Written records As Source of History - History Notes Form One
Historical knowledge is obtained through the examination of sources of historical information. One can obtain historical information from either primary or secondary sources.
Primary sources are original materials that provide first-hand information or direct evidence on a particular event. Primary sources are materials created by individuals directly involved in such events. Such materials include memos, diaries, letters, artefacts, photographs, interviews, speeches, autobiographies, and official records. In addition, secondary sources are a product of primary sources.
They are created by people who were not directly involved in the original events. Secondary sources analyse, interpret or comment on primary sources. Secondary source materials include books, reviewed articles, dissertations, articles in newspapers and academic papers.
There are various sources for obtaining historical information. These include oral sources, historical sites, written records, museums, archives, archaeology, historical linguistics, ethnographic records, and anthropology.
However, it is important to remember that none of these sources is self-sufficient. Each of them may be used together with other sources.
Written records As Source of History - History Notes Form One
Written records are documents that provide historical information. They include letters, maps, magazines, legal documents, newspapers, reports and minutes of meetings.
These records are found in archives, libraries, museums, offices and on the internet.
They are also found in individual people's homes as well as in religious institutions such as churches and mosques. Some of the written records are found in the form of books written a long time ago.
An example of such books is The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea that was written by a Greek trader in the first century CE. Another example of such books is Ptolemy's Geography written in the second century CE.
These books describe the coastal people of East Africa and their trading activities.
They also tell us about the beauty of the environments and cultures of people in cities such as Kilwa.
In the history of Africa, we have written documents in Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, English and French languages, most of which are from the 15h Century CE. These documents tell us about people, geography, culture and interactions of people of
Historians read various written records to get information about the past. Some of them contain pictures, tables, maps, and figures. These illustrations add meaning and information about the events being reported.
Functions of written records
Written records provide historical information about past events and processes, such as the Maji Maji War, First World War, Second World War and European colonialism in Africa.
They also help to keep historical information for long periods.
Similarly, they help historians to write about the past such that it can be read and understood as history.
During colonialism, written documents were used to promote achievements of colonialism as new civilisation.
Advantages of written records
Written records have various advantages. The following are some of those advantages:
Written records are easier to obtain and use compared to other sources such as archaeological.
It is also easier to identify distortions in them. In addition, written records may last for a long time if well kept.
Likewise, they may be reliable sources of information when honestly recorded and written.
Furthermore, they can be written and translated into different languages such as Kiswahili, Spanish, Arabic, and English.
Therefore, people in different parts of the world can use them to write history.
Lastly, written records are usually well organised and logically presented.
Therefore, it is easy to find relevant information from them, accordingly, historians can use them to write history.
Limitations of written records
Written records have various limitations, including the following:
None of them contains all the detailed information on a given topic. One cannot learn everything from a single written source. Therefore, one must read other sources of information to fill gaps.
Written records are also not always reliable. Some of them may contain wrong or distorted information.
They may also promote political, ethnic, religious or personal interests. For this reason, written sources must be used with great caution.
In addition, during calamities or disasters, written records can be destroyed or lost. Such calamities can be fire, floods, earthquakes and wars. Therefore, special skills and facilities are required to keep them safe.
Lastly, written records can only be written by literate people. People who are unable to read and write cannot use written records for any purpose.