Historical interpretation is the process by which we describe, analyze, evaluate, and create an explanation of past events. ... Examples of primary sources include letters and diaries; government, church, and business records; oral histories; photographs, motion pictures, and videos; maps and land records; and blueprints."

Why is historical interpretation important?

Through interpretation, historians say what they believe the past means. They attempt to explain why and how things happened as they did and why particular elements in the past are important. To Carr, interpretation was the key to writing history.

Why are there different interpretations of history?

Interpretations differ because they are written for different audiences. Historians select information and when they write they can distort information to make their arguments stronger. Historians change their views when they discover new evidence.