Quiz on Contestability in History

What does the concept of contestability relate to?

• Explanations of past events open to debate

• The destruction of artefacts

• The accuracy of written records

• The certainty of historical facts

What can lead historians to draw different conclusions?

• The use of modern technology

• The agreement on historical facts

• Different interpretations of evidence

• Access to the same sources

What is one reason historians might disagree about Polynesian migration?

• The availability of DNA evidence

• The similarity of languages

• The completeness of artefacts

• The existence of written records

What is the 'east–west theory' about?

• Polynesians settled in Africa

• Polynesians traveled to Europe

• Polynesians migrated from South America

• Polynesians originated from Asia

What do supporters of the 'east–west theory' argue?

• Polynesians did not migrate at all

• All artefacts are intact

• There are no similarities between cultures

• Wind patterns and ocean currents allowed travel

What is the 'west–east theory' based on?

• The belief in supernatural forces

• Similarities in languages and cultures

• The existence of written records

• The use of advanced navigation tools

Which evidence has made the 'west–east theory' more popular?

• Oral traditions

• Artefact discoveries

• DNA evidence

• Written historical accounts

What is a key aspect of the study of history according to the text?

• It is always straightforward

• It is open to debate

• It relies solely on written records

• It has a single correct answer

What do historians argue about Polynesian expansion?

• It was entirely accidental

• It was a result of deliberate planning

• It was influenced by European explorers

• It was based on written records

What type of artefacts might historians study?

• Jewellery and weapons

• Modern technology

• Only written documents

• Digital records