A historical source is any evidence that tells us about the past. Without sources, historians could not know what really happened. Sources are divided into two main types.
Primary sources
A primary source is original evidence created at the time of the event, or by someone who was actually there. It is the closest link we have to the past. Examples include:
- Artefacts such as pottery, coins, weapons and tools.
- Original documents such as letters, diaries and treaties.
- Buildings, monuments and archaeological sites.
Secondary sources
A secondary source is created later by people who did not witness the event. They study primary sources and then explain the past. Examples include:
- History textbooks and reference books.
- Articles, encyclopaedias and documentaries.
- Biographies written long after a person lived.
Both types are useful. Primary sources give direct evidence, while secondary sources help us understand and organise that evidence. A good historian checks sources carefully to make sure they are genuine and reliable. A single source alone may not tell the whole story, so historians try to gather many sources and compare them before drawing a conclusion.
Key idea
Primary source = made at the time of the event (artefact, letter, ruin). Secondary source = made later by someone who studied it (textbook, article).
Remember
- A coin dug from an ancient site is a primary source.
- A textbook about that site is a secondary source.
- Historians must check that a source is genuine.