History Chapter 01: Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years

When historians read documents, maps and texts from the past they have to be sensitive to the different historical backgrounds - the contexts - in which information about the past was produced.

Historians use different types of sources to learn about the past depending upon the period of their study and the nature of their investigation. The number and variety of textual records increased dramatically during this period.

The study of the thousand years between 700 and 1750 is a huge challenge to historians largely because of the scale and variety of developments that occurred over the period. This was also a period of great mobility. Groups of people travelled long distances in search of opportunity.

By 700 many regions already possessed distinct geographical dimensions and their own language and cultural characteristics. They were also associated with specific ruling dynasties. There was considerable conflict between these states.