Learning About Our Past

How do we know things about the past?

• By making guesses about what happened

• By studying evidence and sources from the past

• By ignoring old information

• By only reading fictional stories

How do we study history?

• By memorizing random dates

• By analyzing sources and understanding events

• By only watching movies

• By avoiding any research

What is the main activity being performed by the person in the picture?

• Studying ancient footprints

• Planting seeds

• Painting on the ground

• Cleaning a sidewalk

Based on the image, what can you infer is happening in the scene?

• A scientist is investigating ancient animal tracks.

• A person is searching for lost jewelry.

• Someone is cleaning up litter.

• A gardener is planting flowers.

What is our main source of information about the past?

• Writing

• Oral stories

• Paintings

• Music

Approximately how many years of written history do we have?

• About 5,000 years

• About 500 years

• About 50,000 years

• About 5,000,000 years

What do historians study to learn about the time before writing was invented?

• Prehistory

• Modern history

• Ancient novels

• Scientific journals

Why is the study of prehistory important for understanding human history?

• It helps us learn about human life before written records existed

• It only focuses on modern technology

• It explains the history of writing systems

• It is not important for understanding human history

Which field of study focuses on the study of people, both past and present, and their physical remains such as fossils, teeth, and bones?

• Archaeology

• Biology

• Anthropology

• Geology

What do archaeologists primarily study to learn about prehistory?

• Physical remains like bones and teeth

• Artifacts or objects people made

• Modern technology

• Weather patterns