Keeping historical records using written documents

Keeping historical records using written documents

The advent of technology has led to the availability of written historical information.

Different historical records have been kept in writing. These include:

1. letters
2. maps
3. diaries
4. pictures
5. newspapers
6. magazines
7. journals
8. books
9. meeting or conference minutes

Advantages of using written documents to keep records of historical events

There are several advantages of using written documents to keep historical records. Some of those advantages include the following:

1. Written records last longer.
2. Written information cannot be distorted easily because it is accessed in its original form.
3. Written records can be used to minimise the limitations of oral narratives.
4. They provide access to historical information to many literate people.
5. It is easy to translate written records into other languages.
6. It is not easy for the reader to change or add information as it is with oral narratives.

Challenges of using written documents to keep records of historical events

There are several challenges of using written historical information. Some of these challenges are as follows:

1. Illiterate people cannot read written information to get historical records.
2. The writing of historical documents such as books is time consuming and expensive.
3. Written records are open to multiple and sometimes contradictory interpretations depending on the perspective of the user. For example, different historians can use the same written records but interpret the facts differently.
4. It is difficult to correct written information if it is misleading.
5. Written records can be destroyed and lost due to disasters such as fires, floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes.