Question

Discuss the problem of discovering the histories of silent peoples, such as the victims of the transatlantic slave trade, or societies that have relied primarily on oral tradition,

Answer 1

Discovering the histories of silent peoples, such as the victims of the transatlantic slave trade or societies that have relied primarily on oral tradition, is a challenge for historians due to the lack of written records. However, historians have made great strides in studying history 'from the bottom up' by focusing on the lives of marginalized groups.

Step-by-step explanation:

Discovering the histories of silent peoples, such as the victims of the transatlantic slave trade or societies that have relied primarily on oral tradition, is a challenge for historians due to the lack of written records. However, historians have made great strides in studying history 'from the bottom up' by focusing on the lives of marginalized groups. They use various sources such as church records, newspapers, court hearings, and oral histories to shed light on the experiences of these overlooked communities.

in the field of social history, scholars have used court hearings to hear the testimonies of people from all backgrounds, including the poor and illiterate, providing valuable insights into their lives. Similarly, the study of oral histories has become important in understanding the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous peoples. Oral histories not only offer moral and ethical lessons but also document historic events and explain natural phenomena. These stories have been passed down through generations and have provided valuable knowledge for at least thousands of years.

Answer 2

When there are silent people, like slaves who didn't write their stories down, learning the history of these people is relied on oral histories. These come in the form of stories and tales, some passed down for generations. The problem with this is that an oral story is always open to embellishment and modification, it is nearly impossible to fact check it. It has to be very cautiously used, and often times other sources must be used to fact check its accuracy when possible.