1.14.1

Chronology – Piecing Together the Past 1

Test yourself

Chronology – Piecing Together the Past

In this section, we will look at how historians use chronology to understand and interpret events from the past.

Illustrative background for IntroductionIllustrative background for Introduction ?? "content

Introduction

  • Chronology is the arrangement of events in the order they happened.
    • It is a fundamental skill for historians because it helps them understand the sequence of events and how they relate to each other.
Illustrative background for What is Chronology?Illustrative background for What is Chronology? ?? "content

What is Chronology?

  • Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time.
    • A timeline is a visual representation of chronology, showing events in the order they happened.
Illustrative background for Purpose Illustrative background for Purpose  ?? "content

Purpose

  • Knowing the order of events helps historians see patterns, make connections, and understand the causes and effects of historical events.
    • By understanding what happened first, historians can figure out what might have caused later events.
Illustrative background for How Historians Use ChronologyIllustrative background for How Historians Use Chronology ?? "content

How Historians Use Chronology

  • Historians often create timelines to organise events and make sense of complex historical periods.
    • For example, a timeline of the Renaissance might show key events like the invention of the printing press, the discovery of the Americas and the Reformation.
Illustrative background for MethodsIllustrative background for Methods ?? "content

Methods

  • Historians use different methods to determine the dates of events.
    • They use primary sources like documents, letters, and records from the time to help historians date events accurately.
  • Historians also use archaeological evidence like artefacts and structures that can be dated using methods like carbon dating.

Jump to other topics

1Empires East & West: 1000 AD

1.1The Rise & Fall of Ancient China’s Empire

1.2The Medieval Greatness of the Byzantine Empire

1.3The Golden Age of the Islamic Empire

1.4The Politics & Power of the Holy Roman Empire

1.5Medieval Religion

1.6The Influence of the Church in Medieval Times

1.7How Religion Tested the Power of Kings

1.8Dynastic Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.9Challenges to Medieval Monarchs

1.10Revolts, Rebellions & Rights

1.11Medieval England & Her Neighbours

1.12European Renaissance

1.13Norman Conquest & Control

1.14Historical Skills

2The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

2.1Anglo-Saxon England

2.2The Contest for the English Throne

2.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

2.4King John

2.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

2.6The Black Death

3Worldviews

4The Empire of Mali: 1076-1670 AD

5The Renaissance & Reformations: 1500-1598 AD

6The British Empire: 1583-1960 AD

7The Peasants' Revolt: 1381 AD

8Religion in the Middle Ages

9Slavery: 1619-1833 AD

10The English Civil War: 1642-1660 AD

11The Industrial Revolution: 1750-1840 AD

12US Independence: 1775-1783 AD

13The French Revolution: 1789-1815 AD

14The British Empire: 1857–1930 AD

15Suffrage: 1840-1928 AD

16World War 1: 1914-1918 AD

17The Inter-War Years: 1919-1939 AD

18World War 2: 1939-1945 AD

19The Cold War: 1947-1962 AD

20Civil Rights in the USA: 1954-1975 AD

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium