In order to know the meaning of the term timeline that concerns us now, we are going to proceed, first of all, to discover the etymological origin of the two main words that give it shape:
-Line derives from Latin, specifically from “lineus, linea” which can be translated as “linen”.
-Time, for its part, also derives from Latin. In your specific case we can establish that it comes from “tempus”, which is synonymous with “time”.
The notion of line has several uses. In this case we are interested in its meaning as a succession of elements that are located one after the other or one next to the other. The idea of time , meanwhile, refers to the duration of things or the ordering of events that allows establishing a present and, from it, a past and a future .
Starting from these definitions we can focus on the concept of timeline . This is the name given to the linear graph that is developed to order a series of events . With a timeline, it is easy to see the temporal link between events.
To create a timeline, the first step is to select events and identify their start and end dates. Then the events on the line must be displayed in their chronological order. It is important to respect a scale so that the graph is precise in its relationship with time: 1 centimeter , for example, can be equivalent to 1 year .
Traditionally, timelines were drawn on paper or cardboard . However, thanks to technology , digital timelines are now popular, and they are often even interactive.
What's more, we can establish that there are even computer applications and web pages that allow you to shape timelines in a free and easy way. This would be the case, for example, of Vennpage.
It is possible to create a timeline to reflect a person's life. Take the case of the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges . His timeline will begin in 1899 , when his birth occurred, and will include mentions of years such as 1923 (the publication of his first collection of poems), 1935 (the appearance of his first book of short stories) and 1979 (the obtaining of the Cervantes Prize ). , until ending in 1986 (his death).
Currently, in many educational centers, History teachers basically resort to using timelines with their students. They use them as resources to make them aware of the subject because they bring with them a significant series of advantages. Specifically, among the most significant are the following:
-It helps students quickly and visually understand the chronology of a certain stage or historical event.
-No less significant is the fact that it is considered a very appropriate tool to easily memorize significant events of any important historical period.
Based on the above, we can also point out that there are so-called family timelines. These are created with the clear objective of knowing the most recent history of a family through the births of its new members, the weddings of its members and even the deaths that have taken place within it.