Primary & Secondary Sources

By the end of this lesson you will know:

1. What a source is

2. The difference between a primary and a secondary source

An historical source is something that tells us about the past.

There are lots of different types of sources, for example it may be a letter, a diary a document, a painting, an artefact, a book, a cinema film, a television programme or a photograph

• We divide sources into two types:• Primary sources

• Secondary sources

• A Primary source is a source which comes from the past

• Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied, or were created at a later date by someone remembering events

• Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period. 

Primary Sources

• For example• If we were studying the Tudor period any

of the following would be considered a primary source:

• A portrait of Queen Elizabeth painted when she was alive

• A letter written by Henry VIII to the Pope• A diary written by the Spanish ambassador• Memoirs of someone recalling the

execution of Mary Queen of Scots

Secondary Sources

• A Secondary Source is a source which does not come from the time we are studying but was produced later.

• These sources offer an analysis of primary sources or attempt to explain them. Some secondary sources not only analyse primary sources, but use them to persuade the reader to hold a certain opinion.

Secondary Sources

• For example• If we were studying the Tudor period

any of the following would be considered a secondary source:

• ‘The making of the united kingdom’ – a history textbook

• A film about the life of Henry VIII.• A worksheet about the 6 wives of Henry

VIII

A few more examples

• A portrait of Queen Elizabeth painted when she was a child would be a Primary source.

A drawing of queen Elizabeth drawn in 2005 would be a secondary source

The Royal Collection © 2005 Her Majesty Queen

Elizabeth II

A few more examples

• A description of Queen Elizabeth written by a French ambassador after meeting the Queen would be a primary source

•A description of Queen Elizabeth written by an historian in 2001 after examining primary sources is a secondary source

Can you work out if the following sources are primary or secondary?

• A cartoon of Mary I for a website

Primary

Secondary

Can you work out if the following sources are primary or secondary?

• A drawing of Queen Mary I

Primary

Secondary

Try again

Can you work out if the following sources are primary or secondary?

• A drawing of Queen Mary I

Primary

Secondary

Beaumaris castle built during the 13th century

Primary Secondary

Beaumaris castle built during the 13th century

Primary Secondary

Beaumaris castle built during the 13th century

Primary Secondary Try Again

The Domesday book

Primary

Secondary                                                                             

The Domesday book

Primary

Secondary                                                                             

Try Again

The Domesday book

Primary

Secondary                                                                             

The Bayeux Tapestry

Primary Secondary

       

The Bayeux Tapestry

Primary Secondary

       

Try Again

The Bayeux Tapestry

Primary Secondary

       

History text book

Primary

Secondary

                   

History text book

Primary

Secondary

                   

History text book

Primary

Secondary

                   Try Again

A Cinema Film about Queen Elizabeth

Primary

Secondary

                   

A Cinema Film about Queen Elizabeth

Primary

Secondary

                   Try Again

A Cinema Film about Queen Elizabeth

Primary

Secondary

                   

END