4.2.2

Disciplinary Knowledge - Significance

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Significance

Historians study important people, institutions, or events from the past that caused change, were important at the time, or are remembered today. What is considered significant can vary between people and across time.

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Understanding significance

  • Historians choose to study certain people, institutions, or events from the past because these subjects made a difference in history.
    • These people or events may have led to important changes, or they may have been important to the people who lived at that time.
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Historical evidence

  • When historians study the past, they look for historical evidence.
    • Historical evidence can be objects, writings, or records from the time period.
  • By studying this evidence, historians can learn more about what life was like and why certain people or events were significant.
    • Finding ancient writings can teach historians about the beliefs, customs, and important events of a past civilisation.
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Different perspectives

  • What historians consider to be significant can be different depending on who is looking at the history and where that person is from.
  • Views on significance can also change.
    • A person who was once celebrated as a hero may be seen differently in the future as new evidence is discovered or as people’s values change.
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The significance of Mansa Musa

  • Mansa Musa, who ruled the Mali Empire in the 14th century, is often considered one of the most significant figures in African history.
  • Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca showed the world the wealth and power of the Mali Empire.
  • During this journey, Mansa Musa shared gold and riches with many people.
  • This showed the greatness of the Mali Empire and made other nations more aware of it.
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Changing views

  • The significance of Mansa Musa and the Mali Empire might be seen differently depending on where historians are from or what time period the historians are living in.
    • For many Africans, Mansa Musa represents the great achievements of African civilisations.
    • For others, Mansa Musa is important because Mansa Musa showed the rest of the world that Africa was a place of wealth and culture.

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

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