Family tree - where we come from, what we are like
create a family tree that will allow us to discover the secrets of our families. Family tree - where we come from, what we are like.
Why are we the way we are and not the other? Why do we inherit different traits from our siblings? On what basis does our dad say "dad" to grandpa? These questions are asked not only by philosophers and scientists, but sooner or later each of us. We can get to know our loved ones in many ways - by talking to them and about them, undertaking joint activities, visiting and helping each other. To get to know your family, we can also create a family tree that will allow us to discover the secrets of our families. Family tree - where we come from, what we are like.
What does genealogy do?
Genealogy is one of the areas of history that studies family ties between people. It focuses on the kinship and affinity between them. The genealogist is working on identifying these family relationships. This is a person who is either professionally examining family ties, or an amateur who wants to get information about his loved ones.
It discovers selected families and families, their origins, mutual family relations, as well as the fate of individual members. In order to illustrate the relationships between them, he creates a family tree, commonly known as an array of descendants of a given person. The first tablet of this type was created in the Bible period and showed the descendants of Jesse in the book of Isaiah. In the painting, Jesse's ancestors are the roots of the tree, and the descendants are the branches and leaves.
Ancestry table
The table of ancestors (tree, chart, list of ancestors) includes all ancestors of a given person, both on the sword (i.e. in the male line) and on the distaff (i.e. in the female line). Often, in the early years of school, our children make the simplest version of it, which shows their siblings, parents and grandparents. They independently create charts with photos of their loved ones, define their kinship, and sometimes write down the date and place of birth. This first simple chart is a great introduction to family history. During the work on the tree, together with the children, we have the opportunity to talk with our loved ones and obtain information about parents and grandparents. We learn who they are, where they work, what they like to do, what are their passions. If we are more interested in our family roots, we should check how far we can look into the past and how many generations back we are able to get to know.
How to make your family tree?
The first attempt to create a family tree is easy. It's a simple graphical diagram with us either at the top or the bottom. On the Internet, we can find many programs that will help us create a chart. Using them, we will quickly and efficiently add new windows and fill them with the data of our family members. We can also use more extensive programs, such as Family Tree Builder. This application is used by millions of people around the world and allows you to create a family tree with photos and archives. If we want to enter many people into our family tree, we will often have a lot of work and research, but sometimes we will be surprised and surprised at what we discover.
Where to find information?
We usually know our grandparents, sometimes great-grandparents. That is why we must first of all ask them about as many details as possible from the history of our family. We should find old photos and find out who is depicted on them. We can also browse through family mementos and documents and find out about their stories and secrets.
If we want to search wider and deeper, if our family members do not know something or do not remember certain facts, we should consult other sources. They are mainly state archives - many of them are available online today.
In our research, we most often use the retrogressive method - we find or reconstruct unknown, earlier facts on the basis of known later facts. Therefore, when creating our family tree, it is worth using the help of people who already have experience in searching for historical information. On the Internet, we find many websites where people exchange tips, helping each other find relatives. It teaches how to search for your ancestors, how to share family and local history, and organizes workshops for adults and children.
Today we do such research and create family trees mainly to satisfy our curiosity. But until recently, an ancestral history of noble descent (3 to 5 generations) was required for joining many knightly orders or elite assemblies.
Are you ready for who you are?
Searching for your own roots is an extremely fascinating adventure that allows you to better understand who we are and where we come from. When starting it, however, we must be prepared to find surprising information that can radically change our perception of ourselves and our family. Especially if we use genetic genealogy based on the study of our DNA. On the Internet, we can watch a video that shows how people react to the information received: Probably not so much, although getting to know our own family thoroughly will for many of us become a fascinating adventure and journey through several hundred years of turbulent history.
