How do you keep events and dates straight?

Question

I understand where things are organically in time, such as romanticism reacting to Enlightenment ideals, but I have a hard time placing a range of dates on such things. I can generally say that Darwin, for example, was present in the 1800's and Freud, Marx, etc. were in the mix somewhere as well, but I have a hard time fixing an exact date to their contributions. How do you do so? Charts? Brute memorization? Etc.?

Answer 1

There are several tactics to remembering information in a database-like form. For me, it's mostly just an uncanny memory. Mneumonics might help out if you are studying for an exam.

It certainly does help to construct a chronological timeline of events. Doing this yourself will aid in memorizing the data. More importantly, however, is the context of an event in history. Once you get into the thick of history, you would see that particular dates are not quite as important as the situation that something occurs in, unless you are looking at something at a close-up view, say maybe a battle or some other event where order is very important.

Answer 2

Write it down on a calendar, I've never had a problem with this.

Answer 3

I use time lines in books.