Calceology

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/calceology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the academic discipline?Calceology is the study of footwear, with a focus on historical artifacts
2. What is the core components?Includes examination, registration, research, and conservation of historical shoes
3. Why do scientists study old shoes?Scientists study old shoes to learn about the people who wore them. Shoes show how people moved, what jobs they had, and how rich or poor they were. They also reveal how trade and technology changed shoe design.
4. How do old shoes tell us about the past?By looking at the materials, shape, and wear on old shoes, researchers can see what the ground was like, what the weather was, and what people did. The size and style can tell if a person was a farmer, a soldier, or a king.

Material Culture: The physical objects, resources, and spaces that people use to define their culture.
Socio-cultural History: The study of how society and culture have changed over time.
Pre-industrial Shoemaking: The methods and techniques used to create shoes before the widespread use of machinery.