Final answer:
Historians use two main types of resources: primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original materials from the period being studied, while secondary sources analyze and interpret the primary information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two basic kinds of resources available to historians are primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are original materials such as government documents, diaries, photographs, and artifacts that come directly from the period under study. They provide a direct link to the past and are invaluable because they offer rich details and insights about the time period. Secondary sources, on the other hand, include writings like biographies, academic articles, and history books that interpret and analyze primary sources. These sources put events into context, helping to understand the historical narrative constructed by later generations. Historians scrutinize both kinds of sources, considering authorship, context, and intent to develop accurate interpretations of past events.