Classics from Literature and History

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head><link rel="preload" fetchpriority="high" as="image" href="https://www.infoplease.com/sites/infoplease.com/files/styles/webp_image/public/inline-images/Primary-Sources.jpg.webp" /> <link rel="preload" as="image" href="https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/images/logo-white.svg"> <link rel="preload" as="image" href="https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/images/search.png"> <link rel="preload" as="image" href="https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/images/mag-glass.svg"> <script> /*@shinsenter/defer.js*/ !function(r,i,t){var u,o=/^data-(.+)/,a='IntersectionObserver',c=/p/.test(i.readyState),s=[],f=s.slice,l='lazied',e='load',n='pageshow',d='forEach',h='hasAttribute',m='shift';function v(e){i.head.appendChild(e)}function p(e,n){f.call(e.attributes)[d](n)}function y(e,n,t,o){return o=(o=n?i.getElementById(n):o)||i.createElement(e),n&&(o.id=n),t&&(o.onload=t),o}function b(e,n){return f.call((n||i).querySelectorAll(e))}function I(t){b('source',t)[d](I),p(t,function(e,n){(n=o.exec(e.name))&&(t[n[1]]=e.value)}),e in t&&t[e]()}function g(e){u(function(o){o=b(e||'[type=deferjs]'),function e(n,t){(n=o[m]())&&(n.parentNode.removeChild(n),(t=y(n.nodeName)).text=n.text,p(n,function(e){'type'!=e.name&&(t[e.name]=e.value)}),t.src&&!t[h]('async')?(t.onload=t.onerror=e,v(t)):(v(t),e()))}()})}(u=function(e,n){c?t(e,n):s.push(e,n)}).all=g,u.js=function(n,t,e,o){u(function(e){(e=y('SCRIPT',t,o)).src=n,v(e)},e)},u.css=function(n,t,e,o){u(function(e){(e=y('LINK',t,o)).rel='stylesheet',e.href=n,v(e)},e)},u.dom=function(e,n,t,o,i){function c(e){o&&!1===o(e)||(I(e),t&&(e.className+=' '+t))}u(function(t){t=a in r&&new r[a](function(e){e[d](function(e,n){e.isIntersecting&&(n=e.target)&&(t.unobserve(n),c(n))})},i),b(e||'[data-src]')[d](function(e){e[h](l)||(e.setAttribute(l,''),t?t.observe(e):c(e))})},n)},u.reveal=I,r.Defer=u,r.addEventListener('on'+n in r?n:e,function(){for(g();s[0];t(s[m](),s[m]()))c=1})}(this,document,setTimeout); </script> <script> window.ramp = window.ramp || {}; window.ramp.que = window.ramp.que || []; </script> <script async src="//cdn.intergient.com/1022050/69785/ramp_config.js"></script> <script> window._pwGA4PageviewId = ''.concat(Date.now()); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.gtag = window.gtag || function () { dataLayer.push(arguments); }; gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-0DSNBPN98G', { 'send_page_view': false }); gtag( 'event', 'ramp_js', { 'send_to': 'G-0DSNBPN98G', 'pageview_id': window._pwGA4PageviewId } ); </script> <script> var current_date = 2024-11-21; var current_year = 2024; var current_day = 21; var current_month = 11; </script> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <script> var zflag_nid="305", zflag_cid="48112/41562/1", zflag_sid="4677", zflag_width="1", zflag_height="1", zflag_sz="15";</script> <meta name="description" content="Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That's why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. " /> <meta name="abstract" content="Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That's why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. " /> <meta name="referrer" content="no-referrer" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="InfoPlease" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.infoplease.com/primary-sources" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Primary Sources" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That's why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. " /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/images/og_logo_pos.jpg" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2017-02-28T06:44:08-05:00" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <style>div#sliding-popup, div#sliding-popup .eu-cookie-withdraw-banner, .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab {background: #0779bf} div#sliding-popup.eu-cookie-withdraw-wrapper { background: transparent; } #sliding-popup h1, #sliding-popup h2, #sliding-popup h3, #sliding-popup p, #sliding-popup label, #sliding-popup div, .eu-cookie-compliance-more-button, .eu-cookie-compliance-secondary-button, .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab { color: #ffffff;} .eu-cookie-withdraw-tab { border-color: #ffffff;}</style> <script type="application/ld+json">{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "headline": "Primary Sources", "name": "Primary Sources", "description": "Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That\u0027s why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. ", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "representativeOfPage": "True", "url": "https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/logo.png", "width": "2582", "height": "1722" }, "datePublished": "2017-02-28T06:44:08-0500", "dateModified": "2022-03-24T16:48:12-0400", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.infoplease.com", "name": "Infoplease" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.infoplease.com", "name": "Infoplease", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.infoplease.com/themes/ip/logo.png", "width": "280", "height": "100" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.infoplease.com/primary-sources", "articleBody": "The Boston Public Library is the oldest major public library in the U.S., and the third largest after the LOC and NYPL. Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That\u0027s why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. Books \u0026 PlaysEntering the modern age, books supplanted many oral traditions as they became cheap to produce. This revolution in reading is one of the biggest changes of modernity, contributing to the Reformation and the Enlightenment. Infoplease has collected several influential books and plays, many of which are staples of modern culture. Fables \u0026 FairytalesFables and fairy tales are two of the most common types of folklore, both of which typically take the form of short stories. Fables are particularly short, and are used to share a moral or belief, while fairy tales can be longer and typically involve fantastic elements like giants and trolls. Infoplease has collected some of the world\u0027s most recognized fables and fairy tales for you to peruse.GovernmentIn law and government, primary sources are vitally important; they are quite literally the letter of the law by which governments operate. We\u0027ve gathered here a bevy of sources about law and government in the U.S. and internationally, to better inform readers about how and why governments do what they do. History \u0026 BiographyThese personal accounts of history and these historic accounts of persons inform us about the society we live in—where we\u0027ve come from and where we\u0027re going. Infoplease has gathered some influential books in U.S. history. These books caused a stir in their own time and left a legacy that continues to the modern day. Philosophy \u0026 ReligionFor our own part, we like to boil it down that philosophy is the study of what stuff is, how he know, and what we should do about it. Religion, from the Latin religare (\u0022to bind [together]\u0022), is in that way similar to philosophy, and the two tend to overlap quite often—Many of our philosophical beliefs are influenced by our religious beliefs, and vice versa. Here at Infoplease, we\u0027ve gathered some of history\u0027s most influential religious and philosophical texts for you to study.PoetryPoetry is arguably the oldest written art form that we have records of, dating back thousands of years. The earliest poem we still have largely intact is the Epic of Gilgamesh, composed in ancient Sumer. Here at Infoplease, we\u0027ve collected a range of works from highly influential and important Western poets, all of whom are staples of art and education in the United States. Don\u0027t forget that April is National Poetry Month, when we appreciate the rich history of poetry and the awesome stuff poets are making today. Speeches \u0026 EssaysWhat is a primary source?According to UC Irvine, \u0022Primary sources are documents, images or artifacts that provide firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning an historical topic under research investigation.\u0022 For example, a Roman citizen\u0027s account of Rome during his lifetime would be a primary source. In literature, a primary source means the original text you\u0027re talking about. If you\u0027re talking about the Bible, your primary source is the Bible. (For the curious, Infoplease is a tertiary source. Secondary sources are analyses of primary sources, like essays. Tertiary sources compile information from primary and secondary sources. Other tertiary sources include print encyclopedias and textbooks.)See also:Brewer\u0027s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "breadcrumb": "Yes" } ] }</script> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/ip/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.infoplease.com/primary-sources" /> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];var j=d.createElement(s);var dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl+'';j.async=true;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-NBS6K3');</script> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large" /> <title>Classics from Literature and History</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" 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data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="26d1626f-a7f9-4b2d-bda0-a19182b3b878" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">U.S.<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="c4049b03-08d3-4f01-afb6-c07cb304fef6" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us" target=""> U.S. Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="11f654b6-17f6-40df-854c-fe1296ea413b" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/cities" target=""> Cities </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="927a27e3-bbed-4715-8212-18b1584a403e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/primary-sources/government" target=""> U.S. Documents </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="af8b257b-83f4-4e60-b30b-36c08a23975b" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/gender-sexuality" target=""> Gender Issues </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="0dcfb035-3eda-4f29-816b-466870f8a7bb" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/geography" target=""> Geography </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="9a41a5fe-7153-4201-a22a-4837e354487d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/government" target=""> Government </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="23258840-bc85-4fb0-bb88-ce0239aa0e1f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/current-events" target=""> News </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="faecca9a-42a4-49c4-a466-504b1b1d757a" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/military" target=""> Military </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b7a741f7-ccd0-45db-9d5d-e0311755e640" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history-and-government/us-historical-monuments" target=""> Monuments & Landmarks </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="a1522757-57d9-4011-8954-cf72e71a576e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/postal-information" target=""> Postal Information </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b0f03f17-f878-43df-b447-b46b5450ed4a" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/race" target=""> Race & Ethnicity </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7681b583-1195-42e1-a3ce-91f80e657ed5" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/states" target=""> States </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="59e82755-eb02-450d-81cf-dd9e5d00fd6f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/us/us-statistics" target=""> Statistics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="78a597de-29f1-4bc8-b0a7-6ed1c8e90bf2" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment" target=""> Arts & Entertainment </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="859fbbf0-ed65-484c-87d9-1ef9013fdeb0" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment/sports" target=""> Sports </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="e1bc4f50-e073-4d69-b307-abd57db40de1" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">History<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4b93647c-84fc-4a69-99c9-a421fd7559b4" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history" target=""> History Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="c56361ab-8d10-4c0c-83c7-251a5eb04a38" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/timeline-archive" target=""> Timelines </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="f6bdbafb-edc7-4fe9-b578-9cca0babbf51" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/world" target=""> World History </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7e9ce0c4-b34d-4021-a9a1-51b6f26f2a3f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/us" target=""> U.S. History </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4ad2a1d4-8110-45ff-864f-61a7e677915c" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/black-history" target=""> Black History Month </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="dbbab138-8121-4d5a-a022-8a8af6ff3073" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/hispanic-heritage" target=""> Hispanic Heritage Month </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="9646478f-f2ce-49e5-b90d-a26bc85f39d1" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/history/womens-history" target=""> Women's History Month </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span3" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="3" data-blocktitle="1" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="823c9906-9f40-4c10-8bb9-57da2519a641" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Math & Science<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="ad31b703-5dfd-4ea0-bea2-52aff8db39cc" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science" target=""> Math & Science Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="a924bf45-ec7b-4870-97a9-fc046d125d37" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/aviation" target=""> Aviation </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="0b4e7ad8-b50a-469c-934a-2f3e129fe476" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a 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data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="e906c067-e474-4ac3-b6fa-d158707529fd" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/inventions-discoveries" target=""> Inventions & Discoveries </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="1616d2b9-7d57-4980-9559-5bdc425e5e61" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/mathematics" target=""> Mathematics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="f306cda5-cdc9-476e-9d51-4e64af61e583" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/physics" target=""> Physics </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="37a433fe-ab89-4d18-b369-3ea72e8ad9fc" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/space" target=""> Space </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="92382932-5ad4-4351-832a-94d653aa683c" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/weather" target=""> Weather </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7aad6b27-5acb-4bac-8acf-be91c836bbb8" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/math-science/weights-measures" target=""> Weights & Measures </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="29a78c62-ce20-4f1e-bb70-da47b92141ae" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Calendar & Holidays<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="7ebfbf4a-de2b-460b-930f-1928372833d7" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars" target=""> Calendar & Holidays Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="4411d1bf-0883-4267-8759-11614e0f285f" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars/history" target=""> Calendars </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="d76efcb5-a742-4b6a-b14d-217d6d76e9ca" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/culture-entertainment/holidays" target=""> Holidays </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="56cc31b3-222b-448a-bf5c-bd325334323d" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendars/months-seasons" target=""> Seasons, Months, Days </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="fe1989d7-ce71-4b13-9848-4f86e931467e" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/calendar" target=""> Perpetual Calendar </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span3" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="3" data-blocktitle="1" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li dropdown-menu we-mega-menu-group" data-level="1" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="460bd358-e183-4af6-a30d-8c241e4f3651" data-submenu="1" hide-sub-when-collapse="0" data-group="1"> <span data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>" class="we-megamenu-nolink">Business<i class="arrow down"></i></span> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-submenu"> <div class="we-mega-menu-submenu-inner"> <div class="we-mega-menu-row" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-row" data-custom-row="0"> <div class="we-mega-menu-col span12" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-col" data-width="12" data-hidewhencollapse="0"> <ul class="nav nav-tabs subul"> <li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" data-element-type="we-mega-menu-li" data-id="b1311617-2ec4-4bde-804a-719134a89765" data-submenu="0" hide-sub-when-collapse="0"> <a class="we-mega-menu-li" title="" href="/business-and-finance" target=""> Business Overview </a> </li><li class="we-mega-menu-li" data-level="2" 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href="/">Home</a> > </li> <li> Primary Sources </li> </ol> </nav> <h1 class="page-title"><span>Primary Sources</span> </h1> <section class = "main-section col-sm-12" id="mainaside"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <article data-history-node-id="159689"> <figure role="group"><picture><source srcset="/sites/infoplease.com/files/styles/webp_image/public/inline-images/Primary-Sources.jpg.webp 1x" media="all and (min-width: 0em)" type="image/webp"><img alt="Primary Sources" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="200ea956-637a-4b27-aca0-c5133aaabd6d" src="/sites/infoplease.com/files/inline-images/Primary-Sources.jpg" style="width: 100%;" width="1200" height="600" /></picture><figcaption><em>The Boston Public Library is the oldest major public library in the U.S., and the third largest after the <a href="https://www.loc.gov/">LOC</a> and <a href="https://www.nypl.org/">NYPL</a>. </em></figcaption></figure><p>Sometimes you have to go straight to the source. That's why Infoplease has compiled some important books, poems, and documents for your reading pleasure. Discover firsthand some of the most famous texts in the world. </p> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/books-plays">Books & Plays</a></h3> <p>Entering the modern age, books supplanted many oral traditions as they became cheap to produce. This revolution in reading is one of the biggest changes of modernity, contributing to the Reformation and the Enlightenment. Infoplease has collected several influential books and plays, many of which are staples of modern culture. </p> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/fables-fairytales">Fables & Fairytales</a></h3> <p>Fables and fairy tales are two of the most common types of <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/arts/classical-lit/myths-folklore/folklore">folklore</a>, both of which typically take the form of short stories. Fables are particularly short, and are used to share a moral or belief, while fairy tales can be longer and typically involve fantastic elements like giants and trolls. Infoplease has collected some of the world's most recognized fables and fairy tales for you to peruse.</p> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/government">Government</a></h3> <p>In law and government, primary sources are vitally important; they are quite literally the letter of the law by which governments operate. We've gathered here a bevy of sources about law and government in the U.S. and internationally, to better inform readers about how and why governments do what they do. </p> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/history-biography">History & Biography</a></h3> <p>These personal accounts of history and these historic accounts of persons inform us about the society we live in—where we've come from and where we're going. Infoplease has gathered some influential books in U.S. history. These books caused a stir in their own time and left a legacy that continues to the modern day. </p> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/philosophy-religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></h3> <p>For our own part, we like to boil it down that philosophy is the study of what stuff is, how he know, and what we should do about it. Religion, from the Latin <em>religare </em>("to bind [together]"), is in that way similar to philosophy, and the two tend to overlap quite often—Many of our philosophical beliefs are influenced by our religious beliefs, and vice versa. Here at Infoplease, we've gathered some of history's most influential religious and philosophical texts for you to study.</p> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/poetry">Poetry</a></h3> <p>Poetry is arguably the oldest written art form that we have records of, dating back thousands of years. The earliest poem we still have largely intact is the Epic of Gilgamesh, composed in ancient <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/asia-africa/ancient-mid-east/sumer">Sumer</a>. Here at Infoplease, we've collected a range of works from highly influential and important Western poets, all of whom are staples of art and education in the United States. Don't forget that April is <a href="https://www.infoplease.com/national-poetry-month">National Poetry Month</a>, when we appreciate the rich history of poetry and the awesome stuff poets are making today. </p> <h3><a href="/primary-sources/speeches-essays">Speeches & Essays</a></h3> </div> </div> <h3>What is a primary source?</h3> <p>According to <a href="https://www.lib.uci.edu/what-are-primary-sources">UC Irvine</a>, "Primary sources are documents, images or artifacts that provide firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning an historical topic under research investigation." For example, a Roman citizen's account of Rome during his lifetime would be a primary source. In literature, a primary source means the original text you're talking about. If you're talking about the Bible, your primary source is the Bible. </p> <p>(For the curious, Infoplease is a tertiary source. Secondary sources are analyses of primary sources, like essays. Tertiary sources compile information from primary and secondary sources. Other tertiary sources include print encyclopedias and textbooks.)</p> <div class="see"><b>See also:</b> <ul><li>Brewer's <a href="/dictionary/brewers">Dictionary of Phrase and Fable</a></li> </ul></div> <div> <div class="field_old_url">.com/t/index.html</div> <div class="field_old_url">.com/t</div> </div> <div class="src-wrapper"> <div class="expand-src">Sources +</div> <div class="collapse-src hide"> <div><a href="/sources">Our Common Sources</a></div> </div> </div> </article> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-more-like-this-block-1"> <div class="see js-view-dom-id-0828b6c56348c1b0364ad209c522930ebe26eb707d3dabac5dd2184905290da6"> <div class="view-header"> <b>See also:</b> </div> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li><a href="/primary-sources/philosophy-religion">Philosophy & Religion</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block" id="block-views-block-most-popular-block-3"> <div class="home-most-popular 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