Genealogy has been around since the beginning of human history. Originally, the family lineage was passed down through oral tradition and storytelling, and has been since ancient times. Family lineage began to be recorded on paper once the written word came about. Throughout history, different societies have traced origins in different ways, based upon the characteristics and traditions of those societies. For example, Native Americans trace their lineage differently than the ancient Greeks did; the ancient Greeks, for example, believed that they came from the gods. By medieval times, lineage became very important because it meant that land and title ownership was dutifully transferred to heirs.
Today, family trees can be made in many different forms, such that there are many different examples of family lineage formats. Choose the format that fits you best. For example, some people find it easier to follow a descendants' chart, which begins with the patriarch or matriarch at the top of the page and then branches downward to show the family descendants from that one individual. Another method is the ancestry chart. The ancestry chart begins with the newest generation at the bottom, and then branches upward and outward as more ancestors are uncovered. Charts can also branch from left to right.
You can also create themed trees. For example, you could include the descendants of a single figure in a tree, or you could include all the ancestors of a single individual. Or, your family lineage might trace your surname. There are trees that have been made to trace royal lineage. These particular trees are very fascinating, and also help place historical events properly, such as when members of one royal family married members of other royal families to expand empires.
One of the oldest family trees is that of Jesus Christ, which traced his genealogy back to Jesse, as it was depicted in a stained glass window in France's Chartres Cathedral, dating back to 1145. Among the first nonbiblical family trees to trace the entirety of family relationships, as compared to those constructed from strictly patriarchal lines, was the Genealogy of the Gods of the Gentiles, or Genealogia deorum gentilium, done by Boccaccio and dating back to 1360.
Confucius' family lineage is perhaps the largest known; Confucius lived from 551 to 479 B.C. This particular family tree includes 80 generations and boasts 2 million members. The Confucius Genealogy Compilation Committee has scheduled its next update for 2009. Today, there may still be over one million numbers living of this family throughout the world.
If looking at examples of very large and complex family trees threatens to overwhelm you, relax. Simply start with as many names and important dates for as many relatives as you can find, and then begin making your family lineage. You can do this in several different ways. For example, you can simply cut physical pieces of paper out with information on them and arrange them on poster board or paper. If you're good at drafting or drawing by hand, you can construct your family lineage by this method. Or, you can find sites on the Internet that have examples of family trees and templates that you can use for your own information. Then, you can generate your own family lineage online.
There are also professional family tree makers who will customize a family lineage for you with pictures, names and dates -- although this won't be free. That may take some of the fun out of it for you as well, because one of the most enjoyable parts of constructing family trees for many people is finding those names and dates, which can bring back old memories. Doing your own genealogical research can also strengthen bonds with family members. You can create your family lineage by hand, or you can do it on your computer and then later have a work of art made from it that you can probably display.
There are many websites out there that will help you create your own family tree. Simply type, "Make your own family tree" into Google, and you'll see just how many; in fact, there are over 40 million results for that one keyword phrase alone! Many of these sites are specifically meant for children, so that they can create their own family trees. Researching your own family lineage is never boring. Today's world is increasingly globally connected, and this makes genealogy research more rewarding, more productive, and easier, as those interested in genealogy post their own research on the Internet.
There is no right way to make a family tree; instead, there are many methods. Choose the method that makes the most sense and has the most meaning to you. Share the results of your research online, and you may just help someone else on the other side of the world discover who his or her ancestors are, too.
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Daniel K. Voyles is a genealogy enthusiast. For more great information on examples of family trees visit http://yourgenealogyhistory.com.
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