Final answer:
The period with written records is known as history, a designation based on the onset of written documentation that differentiates it from prehistory. Historians utilize both written and material culture sources to understand the past, with some regions having more complete histories due to abundant historical documents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The period from which we have written records is indeed referred to as history. This designation is true because history, as a discipline, traditionally begins with the advent of writing, marking the transition from prehistory to history proper. Written texts are crucial as they provide concrete evidence of past human thoughts, laws, and civilizational milestones. These records enable historians to construct narratives about past societies, cultures, and events.
However, written records are not the only source historians rely on. Material culture, such as artifacts, architecture, and art, also informs our understanding of the past, and it is particularly important for studying societies that existed before the emergence of writing or those that have left few written records.
It is worth noting that some regions of the world, like Europe and China, have more complete histories due to an abundance of historical documents. Civilizations across the Middle East and India also benefit from rich textual histories. In contrast, regions like Africa and Latin America have less complete historical records due to a comparative scarcity of ancient writings.
Critical to understanding history is the awareness that even textual sources may have biases or inaccuracies, necessitating a careful and critical approach to all sources—written and material alike. The context of sources, their corroboration, and the broader historical framework they fit within are essential to constructing accurate historical narratives. Despite the challenges of interpretation and gaps in the record, each new discovery contributes to a more detailed and nuanced understanding of human history.