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A primary source is a person (or a record produced by a person) who was actually there, as a witness or a participant of the event in question. A secondary source is someone who obtained information from a primary source and who then wrote or spoke about it. Primary sources are the more authoritative, however they are not always available, and sometimes you have to settle for lesser sources.

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What tools do historians use?

Primary sources, secondary sources, and oral history.


Why are secondary sources important to history?

Secondary sources provide analysis and interpretation of historical events, helping to provide a deeper understanding of the past. They also offer different perspectives and viewpoints on historical events, making it possible to evaluate and compare different sources to get a more accurate picture of history. Additionally, secondary sources can help historians identify trends, patterns, and themes in history.


Which item could serve As a secondary source for a historians studying early Chinese history?

(Apex) An essay about China's first emperor written by a university professor.


What is a historians is doing when she examines the ways different historical cultures recorded history?

Studying historiography


Why do historians study world history?

Historians study world history to gain knowledge......


How do historians investigate history?

Present day historians investigate the histories already written by: * checking the resources used by historians who have written about a particular subject; * by investigating any sources that were overlooked; and * searching primary, secondary leads that may bring to light new sources of historical information.


What problems do gaps in evidence cause historians?

Historians rely on primary sources to reach conclusions. Gaps in history, where there is no written documentation of events may leave historians in a quandary. They must then rely on archaeological evidence, and secondary sources, if available. Historians must ask the following: Is the information reliable? What was the reputation of the writer at the time? Does the archaeological record, primary, or secondary sources disagree with previously published historiography concerning the person or event? How accurate is prior published historiography concerning the subject matter? New evidence can displace old theories regarding history, so historians must be ready to adjust their thesis to reflect this information. Historians must also recognize that myth may shroud the truth about history. "Lost Cause" mythology concerning the American Civil War is a good example of lies perpetuated as history that has been disproved by primary sources.


What do gaps in evidence cause historians?

Historians rely on primary sources to reach conclusions. Gaps in history, where there is no written documentation of events may leave historians in a quandary. They must then rely on archaeological evidence, and secondary sources, if available. Historians must ask the following: Is the information reliable? What was the reputation of the writer at the time? Does the archaeological record, primary, or secondary sources disagree with previously published historiography concerning the person or event? How accurate is prior published historiography concerning the subject matter? New evidence can displace old theories regarding history, so historians must be ready to adjust their thesis to reflect this information. Historians must also recognize that myth may shroud the truth about history. "Lost Cause" mythology concerning the American Civil War is a good example of lies perpetuated as history that has been disproved by primary sources.


What do historians do when using the historical thinking skills of evaluating interpretations?

Answer this question… Analyze the work of other historians to draw conclusions


What does history mean to historians?

what does history mean


Describe three approaches that historians use to examine past events?

when you hang up a picture, you use a hammer to pound in the nail. Historians also use tools to do there job. These tools include primary sources, secondary sources, and oral history.


What do contract historians do?

Contract historians can own or work for history businesses--firms that specialize in providing history services for a variety of clients, from preparing brochures for a historical society to planning a company's anniversary celebration, providing litigation support, preparing text for a museum exhibit, researching a historic site for a cultural resources management project, and declassifying documents for a government agency.