Reading Ancient Texts/Documents

For many ancient documents, you're lucky if you can determine a small percentage of what's listed below.

When

  1. When was the text written?
  2.  Is the information in the document referring to the time the document was written or times before the document was written?

Where

  1. Where was the document written?
  2. What, if any, location does it refer to?

Who

  1. Who wrote it?  
    1. Do the contents say anything about the author? 
    2.  Does the document tell you the authors place in society?  Can you figure it out from clues in the document?
  2. Who was the audience? Who was it written for?  
    1. How do you know the intended audience?    Does it say so? By the type of document?  
    2. Does the document tell you anything about the audience? Does the nature of the audience have anything to do with how it was written?

How

  1. How was it written?
    1. What script or writing system?
    2. What kind of writing materials? (Both writing instrument and surface)
    3. Is the language formal or informal? 
  2. How was it found? Is there a provenance? What difference does this make?

Why

  1. Why was the text produced? For a special occasion? To keep a record? Another reason? 
  2. Why did the author write this text? To persuade? To inform? Something else?

What

  1. What kind of text is it? Business? Religious? Diplomatic? Other? 
  2. What point is the author trying to make or what issue is s/he addressing? 
  3. What values or beliefs does the text reflect?

What other types of evidence could you use to support your conclusions?