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Turn your history readings into a mind map of historical sources

Upload a chapter, lecture slides, or photos of class notes. Get an editable mind map that sorts primary, secondary, and material sources into branches you can explore.

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How a sources of history mind map helps you study

A mind map of the sources of history helps you keep primary and secondary material straight before an exam, especially when one unit mixes letters, speeches, and textbook chapters under a single heading.

  • Primary sources: created during the period being studied, such as diaries, letters, and official records
  • Secondary sources: analysis written later by historians, such as textbooks and journal articles
  • Material sources: artifacts, buildings, and physical remains that show how people lived
  • Oral sources: interviews and recorded testimony, which need checking against documents
Example history source types for a study mind map
Primary sourcesFirsthand accounts · Letters and diaries · Photographs and artifacts · Official records
Secondary sourcesWritten after the event · Textbooks and encyclopedias · Historians' analyses · Documentaries
Source evaluationAuthorship and purpose · Date and context · Bias and audience · Corroboration with other sources
Written sourcesGovernment documents · Newspapers · Personal correspondence · Legal codes
Oral and material sourcesInterviews and oral histories · Archaeological remains · Buildings and tools · Coins and textiles
Generate the full set

Primary and secondary sources sorted

Each branch shows whether a source was made during the period or written later, so you can see how distance from events shapes its evidence.

Editable branches

Rename, move, or add nodes after generation so the map matches the readings and terms your course uses.

Explorable structure

Collapse and expand branches to study one source type at a time, then return to the full map before an exam.

How it works

Upload your reading

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes, or a photo of a textbook page.

Generate the map

DeckOwl groups the material into branches for source types, examples, and questions to ask about each source.

Edit and study

Adjust the layout, then turn key nodes into flashcards or a quiz to test how well you can tell sources apart.

Historians sort evidence by how close the source is to the event and why it was created. A map that branches by type, date, and purpose makes those comparisons visible at a glance, so you can explain why two accounts of the same event disagree.

Start with your own course readings rather than a generic outline. Your map will then reflect the sources your instructor actually assigned and the questions they tend to ask about them.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between primary and secondary sources in history?

Primary sources are created during the period you are studying, such as diaries, letters, or official records. Secondary sources interpret those materials later, like textbooks and journal articles.

How should I study the sources of history for an exam?

Group sources by type, then ask who made each one, when, and why. Practice explaining the purpose and possible bias of each source, not only its name.

Can I export the mind map?

Exporting is a paid feature. Plus includes PDF and DOCX export, while the free plan lets you study in the browser only.

Is there a free plan?

Yes, the free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser. No credit card is needed to start.

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