Which is the best example of historical inquiry?

Question

using art from ancient Roman buildings to determine which emperor built the Colosseum
using pottery found by archeologists to determine how weather impacted crops in ancient Rome
using letters from ancient Roman senators to learn about how the government of Rome changed
using ancient Greek descriptions of naval battles to explain how Romans conquered other people

Answer 1

The best example of historical inquiry among the options provided is:

using letters from ancient Roman senators to learn about how the government of Rome changed.

This option involves analyzing primary source documents (letters) to gain insights into the political changes and governance of ancient Rome, which is a key aspect of historical inquiry. It allows for a direct examination of the thoughts and perspectives of individuals who were directly involved in the political landscape of the time, making it a rich source for understanding historical developments.