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Year 7 History Examination Worksheet
Year 7 History Examination Worksheet
In order to study for this test you need to go through the activities and notes in your books. This
revision sheet is meant as a guide only.
Investigating History
What is History?
Broadly, history includes the study of all peoples of past times and places. Historians consider the motives of individuals and cultures regarding
the things that people do and why they do them. Historians also consider the actions of individuals and societies and the consequences. This is
a very general description.
Study task 1: Read pages 4 and 5 of the text book. Complete Check Your Understanding questions 2, 3, 4, and 5 on page 5.
Study task 2: Read pages 6 and 7 of your text. Complete Check Your Understanding questions 1 and 2 on page 7.
Organising Historical Events
To understand the past we need to be able to work out when events occurred, the order in which they occurred. To do this we need to
understand the different ways that people divide and measure time.
· Chronological order – this means putting events in the order in which they occurred. If you draw a timeline of your life from your
birth up until now, you are putting the events into chronological order.
· Dividing time – historians have different ways of dividing time. Sometimes they give names to periods of time according to
particular characteristics, like the Stone Age which was characterized by the stone tools that have been identified from that time
(think also of the Bronze Age and the Iron Age). These three periods all belong to what historians call the prehistoric period.
Sometimes time is divided according to the name of the person or family who ruled an area during a certain time period – think of
some of the dynasties of Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. You need to understand the different historical periods and be able
to name these. You have a worksheet in your books that details all of this information.
· Starting points for counting time – in Australia we are used to think of time the way that Christians have organised it. As a result
the date used as a starting point is a religious one – the birth of Jesus Christ. Years before this event have been labeled Before Christ
(BC) and all the years since his birth are labeled ‘Anno Domini’ – this is Latin for ‘In the Year of Our Lord’. We abbreviate this to
AD. This means that this year – 2005 – is 2005 years after the birth of Christ. So, the BC/AD system is based on Christian beliefs
and this could be seen as disrespectful to people of other beliefs. Some historians address this problem by using different labels –
they use Before Common Era (BCE) instead of BC, and they use Common Era (CE) instead of AD.
Study task 3: Refer to pages 8 and 9 of your text book. Complete Check your Understanding questions 1, 2 and 4 on page 9.
Sources
History is essentially detective work. The word ‘history’ comes from the Greek work historia which meant both ‘learning by enquiry’ and
‘narrative’ (story). Historians ask questions, collect information, and search for clues that might produce evidence. The historian finds clues in
those things that provide information about people’s experiences of life in the past. These could be a tool, a diary extract, a painting, an official
document, an interview etc etc. Things that people make or alter (eg: weapons, tools, ornaments) are called artefacts and these are valuable
sources of historical information. Sources are written and nonwritten items that help us understand past events and people.
Study task 4: Look at Source 1.1.1 on page 5 of your text book and consider all of the different forms of sources. List 3 other things that could
be used as sources.
There are two main types of sources:
· Primary sources – a primary source is one created during the period that the historian is investigating. For example, if an historian
was studying education in the twenty first century then your history textbook would be a primary source because it was created in the
twenty first century.
· Secondary sources – a secondary source is one created after the period that the historian is investigating. For example if an historian
was studying education in Ancient Egypt then your history textbook would be a secondary source because the information in it about
this topic was created after that period of history.
Study task 5: Read pages 1013 of your text book. Complete Check your Understanding questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Asking Historical Questions and Hypothesising
Stage 1: Historians usually begin their investigations by trying to identify what is already known about a particular event, person, or period of
time. To guide their research they begin with the typical open questions of:
What happened? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? When did it happen? How did it happen? Who did it?
Stage 2: Next, an historian will try to formulate ideas that might answer these questions. Such an idea is called a Hypothesis. The historian
will constantly test and revise their hypothesis as sources shed new light upon their enquiry.
World Heritage Site and UNESCO
A World Heritage Site is a site of natural or cultural importance and is listed by the World Heritage Commission.
Study task 6: Read pages 245 of your text. Describe the role of UNESCO in preserving heritage.
Definitions
You need to be able to write down key definitions. These could include:
Evidence Conservation Evidence Anachronism Memoir
artefact Primary source Secondary source age World Heritage site
Study task 7: Read the glossary terms on p. 3 and have another person test you on the definitions.
Ancient Egypt
Terms Definition/ Details Text book pages and study activities
Civilisation A town based society with complex forms of art, science, 8. Consider source 2.1.1 on page 28. From this source
religion and government. Your study of Ancient Egypt has describe some of the unique elements of this
centred around the everyday life of people in this civilization. civilization.
You have considered its social structure and government, its
religious beliefs, and its economy
Canopic jar This is a pottery jar used to store the intestines, liver, lungs and 9. Read pages 4243. Consider source 2.7.1, read the
stomach of a preserved body. These are important in the instructions for carrying out the mummification
process of mummification. process, and identify the canopic jars in the artist’s
impression. Complete Check your understanding
questions 1, 2, 3.
Papyrus This is a plant growing along the Nile River. It is dried and 10. For whom was papyrus one of their major working
made into flattened strips upon which to write. tools?
Afterlife The time of life after death. This was part of the ancient 11. Read pages 4243. What processes did the Ancient
Egyptians’ spiritual beliefs. Egyptians believe prepared a body to live a similar way
in the afterlife? Describe these in point form.
Deity A deity is a god or goddess. 12. Consider source 2.6.3 on page 41. Complete
Check your understanding questions 1 and 2.
Dynasty A dynasty can refer to a family of rulers, and the period of time 13. Read about Egyptian dynasties on page 33 of your
that a family remained in power. text.
Hieroglyphics This is an ancient Egyptian written language that uses 14. Read pages 4647 of your text. If you have time
hieroglyphs which are picture like symbols. complete Using Sources activity 3.
Delta This is a geographical term. It refers to the area where a river 15. Refer to pages 3031. Why was the Nile Delta so
splits into separate streams or rivers before flowing into the sea. valuable to the Egyptians?
Mummification This is the process of preserving bodies by drying them, 16. See 9, above.
packing them with minerals after the removal of certain internal
organs, and them wrapping them in linen cloths.
Embalming This is involved in mummification. It is the process of 17. See 9. above.
preserving a dead body by using spices and salts.
Vizier The vizier was an important person in the society of Ancient 18. Refer to source 2.4.1. Where would you locate the
Egypt. They took responsibility for the pharaoh’s government vizier in this pyramid diagram?
and they were the chief judge.
Temple This is a religious place, often a large building, where people 19. Read pages 4041. Where were temples located in
went to worship their god/s. Ancient Egypt?
Pharaoh The word means ‘great house’ and it was used to refer to the 20. Read pages 3233. Complete Check your
ruler of Egypt in ancient times. Understanding questions 15.
Irrigation When you irrigate dry land you bring water to it. 21. Read page 30. What purpose did the irrigation
channels serve?
Scribes A scribe was employed to make written records. 22. Read page 35. Why were scribes essential in
Ancient Egypt?
Sphinx The sphinx is a statue with a human head and a lion’s body. 23. Read page 40. Where is the most famous sphinx
located?
Amulet A magic charm often used in the journey to the afterlife 24. See 11 above
Key Areas for Study: You should revisit the following text book pages. If you have not already done so, you might work through the ‘Check
your Understanding’ questions in each of the following sections:
Section Text Book pages
· Origins of Ancient Egyptian Society 2829
· The importance of the Nile River – the seasons 3031
· Egyptian social structure – the social pyramid 3237
· Everyday life in Ancient Egypt 3437
· Religious beliefs and Death Magic and Mummies 4043
· Ancient Egypt’s legacy to the World Cultural Heritage – 4851
world heritage, the pyramids, & treasure from
Tutankhamen’s tomb
Interpreting sources: The exam will provide you with various sources from which you will make interpretations and answer questions. You
might like to prepare for this by answering some of the ‘Using sources’ questions in the above sections!!!!
Information Report: You will be required to compose an information report within the exam. This is to be on the topic that you used for your
assignment. These topics are outlined in the box below. Study this material and practice writing a report.
v A pharaoh of your v The flood cycle of v The internal & external v Egyptian v Contact with other societies
choice the Nile features of the tombs food & and hieroglyphs
v An Egyptian god The internal & external v Egyptian government, fashion v The features and locations of
of your choice features of the pyramids law & order v Egyptian important places in Ancient
fashion Egypt
Good Luck – see your teacher if you have any questions!!!