Back to: History SSS 1
Hello, my brilliant Afrilearn scholar! I hope you’re having a great day. You know, every single one of us has a story—about where we come from, our family, our experiences, and even our dreams for the future. Imagine if nobody ever told these stories. How would we know what happened before we were born? How would we learn from past mistakes and successes? Well, that’s exactly why history is so important.
Meaning of history, Sources of history and danting
History is simply the study of past events. It tells us about people, places, and things that happened long ago and how they shape the world we live in today. Think of it as a big book of life lessons that helps us understand who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.
For example, have you ever asked your grandparents about their childhood? Maybe they told you about how they used to fetch water from a stream or how they attended school under a tree. That’s history—real-life experiences passed down from one generation to another. In the same way, the history of Nigeria teaches us about our heroes like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Obafemi Awolowo, who fought for our independence.
History is not just about memorising dates and names; it’s about learning lessons from the past. It helps us understand why things happen, so we don’t repeat mistakes.
Sources of History
If history is the story of the past, how do we know it is true? Well, we get history from different sources. Just like when a teacher asks, “Who broke the classroom window?”, they don’t rely on one person’s account—they listen to different people to find the truth.
Oral Sources – These are stories, songs, folktales, and proverbs passed down from generation to generation. Our ancestors didn’t have books, so they shared history through storytelling. For example, in many Nigerian homes, grandparents tell stories about how their villages were founded.
Written Sources – This includes books, newspapers, diaries, and government documents. Imagine if there were no newspapers—how would we know about important events? Written records help us keep track of history accurately.
Archaeological Sources – These are physical objects from the past, such as ancient pots, sculptures, or even old coins. Archaeologists (people who study ancient remains) dig up these objects to understand how people lived in the past. For instance, the famous Nok terracotta sculptures found in Nigeria tell us about early African civilisations.
Visual Sources – These include pictures, drawings, paintings, and even videos. If you see an old black-and-white photo of Lagos from the 1950s, you can learn a lot about how people dressed, the cars they drove, and how the city looked back then.
By gathering information from these different sources, historians can piece together the true story of the past.
Dating in History
Now, let’s talk about time. Imagine your birthday without a date—how would people know when to celebrate you? Dating in history is how historians arrange past events in order, from the oldest to the most recent.
Relative Dating – This means placing events in order without knowing the exact date. For example, if someone says, “The Olumo Rock in Abeokuta is older than the National Theatre in Lagos,” they are using relative dating.
Absolute Dating – This is when historians use scientific methods to find the exact age of objects, like carbon dating. For instance, if an archaeologist finds an ancient bone, scientists can use special tests to determine its exact age.
Dating helps us understand how civilisations developed over time. Without it, history would be a confusing mess, like trying to watch a Nollywood movie with the scenes all mixed up!
Summary
History is the study of past events, helping us understand our roots and learn valuable lessons. We gather history from sources such as oral traditions, written records, archaeology, and visual materials. Dating in history helps us arrange events correctly, either using relative or absolute dating.
Evaluation
- Define history in your own words.
- List and explain three sources of history with examples.
- What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?
You are amazing! Always remember, knowing history gives you the power to shape the future. Keep learning, keep growing, and I can’t wait to teach you more in the next lesson. Stay curious and keep shining with Afrilearn!
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