written sources

• In some cases, they are more accurate and reliable than oral traditional sources. People can trust them. This is especially if adequate research is done before being documented.
• Written records can spread faster among people who can read and write. For example, books can be distributed to different people in all parts of the country.
• They can be translated into different languages for different kinds of people. For example, the information can be translated to Kinyarwanda, English, Kiswahili and French. This makes the information to reach more people.
• They are fairly cheaper than archaeology. Written sources are affordable hence many people can buy them. 
• Written records can be stored for a long period time, even more than 100 years. They ensure a relatively permanent storage of historical events for future reference.

Archaeology

• It gives information about the past where we have no records.
•  It tells us about life and culture of the ancient people.
• Archaeology assists historians to understand the past in relation to the present life.

Anthropology

• Anthropologists help to trace historical facts.
• Anthropology helps to explain the settlement and growth of different people.
• An anthropologist interprets the past especially when there is reason to compare societies in certain areas. The anthropologist therefore studies the present in order to understand the past. Linguistics
• It makes it possible to understand how the present languages came into existence.
• Linguistics helps in identifying languages of Africa such as Kinyarwanda for Rwandans.
• Linguistic sources help to determine the migration, origin, and patterns of people.
• It is a cheap source of historical information as compared to other sources such as archaeology and anthropology.

Electronic or audio–visual sources

• The information can be well understood since it is backed by images.
• Audio-visual sources can spread information to a wide range of people.
• The source provides first hand information where it involves live broadcasts.
• The information is generally accessible to people with mobile phones, television and computers.

Activity 1.6

Use the information in the S1 History and Citizenship book and the internet to research on the advantages of various sources of history. Present your findings to the class.
Revision questions
1. Write down the meaning of the word ‘complementary’.

2. Explain how the following historical sources complement each other:

(a)  Oral tradition and linguistics

(b)  Anthropology and written sources

3. Explain five challenges that are associated with the use material sources of historical information. 

4. Written records are very useful in History. Give reasons.

5. Explain some disadvantages of electronic sources of historical information.