What is sourcing in history?

Sourcing in history refers to the process of evaluating and verifying the reliability of historical sources. Historians use sourcing to determine the credibility and accuracy of primary sources, such as documents, manuscripts, letters, and artifacts, as well as secondary sources, such as books, articles, and research papers.

There are several factors that historians consider when sourcing a historical document or artifact, including the author's perspective and bias, the date and context in which the source was created, the intended audience, and the verifiability of the information provided. Historians also pay attention to the provenance of a source, or its chain of custody and ownership, to ensure its authenticity.

Sourcing is a crucial aspect of historical research and writing, as it helps historians to distinguish between reliable sources and unreliable sources, and to construct an accurate and nuanced understanding of the past. By critically analyzing and evaluating historical sources, historians can avoid inaccuracies, misinformation, and biases in their interpretations of historical events and contexts.