Question

Read the passage about the volcanic eruption at

Pompeii.
A cloud... was ascending, the appearance of which I
cannot give you a more exact description of than by
likening it to that of a pine tree, for it shot up to a great
height in the form of a very tall trunk, which spread itself
out at the top into a sort of branches.
-Letter to Cornelius Tacitus, Pliny the Younger
Why is the passage a primary source?
O It includes an interpretation by a historian.
O It was written by a well-respected historian.
O It includes a detailed description of the event.
O It was written by someone who witnessed the event.

Answer 1

The passage is a primary source because it was written by someone who witnessed the event. Pliny the Younger, the author of the letter, was an eyewitness to the volcanic eruption at Pompeii. This makes the account a firsthand, original source of information about the event as it occurred during that time. Primary sources provide direct evidence and insights into historical events, making them valuable for historians and researchers.

Step-by-step explanation: