Chapter 1: The Tools of History

The Internet offers a range of social studies resources, including Web sites of museums, government agencies, educational institutions, and the news media. Listed below are links to some outstanding ancient history Web sites. Use them to learn more about the themes, ideas, and events in the lessons and the Connect to Today feature in this chapter.

Lesson 1: The World's Geography

Human and Physical Geography: This site contains an overview of the main features of human and physical geography, including the five themes, climate, and landforms, in text with illustrations. Prepared by the Oswego City School District in New York.; http://regentsprep.org/Regents/global/themes/geography/index.cfm

Lesson 2: How Maps Help Us Study History

Elements Found on Most Maps: A University of Colorado site that includes information about elements common to most maps, and about the functions of different types of maps.; http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/cartocom/elements.html

Lesson 3: How Archaeologists Study the Past

Archaeology: A Step-by-Step Process: Site from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum in Virginia gives a detailed description of the five steps archaeologists follow in their work.; http://oha.ci.alexandria.va.us/archaeology/ar-programs-atwork.html

Welcome to the Stone Ages: A virtual museum exhibit on the life of late Stone Age hunter-gatherers in Britain and Europe, from the Museum of Antiquities at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in England.; http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/flint/menu.html

Lesson 4: How Historians Study the Past

You Be the Historian: This National Museum of American History site allows students to conduct their own step-by-step history investigation.; http://americanhistory.si.edu/kids/springer/

The Historian's Sources: The Library of Congress presents a detailed description of primary and secondary sources and includes activities.; http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/psources/source.html

Connect to Today: Navigation and the Global Positioning System

What is a GPS? How does it work?: Facts about the Global Positioning System, from the Library of Congress.; http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/global.html

Global Positioning System: A detailed overview of the Global Positioning System, in text and illustrations.; http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html

How a Sextant Works: A description and graphics that explain how a sextant works.; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton/navigate/escapeworks.html