How do historians know what happened in the past if there were no cameras or recordings?

Historians study the past using a variety of methods to piece together the events that have occurred over time. They rely on primary sources, secondary sources, artifacts, and other evidence to reconstruct the events of the past.

Primary sources are firsthand accounts of events that occurred during a particular time period. Examples of primary sources include diaries, letters, photographs, newspaper articles, government records, and personal interviews. Historians analyze primary sources to gain insights into the thoughts, beliefs, and actions of people in the past.

Secondary sources are works that interpret or analyze primary sources. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, biographies, and historical analyses. Historians use secondary sources to gain a broader understanding of historical events and to compare and contrast different interpretations of the past.

Artifacts are physical objects that provide evidence of past events. Examples of artifacts include tools, pottery, buildings, and weapons. Historians use artifacts to gain insights into the daily lives of people in the past.

Through a combination of primary sources, secondary sources, artifacts, and other evidence, historians are able to reconstruct the events of the past and gain insights into the social, political, and economic conditions that shaped those events. By studying the past, historians help us better understand our present and make informed decisions about our future.