What is the main difference between primary and secondary sources?

Question

Primary sources are written by modern historians, while secondary sources come from the past


Primary sources provide firsthand accounts, while secondary sources analyse or interpret historical events


Primary sources are only religious texts, while secondary sources are academic articles


There is no difference; both are used the same way

Answer 1

The main difference between primary and secondary sources is that primary sources provide firsthand accounts, while secondary sources analyze or interpret historical events.

Primary sources are original documents or evidence created at the time of the event being studied, such as diaries, letters, photographs, and official records. Secondary sources, on the other hand, are interpretations or analyses based on primary sources, such as textbooks, articles, and biographies.