What are we studying?

• ToK (Theory of Knowledge) explores how we know what we know. In relation to history, it looks at the connection between personal knowledge and shared knowledge.
• Think of it like this: Personal knowledge is the data saved on your personal laptop, while shared knowledge is the info available on the internet!

Definitions

• Personal Knowledge: Individual experiences, memories, and beliefs.
• Shared Knowledge: Common understanding within a group, society, or culture.

🎩 Historians & Shared Knowledge

• Historians play a big role in shaping our shared knowledge.

🔍 Example: Think of a historian as a popular YouTuber. Their videos (or in this case, writings) can influence the way millions view a particular event, like how a catchy YouTube video can become a trend.

🤔 Shared Knowledge & Our Identity

• The collective knowledge we share helps in shaping our personal identity.

🔍 Example: Listening to a specific type of music because it's popular in your culture can become a part of who you are.

• Key Concept: History isn't always black and white. It has multiple interpretations. Just like two film critics might view a movie differently, historians can interpret events differently.

🔍 Real-World Example: The Boston Tea Party can be seen as a brave act of defiance by Americans or as a reckless act of vandalism by the British.