how do historians find out about the past?

Question

how far can historians find out what really happened in the past

Answer 1

they examine the finds of archaeologists and predict what happened. They can find out about the past from prehistoric times is as the name suggests the time before the development of writing or recording the past! Many historians believe that we developed from apes but this idea is very controversial as religious beliefs show that man/woman developed from god within one week after the world was created
I hope this might be some help to you,
Tom Martin.

Answer 2

Look at source material from the time. Of course, you then have to discover more about the context of those materials, as the writers may be biased in some way. Can you ever really find out about the past, because you will only every get someone's subjective view of what they experienced?

Answer 3

Until photgraphic evidence they had to rely on artifacts or written documents. (This can include carved inscriptions.)
However, most documents are written by the winners so their views may be distorted and biased. Tacitus for example is very biased.
Since recordings, audio first then visual, the (usually) unbiased evidence can be there to see and hear. Then a good historian can make up his own mind.

Answer 4

1> Photographic evidence ( mod ern history)

2>Documents, coins, postage stamps etc. Coins usually wood carry information. Tax records

3>Old buildings ( No i am not talking about the pentagon).

4> Excavations at diff sites.

5> Statues/ art from that period,

Answer 5

That's what research is for - we mostly take all the evidence and extrapolate from that by using human behaviour studies.

Answer 6

well there is evidence like the statues and painting's and even human remains that tell us of the people that lived back then

Answer 7

By digging deep.

Answer 8

by equating what will happen in the future....too many clues left behind by everything!!!!