Definition of Historical Sources Types and Examples
Definition of Historical Sources Types and Examples
Definition of Historical Sources Types and Examples - As events that have occurred in the past, History can be re-expressed by historians and historical writers through sources that can be found or left by events in the past. However, not all events that occurred in the past can be fully and completely described and described due to limited historical sources.
Understanding Historical Sources
In writing history, the role or existence of historical sources is very important. Because historical sources are the main material used to collect information related to historical events.
To obtain these historical sources, one can take advantage of the existence of museums, libraries, national archives, regional archives and sites where an event occurred or witnesses or historical actors as a means to obtain information related to historical events to be described, researched or written down. The following is the definition of historical sources in the opinion of experts:
1. R. Moh Ali
Historical sources are everything tangible and intangible and useful for researching Indonesian history from the ancient times until now.
2. Zidi Gozalba
Historical sources are heritage in the form of oral, written, and visual.
3. Mohamad Yamin
Historical sources are collections of cultural objects to prove history.
It can be concluded that historical sources are all cultural heritage in the form of oral, written, visual and can be used to search for the truth, both in Indonesia and outside the territory of Indonesia since the pre-literate era to the present day.
Historical sources are materials that can be used to gather information about events that occurred in the past. There are events that happened and experienced by humans in the past which left traces related to human life. All of these can be used as objects of research. The object under study requires historical sources to be able to explain events that occurred in the past.
The existence of historical sources is very important for the writing of history. Historians can collect historical facts from existing historical sources. Historical sources have a very important position to find out information and events that occurred in the past. The sources of historical material are divided into two, namely primary sources and secondary sources.
Primary Source
The primary source is the testimony of a witness with his own eyes or with other senses. Primary sources must be produced by people who lived at the same time or documents or objects that can be witnesses of the events to be told. Primary sources must be original in the sense that their testimony does not come from other sources. Examples of primary sources are historical actors and witnesses, inscriptions, government documents, temples that originate and correspond to the era when the historical event occurred.
Secondary Source
Secondary sources are sources containing information that is not directly or indirectly from historical actors or witnesses. Secondary sources have a lower value when compared to primary sources. An example of a secondary source is information conveyed by both historical writers and historians through an article, book or newspaper.
History Source Function
In conducting historical research, a historical writer or historian must prioritize the existence of historical sources as material in writing or in telling a historical event. A historian or historian must first prioritize primary sources as a reference. While secondary sources can be used as supporting explanations or information given from primary sources. The use of secondary sources is limited by the following purposes:
1. Used in order to obtain reading material that becomes a reference to facilitate researchers in obtaining reading material that is relevant to the topic being researched.
2. Used in order to obtain other people's interpretation of the same topic being studied. However, this interpretation is not to be followed blindly, but to be re-examined and straightened through the work being done.
3. Used in order to obtain primary source excerpts. However, in subsequent use, the passage must be checked against the original source.
4. Used in order to obtain adequate background on a topic so that researchers have a stock of knowledge about the events being studied.
Historical Sources by Type
Judging from the type, historical sources are divided into three, namely, written historical sources, artifacts and oral history sources. Below will be described about historical sources by type.
Sources of Written History
Written historical sources are historical sources obtained from written relics that occurred in the past. Examples of written sources include minutes, books, notes, archives, documents, and newspapers. Another written source is the inscription as a source of ancient history. Inscriptions are usually written on stone or metal plates with the aim of making them as markers of the actions of kings.
Artifact
Artifacts are historical sources in the form of relics in the past. Artifacts can be in the form of buildings, cultural tools, sculptures or paintings and photographs. Artifacts in the form of buildings include office buildings, forts and temples. Equipment for human life in pre-literate times is one example of an artifact in the form of cultural tools. In general, artifacts are found through archaeological excavations. Artifacts that have been found are generally stored in museums so that they are preserved and preserved.
Sources of Oral History
Sources of oral history are direct information from historical actors or witnesses of a historical event. For example, a statement from a freedom fighter about events during the physical revolution that occurred during 1945-1950 can be used as a source of historical writing. Or information from people who witnessed a series of events during the physical revolution in 1945-1950 can also be used as a source of historical writing. Oral sources themselves are divided into two, namely oral tradition and oral history, here are the differences between the two;
1. Oral Tradition
Oral traditions are stories that live in certain community groups that are passed down from generation to generation.
2. Oral History
Oral history is the memory of a historical actor or witness through the interview process. Perpetrators or witnesses can convey their experiences or testimonies of an event in the past. If the perpetrator conveys his experience orally, it is called an oral source, but if he conveys his experience or statement in writing, it is called a written source.
This is an explanation of historical sources. Hopefully this article can be useful for you. Thanks.