"Historical documents are original documents that contain important historical information about a person, place, or event and can thus serve as primary sources as important ingredients of the historical methodology."
Documents or artifacts that provide information about past events, such as diaries, letters, and archaeological finds.
Timeline: A chronological order of historical events.
Historical periods: Groups of time with distinct characteristics and events.
Era: A large period marked by significant historical events, cultural changes or technological advancements.
Century: A period of 100 years.
Decade: A period of 10 years.
Ancient history: Study of ancient civilizations and societies.
Medieval history: Study of European history from the 5th to the 15th century.
Renaissance history: Study of the 14th to the 17th century in Europe which saw a rebirth of art, culture and literature.
Industrial Revolution: A period in the 18th and 19th century marked by major technological advancements that revolutionized the manufacturing industry.
World War I: A global conflict that took place from 1914 to 1918.
World War II: A global conflict that took place from 1939 to 1945.
Cold War: A geopolitical conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union from 1947 to 1991.
History of art: Study of the visual arts and their evolution throughout history.
Political history: Study of political events and systems throughout history.
Economic history: Study of economic systems and events throughout history.
Social history: Study of social structures and events throughout history.
Religious history: Study of the development and evolution of religions throughout history.
Military history: Study of military conflicts and warfare throughout history.
Environmental history: Study of the interaction between humans and the environment throughout history.
Cultural history: Study of cultural practices and beliefs throughout history.
Diary/Journal: A personal record of daily events and thoughts, often written by an individual.
Memoir: A personal account of events over a period of time.
Autobiography: A written account of an individual's life, usually written by that individual.
Biography: A written account or history of a person's life, written by someone else.
Chronology: A timeline or chronological listing of events in history.
Correspondence: Letters, emails and other written communication exchanged between individuals.
Newspapers: Printed or digital publications that report on current events.
Government Records: Records created and kept by government institutions, such as birth certificates, census records, and court records.
Oral Histories: Accounts of historical events from individuals' memories, often recorded as interviews or conversations.
Manuscripts: Original documents, such as letters or documents written by hand, often housed in archives or libraries.
Maps and Cartographic Material: Visual depictions of geographical areas, often used to track the changes over time.
Photographs and Visual Materials: Images, drawings or other visual representations that document events or people.
Artifacts and Objects: Physical objects, such as tools and artworks, that have historical significance.
Audiovisual Material: Audio and visual recordings of events, speeches, and other historical moments.
"Significant historical documents can be deeds, laws, accounts of battles (often given by the victors or persons sharing their viewpoint), or the exploits of the powerful."
"Though these documents are of historical interest, they do not detail the daily lives of ordinary people, or the way society functioned."
"Anthropologists, historians, and archaeologists generally are more interested in documents that describe the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, indicating what they ate, their interaction with other members of their households and social groups, and their states of mind."
"Greek ostraka provide good examples of historical documents from 'among the common people'."
"Many documents that are produced today, such as personal letters, pictures, contracts, newspapers, and medical records, would be considered valuable historical documents in the future."
"However, most of these will be lost in the future since they are either printed on ordinary paper which has a limited lifespan, or even stored in digital formats, then lost track over time."
"Some companies and government entities are attempting to increase the number of documents that will survive the passage of time, by taking into account the preservation issues."
"...either printing documents in a manner that would increase the likelihood of them surviving indefinitely, or placing selected documents in time capsules or other special storage environments."