Essay Questions for Thinking through Sources 1

1. Comparing sources: Which of these sources seems most useful in understanding human history before writing? Do you find that Nisa’s contemporary account offers more or fewer insights than the physical remains from long ago? What are the advantages and drawbacks of each?
2. Connecting past and present: In what ways do these sources retain their ability to speak to people living in industrial societies of the twenty-first century? Or do they have meaning only for those who created them? Which sources do you relate to most strongly?
3. Reflecting on speculation: Our understanding of all of these works is highly uncertain, inviting a considerable amount of speculation, guesswork, or imagination. Why are historians willing to articulate uncertain interpretations of these ancient sources? Is this an appropriate undertaking for historians, or should scholars remain silent when the evidence does not allow them to speak with certainty and authority?