How do Historians Learn About the Past?

We learn about the past because of what historians have shown us. But how do they learn?

They must search for themselves. First they must :

-Gather information and sources, with either primary sources (sources made or written during or immediately after the event) or secondary sources (made much after). They must then :

-Categorize their sources, into : written sources, like articles about what other historians have to say about it, books, letters documents or diaries, or non-written sources, like oral tradition, artifacts, fossils or monuments, such as tombs, buildings, statues and cities. The next step is to :

-Evaluate their sources. They must ask the five W's : Where, When, Who, Why. What. (They can also ask How, but that is another story.) They must ask more questions, study the information and other sources, basically anything that, in the end, will prove that the information is valid. Once they are sure, they will :

-Interpret their information. They will bring out the meaning of the information, find out more. Finally, they will :

-Share their findings and theories. The world must know! They may write a book, make a documentary, write an article, be interviewed, make a website... anything. 

"To archaeologists, the human past is owned by no one. It represents the cultural heritage of everyone who has ever lived on Earth or will live on it in the future. Archaeology puts all human societies on an equal footing."

Brian Fagan. 1996. Introduction to the Oxford Companion to Archaeology Oxford University Press, New York.