This article comes as a result of the self-learning process I went through to understand what linked data is and how to use the semantic web model for collecting and organising my own historical data. In order to share this experience with a wider, non-specialised audience, I have written an introduction to the fundamental concepts behind the semantic model, accompanied by some brief reflections on their conceptual implications and examples on how to apply them to socio-historical data. In so doing, I wrote the introductory reflection that I wished I had known when I first heard the semantic web. The review of key concepts offers definitions for relational and linked data, graph database, RDF, semantic triple, vocabulary, ontology, and OWL. It is however a basic introduction, and it does not pretend to serve as a new contribution to the field or as a tutorial for learning how use RDF or OWL. Instead, it offers a beginner’s guide for students and researchers alike; it aims to show the reader where to start and what to expect.