LESSON 1.3 SkillBuilder: Historical questions
By the end of this SkillBuilder you should be able to develop key historical questions.
1.3.1 Tell me What are historical questions? Historical questions may be asked to evaluate historical sources, examine cause and consequence, or outline how or why something happened. Why are historical questions useful? Historical questions are useful because they allow us to critically evaluate historical sources, understand the causes and consequences of events, and explore the reasons behind historical occurrences. They guide researchers in their investigation of the past, helping them to construct detailed and accurate narratives. By asking historical questions, we can gain insights into the complexities of history and develop a deeper appreciation for the events that have shaped our world.
SOURCE1 An example of a historical question
How were communities affected by the Black Death?
1.3.2 Showme To develop historical questions, you will ýrst need to choose your topic. If your topic is medieval Europe, a good place to start is to think about what you would like to know more about. Step1 Create a list of initial questions about a speciýc historical event — in this example, we could focus on how medieval Europe was affected by the Black Death. For example: • How did the Black Death impact the daily lives of people in medieval Europe? • What were the social and economic consequences of the Black Death on European communities? • How did medical knowledge and practices of the time contribute to the spread or containment of the Black Death? • What role did religion and the Church play in shaping public responses to the Black Death? • How did the Black Death inþuence art, literature and cultural expressions in medieval Europe? Step2 To answer the questions that you have developed, you will need to have a source to help you. You may wish to use other sources in this resource or you might ýnd additional ones from your own research. 1.3.3 Letmedo it Complete the following activities in small groups to practise this skill.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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