meaning of history and its importance essay

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The Meaning Of History And Its Importance

• Category History
• Topic What Is History

What is history? In this paper, we will talk about history and its importance, how it is compared and how historians use it to make us know our past and to understand our present and vice versa. Likewise, we will realize how history is a very useful tool for other sciences, for example, for astronomy, physics, chemistry, even religion, since it allows us to know important events or events that impact our present. We will also discuss what is history now? And an author whom we will be referring to is named Edward Hallett Carr who was a historian from the 1961 era, he defends a different story from the traditional narratives. Carr supported the idea that history was taught in higher education schools and it was achieved but then declined, in short everything that had to happen over forty years to come to conceive as the basis of history to research.

Defining the word ‘history’ is not an easy task, due to the importance of it; You cannot give a rigid definition as to other sciences such as physics or chemistry, history is not an exact science but must be defined clearly and eloquently. The work of the historian is also not an easy task thanks to the changing state of history, development, and sociological and mental advances. However, once the dedication to the study of this science is chosen, it must be carried out with precision, enthusiasm, and truthfulness. It is constantly thought that history is a science of the past, which seems a bit improper since its study provides us with an important help in the present, to better understand it and predict a future to come. In the past, there were events like eclipses, hailstorms, etc. That they were kept in people’s memory, however, the analysis and classification necessary to be part of the story were not carried out. History is a science that can create bridges of knowledge with other sciences, for example, astronomy, physics, geology, etc. therefore we can affirm that it is a multidisciplinary science. The object of history is essentially men, in the plural, hence the question arises: is history a science or an art? Over time, much has been discussed about this question, the most sensible perhaps would be to leave it at an intermediate point since it is a science to which we must devote some finesse in the language and how to transmit.

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We have already said that history is the ‘science of men’ this only needs to be added ‘in time’ since it is of the utmost importance to define the duration of events and their space in time. The historian is interested in the place where events took place and try to focus on that. The time of the story must be continuous but when there is an unmarked period try to establish a link of that period. The men in their investigations have taken the ‘past’ as their main theme to explain the present according to what happened in the past, using different techniques. Renán quotes: ‘In all human things origins deserve to be studied first of all.’ Although the term “origins-origin” can be confusing we have to clarify with a clear definition so that there are no ambiguities and there are not so many confusions other than explaining a beginning. A clear example is the study of the origins of the history of the Christian religion since this study has provided a certain value within other religions and has excelled thanks to these investigations; since being essentially a historical religion, its primordial dogmas are documented and analyzed. What this religious history tries to understand is because men believe in it the crucifixion and the resurrection. ‘A historical phenomenon can never be fully explained outside the study of its moment’; This means that we have to study our present to know the past, and the past to know our present.

The limits of the current and the actual. It is about making sense of the past with our present, taking into account that to know more about the history we have to understand the causes that triggered it.

It also tells us that we should not rely on false or erroneous sources because despite carrying out an investigation and analyzing it, we will create a false source and it will be of no use to understand a story. Some wise people think that the human presence is perfect for scientific knowledge but that they leave to other disciplines which their objective is the past to do the study of that same. since it is said that sociologists, economists, publicists; are the explorers of the living. To understand our present with the past we have to make a comparison since human conditions undergo rapid and total changes between generations. Errors about the causes of the past not only make us ignore it and prevent knowledge of the present, but we will repeat those same mistakes in the future.

For a change to occur, one could say that there should be a certain Indian line where parents will teach their children what their ancestors have left them but cannot have contact with them. The writings are a very useful tool to understand our past because they facilitate the transfers that constitute the continuity of a civilization. The incomprehension of the present is a cause of ignorance of the past. To interpret the rare documents and have an idea of ​​the history, the passage of the present has to be observed and analyzed. There is only one science of men in time and that science is what links the study of the dead with that of the living.

In 1961 Edward. H. Carr. In an attempt to answer the question: what is history now? First, the concepts of history and chronicle were stopped. For E. H. Carr, history was an attempt to understand and interpret the past, for this it was necessary to explain the past and the origin of things reasonably. Also according to the author (E. H. Carr), ‘the chronicle was mere cataloguing of the facts without any intention of establishing connections between them.’ In other words, it is a chronological arrangement of historical facts but without any connection between them. However (says Carr) that is important because it states that one event gives rise to another, but the historian had to explain these casualties. According to Carr, a historian he must be an excellent researcher and be objective, based on this he exposes the differences between a chronicler and a historian, the first only conceives a fact of the past as a simple historical fact and nothing else, instead, the historian must not only study the characteristics of that fact but should look further and contrast it with the present to realize what this event influenced in what we know today as the present. For Carr, the historian’s goal was to interpret the historical events of the past even if he did not have Theories of the present. Through this helps humanity to understand the present and build a future, in fact at this time in which he writes, for many the story was exciting since it is precisely the aforementioned. The author expressed his feeling concerning the aspect of history that was not taught and not only taught that of a single country but also those of other countries because they all influence the economic, political, social and cultural situations of others.

He fought because all this was a reality and he succeeded five years later when a curriculum was developed where the subject of history was included in the university, this was in favour of young historians in the sixties, but it should be mentioned that the young historians of the time had to be authentic and their work would have that being efficient and useful for the society in which they operate, that is, having a firm knowledge base to support the political problems of the present, supported by the social sciences since the story is more a scientific study than a literary one. Carr’s proposal was not completely out of place but it came more at a very opportune moment, precisely when technology was in full swing, a tool that thanks to its applications, it allowed to organize historical events in a better way. During the sixties, in many developed countries there was an increase in higher schools and the enrollment of students, therefore teachers of history who taught with the projects that Carr had raised for years. but at the end of the sixties, this was in crisis. The intellectual conservatism as a politician put in definitive the possibility of knowing more historical events, in addition to that there were social and economic changes and other types of conflict such as ethnic identity, sexual orientation, religion among others, demanded more attention and fell into consumerism, all this challenged Carr’s theories and the idea that history could be proven by scientific methods.

In the 1990s, the world of carr entered a crisis, but the young historians are interested in truly knowing history, even if they did not have evidence, so they wrote what they understood about history, but those writings were not objective because it grounded at this same time, history was replaced by other subjects such as financial studies, that is, history was no longer seen as a subject that should be included in the program. Social history also emerged not as a branch of history but as the subject that was intended to replace traditional history. But at the beginning of the year, two thousand it could be noted that people had not stopped writing history and students had not stopped learning about the past, that is when historians began to write about the history of humble people and the modern era, historians think that through these writings we can appreciate more the human condition, knowing about our culture and others, this does not mean, Carr, says that history already it has been lost but many historians still write important facts. Human beings have a historical conscience. The literary culture has been in charge of recovering the memories of important historical events, even the novels and the film industry have become an ideal means to spread these facts, based on the staging of ancient scenes in a past context historians participate exhaustively in these projects because numerous facts of historical relevance have given rise to very successful programs, but obviously, they have a deep knowledge about the subject that the film is going to deal with, novel program. The above can be understood as, that people were hungry for history and without realizing it is learning history. Nowadays, history tries to form the identity of the individual, reflecting on Who are we? Or where do we come from? In addition to that, it also has a very important role in national identity.

According to the author (EH Carr) “history is above all great forces and movements”, but without a doubt history in the media and the libraries have different meanings, also mention that the current history is based on exhaustive research. Currently, the educational levels are very good, they have a better level compared to those of about forty years ago, but fortunately, the historians of today have adapted to current history and communicate through radio and television audiences this was thanks to the influence of modernist theories. Carr said that you have to study the historian before studying the work he presents, that is, when we know the life of the historian we give ourselves a broader idea about his ideas or his purposes for which they wrote history based on the experience they had about the subject or their profession, these characters also do not function as recipients that accumulate historical documents, but each one carries with them their vision, opinion, and purpose for which they wrote about these facts, of course; the historian could not manipulate or distort the facts because they are the material they work with.

As we could tell in this brief essay, the study of history is very important in our days, since it gives us the necessary information to understand the world around us, it is a multidisciplinary science because, in addition to helping other sciences, it also provides important data to knowledge in general. It is science made by men and for men in a certain time, the delimitation is important not to fall into errors, hence the importance of the hard work of historians, since they will give us the necessary tools to build a better future based on knowledge and understanding of the past. And to conclude, I think that Carr’s enthusiasm in fighting for historical concepts and teaching was very positive and transcendent because, at that time and today, that is to say; At all times it is of utmost importance the teaching of history in the classrooms not only of higher education but in the classrooms where basic education is taught, so that children and society at the same time realize and have a historical basis for understanding your present and as Carr said: ‘build a future.’ Through it, we can form our own identity and that of our nation as unique and not as a copy of any other. 

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Why Is Studying History Important for Our Present and Future? Essay

Introduction, works cited.

History is one of the most important studies which shapes our attitudes towards the past and structures our present and future. History matters because it helps people to understand the world around them and structure it in accordance with the past events and their outcomes. History works on factual material and data established with confidence. It is possible to assume that modern society would be unable to understand current events and processes without the knowledge of the past and analysis of its consequences for modern people.

Contested histories allow researchers to rewrite literature and political sciences as they place events and facts in a historical continuum shaped by certain ideologies and social principles. It is possible to say that we interpret social and political processes, works of literature and pedagogical issues through lens of historical environment and its meaning for the populace. Scientific data are not the only well-ascertained data (Gaddis 98). History constructs our identity defining it through the prism of historical significance and insignificance of certain events and processes. We perceive history as truth based on facts and scientific interpretations of data. History shapes our values and views, principles and national ideals. It supplies us we materials and arguments for thought. Then people see that these facts involve some comprehensible need founded in the nature of things and providing people with a reason (Carr 43).

Facts and historical interpretations are linked in order to have the objective content of history. The history of the US proves that people understand themselves and the others learning and interpreting historical events of the past. For instance, the Constitution and the Declaration of Human Rights created a new understanding of freedom and liberty (Roark et al 76). On the one hand people have an awareness of dignity and of the self-respect of the human person, a desire for freedom and friendship, a recognition of the law: government of the people, for the society and by the people, a growing importance for civil liberties and for justice, an declaration of power over nature (Carr 43).

History helps us to understand and construct bodily identity studying descriptions of Early Americans and social values of different historical periods. Thus the life of society advances and progresses so the psychical identity changes over time. Also, historical images can be degraded and dissolute by reason of the passivity of things. Furthermore, what is religious is above time and exempt from aging. In some historical epochs, moral and ethical principles prevailed material values, so modern society follows these ideals and values as the core principles of human relations. The period of colonization represents the age of strict values and principles most Americans are looking for; not when there is a national rage to identify and be identified with worldly and moral influence. Modern society views things as representative of the common impulse to allocate meaning and importance to everything in sight (Carr 65).

In sum, history matters because it helps people to reconstruct their past and predict their future. A number of historical facts are accumulated by history, and now from these historical facts related to a certain period of history ideals and thoughts are inductively abstracted by historians. History is by itself basically progressive. Thus, a being linked to reason must essentially be progressive. It means that historical facts are used as a framework for construction of social and political identities and interpretation of certain processes and events.

Carr, E.H. What Is History? Vintage, 1967.

Gaddis, J.L. The Landscape of History: How Historians Map the Past. Oxford University Press, USA, 2004.

Roark, J. L. et al. The American Promise, A History of the United States , Bedford/St. Martin’s; 2nd edition, 2002.

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Why Study History?

For a great many people, history is a set of facts, a collection of events, a series of things that happened, one after another, in the past. In fact, history is far more than these things-- it is a way of thinking about and seeing the world.

T o genuinely make sense of the past, you need to learn how to see it on its own terms, how to make the strange and unfamiliar logical and comprehensible, and how to empathize with people who once thought so differently than we do today. If you learn how to do these things, you begin to cultivate a crucial set of skills that not only help navigate the past, but the present as well. Once you can see the things that history teaches you, once you know how to penetrate unfamiliar modes of thought and behavior and can understand their inner logic, it becomes easier to make sense of the modern world and the diverse peoples and ideas that you will confront within it.

It might seem counterintuitive that one of the best ways to illuminate the present is by studying the past, but that is precisely why history can be so important. When we appreciate that history is not, first and foremost, a body of knowledge, but rather a way of thinking, it becomes a particularly powerful tool.  Not everyone may choose to become a historian. Yet, whatever career you choose,  knowing how to think historically will help.  

By taking History courses at Stanford, you will develop

• critical, interpretive thinking skills through in-depth analysis of primary and secondary source materials.

the ability to identify different types of sources of historical knowledge.

analytical writing skills and close reading skills.

effective oral communication skills.

History coursework at Stanford is supported by mentorship from our world-class faculty and by unique research opportunities. These experiences enable undergraduate students to pursue successful careers in business, journalism, public service, law, education, government, medicine, and more.   Learn what Stanford History majors and minors are doing after graduation .

Undergraduate Program

We offer the following degree options to Stanford undergraduate students:

Undergraduate Major : Become a historian and chart your path through the B.A. in consultation with your major advisor. 

Honors in History :  Join a passionate group of History majors who conduct in-depth research with Stanford faculty.

Undergraduate Minor : Complete six eligible courses for a minor in History.

  Co-terminal Masters:   Join the selective group of Stanford undergraduates who explore their passion in History before entering graduate school or professional life.

How to Declare

The first step in becoming a History major is finding a Faculty Advisor.  The best way to find an advisor is simply to take a variety of History courses, drop in during faculty office hours, and introduce yourself as a prospective History major. Faculty are happy to suggest coursework and to offer counsel. You are also welcome to reach out to our undergraduate Peer Advisors about how to navigate Stanford History.  Learn more about how to declare .

Herodotus: An Undergraduate Journal

Herodotus is a student-run publication founded in 1986 by  the History Undergraduate Student Association (HUGSA). It bears the name of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, the 5th century BCE historian of the Greco-Persian Wars. Based on a rigorous, supportive peer-review process, the journal preserves and features the best undergraduate research conducted in the department. Browse Herodotus

Program Contacts

Thomas Mullaney

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Steven Press

Director of Honors and Research

Kai Dowding

Undergraduate Student Services Officer

Department Bookshelf

Browse the most recent publications from our faculty members.

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Learning Resources

Why history matters.

View Student Version

Key Vocabulary

Read for understanding.

New American History Learning Resources may be adapted to a variety of educational settings, including remote learning environments, face-to-face instruction, and blended learning.

If you are teaching remotely, consider using videoconferencing to provide opportunities for students to work in partners or small groups. Digital tools such as Padlet or Jamboard may also be used for collaboration. Rewordify helps make a complex text more accessible for those reading at a lower Lexile level while still providing a greater depth of knowledge. 

In addition, this Learning Resource uses Turn and Talk to allow students to work with an “elbow partner” for brief collaborations. In addition, this Learning Resource uses “Thinking Routines” from Project Zero , a research center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that has developed learning strategies that encourage students to add complexity to their thought processes.  For an overview of Project Zero’s methodology, you may want to read its Exploring Complexity Bundle .  Specifically for this lesson, students will use these thinking routines: Creative Question Starts , Take Note , See, Think, Wonder , I Used To Think… Now I Think .

These Learning Resources follow a variation of the 5Es instructional model , and each section may be taught as a separate learning experience, or as part of a sequence of learning experiences. We provide each of our Learning Resources in multiple formats, including web-based and as an editable Google Doc for educators to teach and adapt selected learning experiences as they best suit the needs of your students and local curriculum. You may also wish to embed or remix them into a playlist for students working remotely or independently.

What is the purpose of studying history?

Can’t we just look up historical facts online?  Can’t we outsource the memorization of names and dates to the Internet?   The study of history is much richer and more important than learning a list of facts to pass a test.

"Turn and Talk" Strategy

www.theteachertoolkit.com

Read the following three quotes.  (Your teacher might project them on the board.)  Use the Turn and Talk strategy with a partner.  First, summarize in your own words what each quote means.  Then, discuss which of the three quotes you think best explains why the study of history is important.  Lastly, after you have talked, complete this Discussion Guide .

NAH Discussion Guide - Why History Matters

Record the ideas of your “Turn and Talk” below. Quote about the study of history: Write 1 sentence that summarizes it in your own words: A) “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” –George Santayana, Spanish philosopher, 1905 B) “History never repeats itse...

docs.google.com

A) “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

B) “History never repeats itself, but it does rhyme.”

C) History is not was, it is.”

Lastly, present your ideas to the whole class.  Your teacher will lead a discussion on these ideas.   If working remotely, you may use breakout rooms through videoconferencing, or share via a collaborative document such as Google Docs , Google Slides , or a Jamboard.

Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket. 

Why is history important?

The study of history is a study of stories.  By seeing how people and groups met challenges, by learning how they succeeded and what limited their success, we gain empathy.  In a way, the study of history can provide a blueprint for who we are and who we’re not.  

View “ Why is History Important ,” as Dr. Julian Hayter , a historian at the University of Richmond, explains his perspective on why history is important to study. 

New American History: Why is History Important?

This video is part of a larger learning resource, "Why History Matters," designed for use with High School and AP United States History, classes, from the Ne...

NAH Take Note - Why History Matters

Examine the ideas in the clip you watched by using this graphic organizer. Answer at least two of the questions below. What was the most important point? What are you finding challenging, puzzling or difficult to understand? What question would you most like to discu...

After you watch, answer at least two of the questions below on your Viewing Guide , which uses the “Take Note” Thinking Routine :

• What is the most important point?
• What are you finding challenging, puzzling or difficult to understand?
• What question would you most like to discuss? 
• What is something you found interesting?

"Take Note" Thinking Routine

pz.harvard.edu

To share your response, your teacher may provide access to a Padlet or Jamboard discussion board, or allow you to collaborate on a Google Slides set.  Your teacher will debrief by reviewing the main ideas of each piece and by reading back student responses to the class and asking follow-up questions or by asking you to turn and talk to a partner to share your answers

Your teacher may ask you to record your answers on an exit ticket.

What does a historian do?

People need to make sense of the past in terms that they – living in the present – can understand.  And that’s the work of the historian: to interpret past events and stitch together a meaningful narrative .

In this section, you will learn about historiography : what it is and why it’s different from learning a set of facts.  First, analyze this quote:

“Each age tries to form its own conception of the past.  Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time.”

To what extent do you agree with it?  Use the “Think, Pair, Share” Thinking Routine to examine the quote and to form an argument about it.

"Think, Pair, Share" Thinking Routine

Your teacher will then lead a whole-class discussion, in which students share ideas discussed in their partner groups.  

Next, view this segment of “Historiography , ” in which Dr. Julian Hayter, a historian at the University of Richmond, explains historiography in greater detail.

New American History: Historiography - Explain

"Explain" segment from New American History Learning Resources on Historiography with Dr. Julian Hayter

After you view, complete the Historiography Viewing Guide .  Define historiography in your own words and then answer these questions:

NAH Historiography Viewing Guide

What is the difference between the past and history? How does the discovery of new evidence affect the study of history? Historiography Viewing Guide ...

• What is the difference between the past and history?
• How does the discovery of new evidence affect the study of history?

To share your response, your teacher may provide access to a Padlet or Jamboard discussion board, or allow you to collaborate on a Google Slides set.

What are the philosophies used to interpret the past?

Historians can be organized into different philosophical groups that highlight the different ways that they’ve examined the forces that have shaped the past.  These schools of thought emphasize different historical themes and view the past through different lenses.  They all hold value.

View another segment of "Historiography ," narrated by Dr. Julian Hayter, a historian at the University of Richmond.

New American History: Historiography - Elaborate

"Elaborate" segment from New American History Learning Resources on Historiography with Dr. Julian Hayter.

In this segment, Dr. Hayter explains six historical schools of thought .  Identify and summarize each one using the Schools of Thought Viewing Guide . 

NAH Schools of Thought Viewing Guide

As you watch the video segment, complete the graphic organizer. Name of the school of thought: Write a 1-sentence summary that explains the school: Quote that illustrates the school: Whig history school “The moral arc of the universe bends toward justic...

Next, identify the school that fits your thinking the most, as well as the school that fits you the least.  Build arguments to explain your decisions.  Lastly, for at least two of the schools, do Web research to find a quote that illustrates the meaning of the school’s philosophy.  For example, within the Whig History School of Thought , this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote illustrates the view that humanity is becoming freer and more enlightened with time:

“The moral arc of the universe bends toward justice.”

To share your responses with the whole class, your teacher may provide access to a Padlet or Jamboard discussion board, or allow you to collaborate on a Google Slides set.

Why do historical research methods matter?

History follows a set of rules; it is not simply a record of everything that has happened.   The stories that historians piece together are made up of sources and evidence that must be rigorously checked and verified for their credibility .  The historical method is a technique that considers ethics and seeks to weed out myth-making and propaganda-pushing.

View “ Historial Method ,” narrated by Dr. Julian Hayter, a historian at the University of Richmond. 

New American History: Historical Method

After you finish viewing, complete the “ +1 Routine” Thinking Routine .”  In three minutes, make a list of key ideas that grabbed your attention on a blank sheet of paper.  Then, pass your paper one student to the right.  Read the list.  Take two minutes to expand on an idea, make a new point, or make a connection to another topic.  Repeat this process at least two more times.  Return the paper to its original owner.

"+1 Routine" Thinking Routine

Your teacher will then lead a whole-class discussion, in which students share ideas added to their papers.

“Historical Method” New American History, University of Richmond, 2022.  https://youtu.be/epO2yX4oIgs .

“Historiography” New American History, University of Richmond, 2022.  https://youtu.be/avguQ13ZdG4 .

“Project Zero's Thinking Routine Toolbox.” PZ's Thinking Routines Toolbox | Project Zero. Accessed July 6, 2022. https://pz.harvard.edu/thinking-routines .

“Turn and Talk.” the. Accessed July 6, 2023. https://www.theteachertoolkit.com/index.php/tool/turn-and-talk. 

“Why is History Important?” New American History, University of Richmond, 2022. https://youtu.be/A-6VZR5scgU .

View these Learning Resources as a Google Doc

This work by New American History is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) International License . Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at newamericanhistory.org.

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1 What is History?

Though you have likely spent a good part of your education sitting in history classes and reading history books, you probably have not really thought deeply about how to define the subject.  In many ways, it’s easier to start with what history is not:  It is not simply a record of what happened in the past.  For one thing, clearly too much happened yesterday alone—let alone ten, one hundred, one thousand years ago—to record. People ate meals, chose which socks to wear, kissed someone new, scanned their Twitter feed, etc., etc.  History is not even a record of important things that happened in the past, because that definition raises the question of what counts as important and who gets to decide.  If those new lovers kissing for the first time were Antony and Cleopatra—whose relationship redirected Egyptian history—or if the meal inspired an immigrant activist by reminding of her roots, then those seemingly mundane actions were critical.  Deciding what is important—which among myriad of past events should be retold, the order to put them in, how to phrase stories so that they reach the right audience—that is what history is.  As historians James Davidson and Mark Lytle put it, “History is not ‘what happened in the past;’ rather it is the act of selecting, analyzing, and writing about the past.”

Historians are tasked with finding evidence about the past and then deciding what to do with it. They research, evaluate, and write using what past actors have left behind. That means that the historical narratives scholars (including you!) create actually depend upon scholars’ interpretations of extant evidence— on what we call “primary sources.” Primary sources are those produced by the actors of the time and can run the gamut from oral histories to government documents to Hollywood films to material culture and beyond. Historians also keep in mind other historians’ writings, or secondary sources . Historians seek as many sources from as many different perspectives as possible, and scrutinize each one carefully, in the attempt to overcome any biases infusing those sources. Yet, no matter how skilled the researcher there will be gaps in the sources that require interpretation. Gaps or silences in the record merit attention, meaning that historians must consider why some perspectives are not found in archives or in published scholarship. The reason may be perfectly harmless, such as the warehouse fire in 1921 that destroyed the 1890 U.S. Census manuscript schedules (the millions of records  left by enumerators who went house-to-house with questionnaires).  The resulting silence about literacy rates among immigrants (or a number of other topics that rely on Census records) for that decade is frustrating and has certainly diminished our knowledge of the past, but historians do not need to explain the silence beyond noting this accident of history.  At other times, silences speak directly to the experience of those under study, such as the shortage of written records by enslaved peoples. In this case, the silence must be explained by the pernicious decision by White legislators to limit the literacy of enslaved Americans and is itself a part of the history of slavery.  In sum, historians must be adept at not only ferreting out sources and assessing their meaning, but also evaluating the meaning of what remains hidden. Writing history is at heart the art and science of deciding how to stitch together what remains of the past in a way that is meaningful to readers in the present.

Where does the (social) science part come from? Though gaps in the record mean that we can never know everything about the past–and thus a certain amount of art and interpretation is necessarily a part of history–historians mimic scientific processes, posing and testing hypotheses and placing weight on the use of peer review before publication. Guidelines about the value of a source, rules about how you record where you find it, and advice on how to present your findings when you present them to the public (or just your instructor) are all part of an effort to create reliable scholarship that can be replicated—the key elements of reason.  Writing and teaching history successfully depends upon your ability to understand and master those guidelines. Indeed, your obligation to take this course reflects the opinion among historians that while we know a good deal of art shapes our interpretations, we still value the role of scientific inquiry in our discipline.  You have been assigned this book because your instructor wants you to think like an historian.

The philosophy of history

It’s worth pointing out that while the present-day discipline of history is marked by shared standards of practice, historians as a group debate virtually everything, from what should be studied to the precise cause and effect of almost every event.  While historians today no longer embrace the notion of cyclical history (that time is not linear, and events reoccur repeatedly) or providential history (that God is directing all events for a particular outcome), they do sometimes accept a progressive view (that humanity is constantly improving).  Most contemporary historians, however, exist somewhat closer to a postmodern view of history—that is, that a pure understanding of the past is unknowable, but that learning as much as we can about the past from our current (changing) perspectives helps us learn more about ourselves and our own time.

These different philosophies of history are part of the long-term history of history.  In the past century though, with the rise of professional history , the history of history involves chronicling and analyzing historical debates–discussions in which some historians lobby others to revise previous interpretations of past people and events for a range of reasons.  Some of these debates stem from differences in political perspective, some emerge out of access to new sources or new ideas about how to read old sources.  Other conflicts between historians happen because of a difference in epistemology—roughly speaking, because some historians emphasize the ability of culture and ideas to shape the importance of  economic/material infrastructure, and other historians see it the opposite way around (that is, that certain geographies or other material structures  permit or promote what sort of ideas and cultural artifacts develop).

History graduate students and professional historians spend a good deal of time thinking about the implications of these different philosophies.  While the really old philosophies (cyclical or providential history) are seldom discussed, the newer ones based upon political and epistemological differences are at the heart of many  lively debates among historians.  For most readers of this text, it’s enough to understand that such distinctions exist, and to be aware of the fact that historical interpretations vary not only over time, but between competing points of view. The section below, which explains historiography, and guidance in the next part Reading Historically , will give you some tools for discerning interpretive points of view.  Awarness of differences and understanding where they come from will be among the most important critical thinking skills you develop as a history student.

historiograPHY

Writing about the past has changed over time.  In other words, history has a history, and the fancy term for how historians recount and analyze previous interpretations of the past is “historiography.”    Historiographical change   refers to the fact that over time, historians have altered their explanations of past events, and the discipline of history keeps track of, and continuously reconsiders, these changing interpretations; writing about historians (or the history of history as opposed to the story of the past) is called historiography .

One of the easiest ways to grasp the importance of historiography involves looking at a subject such as slavery in the United States, for which the history has changed dramatically over the last one hundred years. The first professional historians of slavery wrote in the very years in which state and local governments were establishing and justifying racial segregation.  Their interpretations of the “peculiar institution” (as slavery was sometimes called) fit in with their society’s world view, and often suggested slavery was benign or at least a critical part of the process of “improving” those of African descent.  As legal segregation, the concept of eugenics, and other types of racialized thinking came increasingly under attack over the course of the twentieth century, such views were criticized and the historians of slavery more often focused on the violence and dehumanizing elements of the institution.  As the Civil Rights Movement led to the outlawing of segregated education, it opened the door to new scholars with new perspectives. Critical race studies today–scholarship that assesses the many ways that the justification of racial slavery has shaped U.S. politics and society–has a decidedly different view of enslaved peoples than did the history written in the past.  The scholarship about the history of race also actually has within it  a variety of perspectives, including differences between historians about how the global economy, technology, religion, gender and/or disability  shaped the experience of the enslaved, those who claimed ownership, and those who fought for and against the institution of slavery.

Though other historical topics may not have seen shifts as dramatic as the scholarship on slavery, every subject has experienced some shifting over time. As you read secondary sources on historical topics that interest you, try to become conversant with some of the most prominent historiographical debates for your own periods of interest. Most scholarly history essays have an historiographical section, that is a section near the beginning that notes how previous historians have approached the same topic, or ones closely related to the subject under study.  Historians touch on earlier interpretations in order to show how their own work will add to what we already know, perhaps by pointing out errors in the use of a primary source or how a particular philosophical or political assumption unfairly limited analysis. More likely for student researchers, this reference to earlier interpretations will point to a gap–by place, or era, or perspective–that the student’s research can help fill. Because it will fill a gap in what we know, the historical research presented is thus more meaningful, a positive reason to be aware of the historiography of your subject. A negative reason also exists:  Those who don’t consider current knowledge risk “reinventing the wheel” or worse, erring in interpretation because of unfamiliarity with a major finding by an earlier historian. Whatever side motivates you as a student, it’s important you attempt to learn the historiography of topics in which you hope to specialize.

those produced by the actors of the time and can run the gamut from oral histories to government documents to Hollywood films to material culture and beyond.

what a historian has written about the topic

ideas about what drives historical change or what history means. For example, a progressive historical philosophy views humanity as getting better overtime.

whereby many of those who write history have undergone formal training resulting in the acquisition of a doctorate degree in history.

the change in the way historians at large view a particular topic

the study of the the collective work done by historians about a particular topic

How History is Made: A Student’s Guide to Reading, Writing, and Thinking in the Discipline Copyright © 2022 by Stephanie Cole; Kimberly Breuer; Scott W. Palmer; and Brandon Blakeslee is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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How to Write a History Essay with Outline, Tips, Examples and More

Before we get into how to write a history essay, let's first understand what makes one good. Different people might have different ideas, but there are some basic rules that can help you do well in your studies. In this guide, we won't get into any fancy theories. Instead, we'll give you straightforward tips to help you with historical writing. So, if you're ready to sharpen your writing skills, let our history essay writing service explore how to craft an exceptional paper.

What is a History Essay?

A history essay is an academic assignment where we explore and analyze historical events from the past. We dig into historical stories, figures, and ideas to understand their importance and how they've shaped our world today. History essay writing involves researching, thinking critically, and presenting arguments based on evidence.

Moreover, history papers foster the development of writing proficiency and the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. They also encourage students to engage with primary and secondary sources, enhancing their research skills and deepening their understanding of historical methodology.

History Essay Outline

The outline is there to guide you in organizing your thoughts and arguments in your essay about history. With a clear outline, you can explore and explain historical events better. Here's how to make one:

Introduction

• Hook: Start with an attention-grabbing opening sentence or anecdote related to your topic.
• Background Information: Provide context on the historical period, event, or theme you'll be discussing.
• Thesis Statement: Present your main argument or viewpoint, outlining the scope and purpose of your history essay.

Body paragraph 1: Introduction to the Historical Context

• Provide background information on the historical context of your topic.
• Highlight key events, figures, or developments leading up to the main focus of your history essay.

Body paragraphs 2-4 (or more): Main Arguments and Supporting Evidence

• Each paragraph should focus on a specific argument or aspect of your thesis.
• Present evidence from primary and secondary sources to support each argument.
• Analyze the significance of the evidence and its relevance to your history paper thesis.

Counterarguments (optional)

• Address potential counterarguments or alternative perspectives on your topic.
• Refute opposing viewpoints with evidence and logical reasoning.
• Summary of Main Points: Recap the main arguments presented in the body paragraphs.
• Restate Thesis: Reinforce your thesis statement, emphasizing its significance in light of the evidence presented.
• Reflection: Reflect on the broader implications of your arguments for understanding history.
• Closing Thought: End your history paper with a thought-provoking statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

References/bibliography

• List all sources used in your research, formatted according to the citation style required by your instructor (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
• Include both primary and secondary sources, arranged alphabetically by the author's last name.

Notes (if applicable)

• Include footnotes or endnotes to provide additional explanations, citations, or commentary on specific points within your history essay.

History Essay Format

Adhering to a specific format is crucial for clarity, coherence, and academic integrity. Here are the key components of a typical history essay format:

Font and Size

• Use a legible font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
• The recommended font size is usually 12 points. However, check your instructor's guidelines, as they may specify a different size.
• Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the page.
• Double-space the entire essay, including the title, headings, body paragraphs, and references.
• Avoid extra spacing between paragraphs unless specified otherwise.
• Align text to the left margin; avoid justifying the text or using a centered alignment.

Title Page (if required):

• If your instructor requires a title page, include the essay title, your name, the course title, the instructor's name, and the date.
• Center-align this information vertically and horizontally on the page.
• Include a header on each page (excluding the title page if applicable) with your last name and the page number, flush right.
• Some instructors may require a shortened title in the header, usually in all capital letters.
• Center-align the essay title at the top of the first page (if a title page is not required).
• Use standard capitalization (capitalize the first letter of each major word).
• Avoid underlining, italicizing, or bolding the title unless necessary for emphasis.

Paragraph Indentation:

• Indent the first line of each paragraph by 0.5 inches or use the tab key.
• Do not insert extra spaces between paragraphs unless instructed otherwise.

Citations and References:

• Follow the citation style specified by your instructor (e.g., MLA, APA, Chicago).
• Include in-text citations whenever you use information or ideas from external sources.
• Provide a bibliography or list of references at the end of your history essay, formatted according to the citation style guidelines.
• Typically, history essays range from 1000 to 2500 words, but this can vary depending on the assignment.

How to Write a History Essay?

Historical writing can be an exciting journey through time, but it requires careful planning and organization. In this section, we'll break down the process into simple steps to help you craft a compelling and well-structured history paper.

Analyze the Question

Before diving headfirst into writing, take a moment to dissect the essay question. Read it carefully, and then read it again. You want to get to the core of what it's asking. Look out for keywords that indicate what aspects of the topic you need to focus on. If you're unsure about anything, don't hesitate to ask your instructor for clarification. Remember, understanding how to start a history essay is half the battle won!

Now, let's break this step down:

• Read the question carefully and identify keywords or phrases.
• Consider what the question is asking you to do – are you being asked to analyze, compare, contrast, or evaluate?
• Pay attention to any specific instructions or requirements provided in the question.
• Take note of the time period or historical events mentioned in the question – this will give you a clue about the scope of your history essay.

Develop a Strategy

With a clear understanding of the essay question, it's time to map out your approach. Here's how to develop your historical writing strategy:

• Brainstorm ideas : Take a moment to jot down any initial thoughts or ideas that come to mind in response to the history paper question. This can help you generate a list of potential arguments, themes, or points you want to explore in your history essay.
• Create an outline : Once you have a list of ideas, organize them into a logical structure. Start with a clear introduction that introduces your topic and presents your thesis statement – the main argument or point you'll be making in your history essay. Then, outline the key points or arguments you'll be discussing in each paragraph of the body, making sure they relate back to your thesis. Finally, plan a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your history paper thesis.
• Research : Before diving into writing, gather evidence to support your arguments. Use reputable sources such as books, academic journals, and primary documents to gather historical evidence and examples. Take notes as you research, making sure to record the source of each piece of information for proper citation later on.
• Consider counterarguments : Anticipate potential counterarguments to your history paper thesis and think about how you'll address them in your essay. Acknowledging opposing viewpoints and refuting them strengthens your argument and demonstrates critical thinking.
• Set realistic goals : Be realistic about the scope of your history essay and the time you have available to complete it. Break down your writing process into manageable tasks, such as researching, drafting, and revising, and set deadlines for each stage to stay on track.

Start Your Research

Now that you've grasped the history essay topic and outlined your approach, it's time to dive into research. Here's how to start:

• Ask questions : What do you need to know? What are the key points to explore further? Write down your inquiries to guide your research.
• Explore diverse sources : Look beyond textbooks. Check academic journals, reliable websites, and primary sources like documents or artifacts.
• Consider perspectives : Think about different viewpoints on your topic. How have historians analyzed it? Are there controversies or differing interpretations?
• Take organized notes : Summarize key points, jot down quotes, and record your thoughts and questions. Stay organized using spreadsheets or note-taking apps.
• Evaluate sources : Consider the credibility and bias of each source. Are they peer-reviewed? Do they represent a particular viewpoint?

Establish a Viewpoint

By establishing a clear viewpoint and supporting arguments, you'll lay the foundation for your compelling historical writing:

• Review your research : Reflect on the information gathered. What patterns or themes emerge? Which perspectives resonate with you?
• Formulate a thesis statement : Based on your research, develop a clear and concise thesis that states your argument or interpretation of the topic.
• Consider counterarguments : Anticipate objections to your history paper thesis. Are there alternative viewpoints or evidence that you need to address?
• Craft supporting arguments : Outline the main points that support your thesis. Use evidence from your research to strengthen your arguments.
• Stay flexible : Be open to adjusting your viewpoint as you continue writing and researching. New information may challenge or refine your initial ideas.

Structure Your Essay

Now that you've delved into the depths of researching historical events and established your viewpoint, it's time to craft the skeleton of your essay: its structure. Think of your history essay outline as constructing a sturdy bridge between your ideas and your reader's understanding. How will you lead them from point A to point Z? Will you follow a chronological path through history or perhaps dissect themes that span across time periods?

And don't forget about the importance of your introduction and conclusion—are they framing your narrative effectively, enticing your audience to read your paper, and leaving them with lingering thoughts long after they've turned the final page? So, as you lay the bricks of your history essay's architecture, ask yourself: How can I best lead my audience through the maze of time and thought, leaving them enlightened and enriched on the other side?

Create an Engaging Introduction

Creating an engaging introduction is crucial for capturing your reader's interest right from the start. But how do you do it? Think about what makes your topic fascinating. Is there a surprising fact or a compelling story you can share? Maybe you could ask a thought-provoking question that gets people thinking. Consider why your topic matters—what lessons can we learn from history?

Also, remember to explain what your history essay will be about and why it's worth reading. What will grab your reader's attention and make them want to learn more? How can you make your essay relevant and intriguing right from the beginning?

Develop Coherent Paragraphs

Once you've established your introduction, the next step is to develop coherent paragraphs that effectively communicate your ideas. Each paragraph should focus on one main point or argument, supported by evidence or examples from your research. Start by introducing the main idea in a topic sentence, then provide supporting details or evidence to reinforce your point.

Make sure to use transition words and phrases to guide your reader smoothly from one idea to the next, creating a logical flow throughout your history essay. Additionally, consider the organization of your paragraphs—is there a clear progression of ideas that builds upon each other? Are your paragraphs unified around a central theme or argument?

Conclude Effectively

Concluding your history essay effectively is just as important as starting it off strong. In your conclusion, you want to wrap up your main points while leaving a lasting impression on your reader. Begin by summarizing the key points you've made throughout your history essay, reminding your reader of the main arguments and insights you've presented.

Then, consider the broader significance of your topic—what implications does it have for our understanding of history or for the world today? You might also want to reflect on any unanswered questions or areas for further exploration. Finally, end with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action that encourages your reader to continue thinking about the topic long after they've finished reading.

Reference Your Sources

Referencing your sources is essential for maintaining the integrity of your history essay and giving credit to the scholars and researchers who have contributed to your understanding of the topic. Depending on the citation style required (such as MLA, APA, or Chicago), you'll need to format your references accordingly. Start by compiling a list of all the sources you've consulted, including books, articles, websites, and any other materials used in your research.

Then, as you write your history essay, make sure to properly cite each source whenever you use information or ideas that are not your own. This includes direct quotations, paraphrases, and summaries. Remember to include all necessary information for each source, such as author names, publication dates, and page numbers, as required by your chosen citation style.

Review and Ask for Advice

As you near the completion of your history essay writing, it's crucial to take a step back and review your work with a critical eye. Reflect on the clarity and coherence of your arguments—are they logically organized and effectively supported by evidence? Consider the strength of your introduction and conclusion—do they effectively capture the reader's attention and leave a lasting impression? Take the time to carefully proofread your history essay for any grammatical errors or typos that may detract from your overall message.

Furthermore, seeking advice from peers, mentors, or instructors can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement. Consider sharing your essay with someone whose feedback you trust and respect, and be open to constructive criticism. Ask specific questions about areas you're unsure about or where you feel your history essay may be lacking.

History Essay Example

In this section, we offer an example of a history essay examining the impact of the Industrial Revolution on society. This essay demonstrates how historical analysis and critical thinking are applied in academic writing. By exploring this specific event, you can observe how historical evidence is used to build a cohesive argument and draw meaningful conclusions.

FAQs about History Essay Writing

How to write a history essay introduction, how to write a conclusion for a history essay, how to write a good history essay.

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Why Is History Important And How Can It Benefit Your Future?

Updated: February 28, 2024

Published: July 1, 2020

History is a topic that many find boring to study or a waste of time. But there is more to studying history than meets the eye. Let’s answer the age-old question: “Why is history important?”

What Is History?

History is the knowledge of and study of the past. It is the story of the past and a form of collective memory. History is the story of who we are, where we come from, and can potentially reveal where we are headed.

Why Study History: The Importance

History is important to study because it is essential for all of us in understanding ourselves and the world around us. There is a history of every field and topic, from medicine, to music, to art. To know and understand history is absolutely necessary, even though the results of historical study are not as visible, and less immediate.

Allows You To Comprehend More

1. our world.

History gives us a very clear picture of how the various aspects of society — such as technology, governmental systems, and even society as a whole — worked in the past so we understand how it came to work the way it is now.

2. Society And Other People

Studying history allows us to observe and understand how people and societies behaved. For example, we are able to evaluate war, even when a nation is at peace, by looking back at previous events. History provides us with the data that is used to create laws, or theories about various aspects of society.

3. Identity

History can help provide us with a sense of identity. This is actually one of the main reasons that history is still taught in schools around the world. Historians have been able to learn about how countries, families, and groups were formed, and how they evolved and developed over time. When an individual takes it upon themselves to dive deep into their own family’s history, they can understand how their family interacted with larger historical change. Did family serve in major wars? Were they present for significant events?

4. Present-Day Issues

History helps us to understand present-day issues by asking deeper questions as to why things are the way they are. Why did wars in Europe in the 20th century matter to countries around the world? How did Hitler gain and maintain power for as long as he had? How has this had an effect on shaping our world and our global political system today?

5. The Process Of Change Over Time

If we want to truly understand why something happened — in any area or field, such as one political party winning the last election vs the other, or a major change in the number of smokers — you need to look for factors that took place earlier. Only through the study of history can people really see and grasp the reasons behind these changes, and only through history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society continue regardless of continual change.

Photo by Yusuf Dündar on Unsplash

You learn a clear lesson, 1. political intelligence.

History can help us become better informed citizens. It shows us who we are as a collective group, and being informed of this is a key element in maintaining a democratic society. This knowledge helps people take an active role in the political forum through educated debates and by refining people’s core beliefs. Through knowledge of history, citizens can even change their old belief systems.

2. History Teaches Morals And Values

By looking at specific stories of individuals and situations, you can test your own morals and values. You can compare it to some real and difficult situations individuals have had to face in trying times. Looking to people who have faced and overcome adversity can be inspiring. You can study the great people of history who successfully worked through moral dilemmas, and also ordinary people who teach us lessons in courage, persistence and protest.

3. Builds Better Citizenship

The study of history is a non-negotiable aspect of better citizenship. This is one of the main reasons why it is taught as a part of school curricular. People that push for citizenship history (relationship between a citizen and the state) just want to promote a strong national identity and even national loyalty through the teaching of lessons of individual and collective success.

4. Learn From The Past And Notice Clear Warning Signs

We learn from past atrocities against groups of people; genocides, wars, and attacks. Through this collective suffering, we have learned to pay attention to the warning signs leading up to such atrocities. Society has been able to take these warning signs and fight against them when they see them in the present day. Knowing what events led up to these various wars helps us better influence our future.

5. Gaining A Career Through History

The skills that are acquired through learning about history, such as critical thinking, research, assessing information, etc, are all useful skills that are sought by employers. Many employers see these skills as being an asset in their employees and will hire those with history degrees in various roles and industries.

6. Personal Growth And Appreciation

Understanding past events and how they impact the world today can bring about empathy and understanding for groups of people whose history may be different from the mainstream. You will also understand the suffering, joy, and chaos that were necessary for the present day to happen and appreciate all that you are able to benefit from past efforts today.

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Develop and refine your skills through studying history, 1. reading and writing.

You can refine your reading skills by reading texts from a wide array of time periods. Language has changed and evolved over time and so has the way people write and express themselves. You can also refine your writing skills through learning to not just repeat what someone else said, but to analyze information from multiple sources and come up with your own conclusions. It’s two birds with one stone — better writing and critical thinking!

2. Craft Your Own Opinions

There are so many sources of information out in the world. Finding a decisive truth for many topics just doesn’t exist. What was a victory for one group was a great loss for another — you get to create your own opinions of these events.

3. Decision-Making

History gives us the opportunity to learn from others’ past mistakes. It helps us understand the many reasons why people may behave the way they do. As a result, it helps us become more impartial as decision-makers.

4. How To Do Research

In the study of history you will need to conduct research . This gives you the opportunity to look at two kinds of sources — primary (written at the time) and secondary sources (written about a time period, after the fact). This practice can teach you how to decipher between reliable and unreliable sources.

5. Quantitative Analysis

There are numbers and data to be learned from history. In terms of patterns: patterns in population, desertions during times of war, and even in environmental factors. These patterns that are found help clarify why things happened as they did.

6. Qualitative Analysis

It’s incredibly important to learn to question the quality of the information and “history” you are learning. Keep these two questions in mind as you read through information: How do I know what I’m reading are facts and accurate information? Could they be the writer’s opinions?

Photo by Matteo Maretto on Unsplash

We are all living histories.

All people and cultures are living histories. The languages we speak are inherited from the past. Our cultures, traditions, and religions are all inherited from the past. We even inherit our genetic makeup from those that lived before us. Knowing these connections give you a basic understanding of the condition of being human.

History Is Fun

Learning about history can be a great deal of fun. We have the throngs of movies about our past to prove it. History is full of some of the most interesting and fascinating stories ever told, including pirates, treasure, mysteries, and adventures. On a regular basis new stories from the past keep emerging to the mainstream. Better yet, there is a history of every topic and field. Whatever you find fascinating there is a history to go along with it. Dive a bit deeper into any topic’s history and you will be surprised by what you might find in the process.

The subject of history can help you develop your skills and transform you to be a better version of yourself as a citizen, a student, and person overall.

If you are looking to develop more of yourself and skills for your future career, check out the degree programs that are offered by University of the People — a tuition-free, 100% online, U.S. accredited university.

Related Articles

The Importance and Influence of History

The history of a family, a country, or a culture is essential for correcting the future. Everyone has a history, be it a family tradition or a significant cultural occasion, but why are these things vital for people’s lives? It creates the basis of one’s identity and plays the role of precaution, preventing the humanity from repeating the same mistakes. This post aims to analyze history’s meaning and how it benefits future generations.

The main goal of history is remembering past experiences and following the path of predecessors. The accumulation of knowledge allows humanity to become better with every generation and share important discoveries. The progress leads to an increased lifespan, the elimination of dangers that had happened in the past, changing perspectives and thinking patterns. My character traits, values, and social identity are related to my country, family, and culture history. Remembering the past plays an essential part in humanity’s future.

Every generation is dependent on history to advance and to survive. Accumulating knowledge helps people recognize the possibilities of failure. Philosophy, healthcare, and science – all these areas are at a particular stage because of past experiences. History also shapes social structures and political frameworks, which contribute to creating a better society. History is essential because it helps to improve the existence of humankind every day.

The importance of history and its significance for future generations is undoubtful. People should remember the experiences of their predecessors so that their descendants could live a much better life. Every aspect of our daily life can be attributed to a historical context, which resulted in the particular improvement. Another reason why history is essential is because it helps people to not repeat the mistakes previously made.

Anglia, N. (2020). Why is it Important to Study History? Nord Anglia Education. Web.

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From the President

Why Study You-Know-What?

Our Reasons for Doing What We Do

Jacqueline Jones | Jan 13, 2021

W hy study history? The answers depend on who asks the question and who ventures a reply. 

We all have our own reasons for doing what we do. I came to a study of history via a curiosity about my hometown, a village in New Castle County, Delaware. I also appreciated the aesthetics of doing archival research and the sheer enjoyment of assembling a coherent story from disparate, scattered pieces of evidence. Everybody loves a good story, one with a beginning, a middle, and an end. And we crave encounters with characters, in the past as in the present, men and women who are fascinating in their own way, whether admirable or repellant. The readers of Perspectives well know that on a personal level, the act of crafting these stories, to enlighten and entertain, can be immensely satisfying.

Yet even if we historians have our reasons for studying the past, we often find ourselves needing to make the case to people not in the discipline—our students, museum visitors, grant officers at funding agencies, readers of newspaper op-eds, corporate executives, heads of government agencies, budget-conscious deans and provosts. We might be good at “doing” history, but are we good at convincing other people that learning about history is worthwhile? 

Standing before a class of 400 undergraduates in a US history introductory course on the first day of the semester, I have always felt compelled to give my students some good reasons to be there. In Texas, the state legislature requires that all public university undergraduates take two courses in US history. Anyone who has ever taught a required course knows it’s a challenge. The instructor must (try to) get students engaged in a topic that some have little interest in and others actively despise. I always thought I owed it to the skeptics to make a pitch and try to convince them that learning about the United States since 1865 was worth their time.

I often began by reciting the reasons why an understanding of history is good for you. Over 20 years ago, Peter Stearns offered an elegant rumination on the value of a history education: history helps us understand people and societies; history helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be; history contributes to moral understanding; history provides identity; studying history is essential for good citizenship; a study of history helps to develop essential skills; and history is useful in the world of work. 

We might be good at “doing” history, but are we good at convincing other people that learning about history is worthwhile?

Last fall, Stearns updated his essay to account for changes in the economy, higher education, and the discipline over the last quarter century or so. Today, he notes, any discussion of the value of the discipline needs to highlight the kinds of jobs available to history majors; we cannot simply ignore our students’ well-founded concern for their future. We must give them license to study and enjoy history without the worry that they will never be able to make a living if they do so in a serious way. To that end, my department at the University of Texas at Austin has developed a web page called “ What History Majors Do ,” and the AHA also has a section on its website called “ Careers for History Majors .”

In his updated essay, Stearns also suggests that we must stress how historical data can help us to understand the diverse, dynamic world we are living in now—a history that informs the present. In recent decades, the study of history has expanded in terms of content, methodologies, and digital tools to provide context for complex contemporary issues, from racial ideologies and the global economy to pandemics and politics. I recall my daughter coming home from high school one afternoon, throwing her schoolbooks on the kitchen table, and announcing her history homework assignment for the evening with considerable dread and disgust. This 16-year-old, so focused on the here and now, had a hard time wrapping her head around the idea that people and events in the past could or should matter to her. “It’s history—get over it, Mom!” she exclaimed. By linking historical knowledge to the ideas and things people care about today, we might have a better chance of convincing a larger audience that what we do is socially useful work. 

What other arguments might resonate with the resistant or the indifferent? The late civil rights activist and US representative John Lewis (1940–2020) wrote an essay that he asked be published the day of his funeral (July 17, 2020). In it, he wrote about the history of reformers and radicals and their strategies for change:

You must also study and learn the lessons of history because humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time.

Lewis was making the case that an understanding of historic fights for justice is a precondition for meaningful social change.

Still, not everyone is interested in social movements. And most students are focused on another area of study in any case, with their sights set firmly on careers such as nursing, forest management, pharmacy, law, or journalism. Here we might make the case to them—and to college and university administrators—that all occupations have a history. One’s vocation can be enhanced and enriched by an appreciation for the way it has developed over time, and for the people in the past who helped to shape it into what it is today.

We can make the case that the study of history is an outlet for creative expression.

Finally, we can make the case that the study of history is an outlet for creative expression—literary, visual, and aural. It is a privilege and a challenge to be able to write or teach or craft exhibits with a particular audience in mind. Some students find their way to history via assignments that draw on their particular talents—as budding writers or filmmakers, as visual learners or musicians. As historians, we have an opportunity to seek innovative means to report on what we have found in the archives or other kinds of repositories of information about the past. 

Returning to that big undergraduate history survey course: No instructor can convince a resistant, even resentful student on the first day of class that an understanding of history opens up exciting new realms of knowledge and experience. Students have to arrive at the conclusion on their own over the course of the semester. As the weeks go by, they might begin to focus on a particular piece of the historical enterprise that intrigues them—an appreciation for the history of their own communities and cultures, for the words of people who lived in the past, for historical evidence and different interpretations of it, for the different ways we bring history to life, for the pieces of a mystery that is the great human drama. And certainly if we can convey to other people the excitement that drew us historians to the discipline to begin with, we need not offer a laundry list of the reasons why the study of history is good for all of us.

In the end, we make our best case when we describe our own journey as historians, for there are as many compelling responses to the question “Why study history?” as there are people who ask and historians who answer.

Jacqueline Jones is president of AHA.

Tags: From the President Teaching & Learning K-16 Education

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Stephanie Effevottu

WHY STUDY HISTORY: THE RELEVANCE OF HISTORY TO THE MODERN WORLD

History is indispensable. In centuries past, this statement would have seemed self-evident as ancient cultures devoted much time and effort to teaching and recording history. Although drawn from a fictional movie, the above quotation expounds on the importance of history and historical records to traditional societies. However, in modern societies, there has been a paradigm shift in the relevance attached to the study of history as historical studies. To some critics of history, man is much smarter now than he was even twenty years ago, that anything from the past is outdated and irrelevant. They prefer to define themselves in terms of where they are going rather than where they came from, believing that the past is already past and should therefore be forgotten. To some other critics, while some things about the past may prick their curiosities such as: Who were those people that existed in the past? What were they like? How did they live? they did not believe that such inquisitiveness was enough to warrant a devotion to the study of history as a full-fledged academic discipline.

Even if you slash my throat, our brushes will not stop writing. If I die, another historian will take my place; if you kill that historian, another will take their place. Even if you kill every historian in this land and take away all the papers and brushes, you won’t be able to stop us. From mouth to mouth, teacher to student, elder to child, history will be told. That is the power of the truth- (Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, Episode 20)

As someone who actually studied and is still studying history, I am always faced with people asking me questions such as: why are you studying history? or what future does the study of history holds for you in terms of career choices or job prospects especially in a country like Nigeria where history has been relegated to the background? Against the background of these views, this article attempts to highlight some of the relevance of the study of history to the modern world. It begins by providing a brief definition of history and the various perspectives related to the study of history. The article then offers an insight into the various ways through which the study of history is/can be beneficial to the modern world. It concludes by stating some career options open to graduates of history.

The term ‘history’ holds manifold meanings, all of which are connected to the past. E.H. Carr (1961) defines history as a continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts, and an unending dialogue between the present and the past. As an academic discipline, it refers to the study and interpretation of not only the events of the past but also their consequences. W.H. Walsh as cited by Osokoya (1996) asserts that the historian aims at a reconstruction of the past which is both intelligent and intelligible. There appears to be no end to definitions of history because many historians will respond differently when seeking to answer such a question. However, it is conceivable and necessary to identify certain features which may be described as essential characteristics of history. Some of such features include its fragmentary nature, its humanistic nature, its termination in the present, its dynamic nature, and the fact that history is factual.

The study of history holds relevance to modern societies in manifold ways, including but not limited to the following: Studying history makes students not only enthusiastic but critical readers. As students of history, you are trained to read and research extensively, critique, and accurately cite and reference sources. You also learn to ascertain various lines of arguments and biases, the styles of writers, the ranges and kinds of sources used in research works. It also equips students with the ability to think critically and make informed judgments about human situations.

Historical studies also help to offer an in-depth understanding of the world and the society in which we live, including providing us with a sense of memory and identity. The presence of historical records is what informed our knowledge of who we are, how we came to be, and how the society in which we live came about. If we have no history, we have no memory and subsequently no identity. It is through the events recorded in history that identities such as ethnicity, religion, and nationality are formed. Through the study and knowledge of history, a sense of belonging, patriotism, national pride, especially inter-group relations with others, can take root and can be used by leaders to inspire people. In this world that is constantly changing, and understanding of socio-political and economic history can serve as coping mechanisms for individuals. Through history, we get to learn about individuals, societies, and institutions that contributed both positively and negatively to national development.

History empowers us to understand the present through the light of the past, thereby serving as an important trajectory linking the past to the present and the future. In his well-known novel,  Nineteen Eighty-Four , Orwell warned, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past” (Orwell 1949: 35). This is true because knowledge of history can shape the way we view the present and dictate the answers we offer for present challenges. If we listen to what history has to say, we can come to a sound understanding of the past in a way that can inform our present actions. Livy cited as one of the greatest historians in Roman history, asserts that the study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience set out for all to see, and in that record, you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid. Without a sense of history, our ability to relate to contemporary issues will therefore be limited. Other relevance of the study of history includes the fact that it provides unique insight into human nature and human civilization.

Although some persons may feel that a degree in history is a waste, the benefits of studying history surpass what you read in books or learn in the classroom. The study of history provides students with several transferable, critical, and analytical skills that can be put to use in a wide range of careers/fields such as archivists, curator, teacher, researcher, media and advertising sector, public sector, editor, translator, non-governmental and humanitarian sectors, to mention but a few. To conclude, although history concerns itself with knowledge about the past, it helps to build skills that are relevant in modern societies, making it one of the most versatile disciplines in the humanities.

Carr, E.H. 1961.  What is history?  London: Penguin Books.

Matthews, G. 2011. History: A worthwhile academic discipline.  History in Action , 2(2), 1-5.

Ochefu, Y.A., and Ogbogbo, C.B.N. 2005-2016. The role of historical societies in Nigeria’s development.  Afrika Zamani , 13&14, pp.73-85.

Orwell, G. 1949.  Nineteen Eighty-Four . London: Seeker and Warburg.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, Episode 20.

Posted by Stephanie E. Effevottu Apr 1, 2021

Posted in History Tags: Career Choices, Historian, History, History Matters, Relevance of History, Why Study History

Leave a comment on WHY STUDY HISTORY: THE RELEVANCE OF HISTORY TO THE MODERN WORLD

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Great one steph!

It is true that studying history also aids in giving us a thorough awareness of the world and the community in which we reside, as well as a feeling of remembrance and identity. It would be fantastic if I could make the subject engaging for my kids since I want to fully engage them in it. Maybe I can buy an imperialism game or anything else that simulates history. They seem to really like those types of interactive games, in my opinion.

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What Is History?

A Collection of Definitions

ThoughtCo / J.R. Bee

• Ancient Civilizations
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• M.A., Anthropology, University of Iowa
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History is the study of the human past as it is described in written documents left behind by humans. The past, with all of its complicated choices and events, participants dead and history told, is what the general public perceives to be the immutable bedrock on which historians and archaeologists  stand.

But as purveyors of the past, historians recognize that the bedrock is really quicksand, that bits of each story are yet untold, and that what has been told is colored by the conditions of today. While not untrue to say that history is the study of the past, here is a collection of much more clear and accurate descriptions.

Pithy History Definitions

No one could argue that the best definition isn't a short one, but it helps if you can be witty as well.

John Jacob Anderson

"History is a narration of the events which have happened among mankind, including an account of the rise and fall of nations, as well as of other great changes which have affected the political and social condition of the human race." (John Jacob Anderson)

W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman

"History is not what you thought. It is what you remember. All other history defeats itself." ( 1066 and All That )

James Joyce

"History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." ( Ulysses )

Arnold J. Toynbee

"History not used is nothing, for all intellectual life is action, like practical life, and if you don't use the stuff well, it might as well be dead."

The Psycho-Historian

Between 1942 and 1944, the science fiction writer Isaac Asimov wrote the first short stories which were to become the basis for the Foundation trilogy. The main concept of the Foundation Trilogy is that if you are a good enough mathematician, you can accurately predict the future, based on the record of the past. Asimov read very widely indeed, so it should come as no surprise that his ideas were based on the writings of other historians.

Charles Austin Beard

"If a science of history were achieved, it would, like the science of celestial mechanics, make possible the calculable prediction of the future in history. It would bring the totality of historical occurrences within a single field and reveal the unfolding future to its last end, including all the apparent choices made and to be made. It would be omniscience. The creator of it would possess the attributes ascribed by the theologians to God. The future once revealed, humanity would have nothing to do except to await its doom."

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges

"History is and should be a science ... History is not the accumulation of events of every kind which happened in the past. It is the science of human societies."

"The first foundations of all history are the recitals of the fathers to the children, transmitted afterward from one generation to another; at their origin, they are at the very most probable, when they do not shock common sense, and they lose one degree of probability in each generation." ( The Philosophical Dictionary )

Edward Hallett Carr

"History is ... a dialogue between the present and the past. (originally: Geschichte ist ... ein Dialog zwischen Gegenwart und Vergangenheit.)" ( What Is History? )

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The major lessons of history? There are four: First, whom the gods destroy they first make mad with power. Second, the mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceeding small. Third, the bee fertilizes the flower it robs. Fourth, when it is dark enough you can see the stars." (Attributed to historian Charles Austin Beard, but this version is the one Martin Luther King used in "The death of evil upon the seashore")

A Pack of Tricks

Not everyone likes the study of history or finds it useful. Henry Ford was a prime example of that and so was Henry David Thoreau, what may be one of the very few things those two gentlemen had in common.

"History is nothing but a pack of tricks we play on the dead." (French original) "J'ay vu un temps où vous n'aimiez guères l'histoire. Ce n'est après tout qu'un ramas de tracasseries qu'on fait aux morts ... "

Henry David Thoreau

"As for the Pyramids, there is nothing to wonder at in them so much as the fact that so many men could be found degraded enough to spend their lives constructing a tomb for some ambitious booby, whom it would have been wiser and manlier to have drowned in the Nile, and then given his body to the dogs." ( Walden )

Jane Austen

"History, real solemn history, I cannot be interested in. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that does not either vex or weary me. The quarrels of popes and kings, with wars or pestilences, in every page; the men all so good for nothing, and hardly any women at all—it is very tiresome." ( Northanger Abbey )

Ambrose Bierce

"HISTORY, n. An account mostly false, of events mostly unimportant, which are brought about by rulers mostly knaves, and soldiers mostly fools: Of Roman history, great Niebuhr's shown 'Tis nine-tenths lying. Faith, I wish 'twere known, Ere we accept great Niebuhr as a guide, Wherein he blundered and how much he lied." ( Devil's Dictionary)

"A race of people is like an individual man; until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself."

The Passage of Time

Whether you like history or not, there's no denying the impact it leaves on us.

"Most events recorded in history are more remarkable than important, like eclipses of the sun and moon, by which all are attracted, but whose effects no one takes the trouble to calculate." ( A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers .)

Gusti Bienstock Kollman

"You know, it's so strange, I've lived through four forms of government in my life: monarchy, republic, Hitler's Reich, American democracy. The [ Weimar] republic was only ... 1918 to 1933, that's fifteen years! Imagine that, only fifteen years. But, then, Hitler was going to last a thousand years and he lasted only ... 1933 to 1945 ... twelve, twelve years only! Hah!"

"So very difficult a matter it is to trace and find out the truth of anything by history." ( Plutarch's Lives )

Douglas Adams

"The History of every major Galactic Civilization tends to pass through three distinct and recognizable phases, those of Survival, Inquiry, and Sophistication, otherwise known as the How, Why and Where phases. For instance, the first phase is characterized by the question "How can we eat?" the second by the question "Why do we eat?" and the third by the question "Where shall we have lunch?" ( Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe )

According to Prufrock

After such knowledge, what forgiveness? Think now History has many cunning passages, contrived corridors And issues, deceives with whispering ambitions, Guides us by vanities. Think now She gives when our attention is distracted And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions That the giving famishes the craving. Gives too late What's not believed in, or if still believed, In memory only, reconsidered passion. Gives too soon Into weak hands, what's thought can be dispensed with Till the refusal propagates a fear. Think Neither fear nor courage saves us. Unnatural vices Are fathered by our heroism. Virtues Are forced upon us by our impudent crimes. These tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree. ("The Waste Land" , Prufrock and Other Poems )

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Student Essay: The Importance of History

Historiography, Definitions, Nature and Scope of History

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Some puzzles in human life are universal and cut across generations. That is why some of the very issues that boggled the minds of many people several centuries ago continue to baffle many people today. Such problems often attract the attention of scholars and generate debates among them. The meaning of the term ‘history’ and the nature of history in general are certainly some of the sensitive problems that have remained highly debatable among historians and allied scholars. In fact, the debate on “what is history?” has continued without resolution for several centuries. The term ‘history’ has been defined or explained differently by different people at different times and under different circumstances. Though these definitions or explanations have been accepted and used, the lack of unanimity on the part of historians on a common definition places students and teachers of history in a difficult situation concerning what exactly history is. We believe that in the contemporary setting, any definition or explanation given to history must be situated in a framework that is comprehensive enough to make the nature and philosophy of the discipline clear. Using both primary and secondary documents, and employing the multi-disciplinary approach, this paper examines some of the important definitions or explanations that have been given to history with the view to constructing a definition or an explanation that is appropriate for history today. In its survey, the study finds that several definitions have been formulated for history over the centuries. It observes, however, that some of the definitions or explanations are inappropriate and unacceptable today in view of their inability to reveal the true nature of history and clarify the philosophy behind the study of the past. In its evaluation and conclusion, the paper appreciates that history has both art and science dimensions, and is also a practice with an avowed philosophy. Taking all these into consideration, the paper then defines or explains history in a context that is comprehensive enough to depict history as a discipline that is concerned not only with the past, but also, and more especially, with the present and the future for the development of society and the various sciences or disciplines. As a result, the study draws attention to the need to promote the serious study of history in schools.

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Home — Essay Samples — History — Historiography — The Importance of Historiography in Studying History

The Importance of Historiography in Studying History

• Categories: Historiography Study World History

About this sample

Words: 1171 |

Published: Sep 1, 2020

Words: 1171 | Pages: 3 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Historiography essay outline, historiography essay example, introduction.

• Definition of history and its significance
• Introduction to historiography as the study of how history is written

Evolution of Historical Writing

• The origins of historical writing
• Influence of Christianity on early historical records
• The transition from divine accounts to human events

Herodotus and Greek Historiography

• Herodotus as a pioneer in historical writing
• Herodotus's methods and approach to history
• The storytelling style of Greek historiography

Chinese Historiography

• The distinct characteristics of Chinese historiography
• The role of Chinese historians and their sponsorship
• The focus on moral lessons and dynastic history

Ibn Khaldun and Arab Historiography

• Ibn Khaldun's contributions to historiography
• The methods and principles of Arab historiography
• The importance of criticism, observation, and comparison

Criticism in Historiography

• Examination of primary sources in historiography
• General criticisms of historiography, including biases and limitations
• Roman and Chinese historiography as examples of bias and focus
• The role of historiography in interpreting the past
• The relationship between historiography and the evolution of historical writing
• The importance of studying historiography to understand different perspectives on history

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Why is 4/20 the unofficial weed day? The history behind April 20 and marijuana

The favorite day of stoners across the globe is upon us: April 20 or 4/20 , also known as weed day, is this Saturday.

Coincidentally falling on the same weekend as National Cold Brew Day and National Record Store Day, Saturday is shaping up to be something of a paradise for weed, coffee and music fans alike.

But how did an otherwise random day in April somehow become the mecca of marijuana enjoyment? Many theories have swirled over the years. While more exciting ones harken the holiday back to police busts or hidden messages in classic songs, the widely accepted origin is a little more reminiscent of a classic high school experience.

How did 4/20 become the official unofficial weed holiday? Here's what we know.

420 deals: Celebrate 4/20 with food deals at Wingstop, Popeyes, more. Or sip Snoop Dogg's THC drinks

What does 420 mean?

420 refers to the day 4/20, or April 20. The date has come to be known as the official stoner holiday on which marijuana smokers celebrate their love of bud.

The number 420 itself has also come to be associated with marijuana and smoking and is often used as a colloquial term for the flower and the act of consuming it.

Smokers see 4/20 not only as a day to kick back and celebrate their love of the stuff, but also to push for broader legalization and decriminalization of marijuana federally in the U.S. and beyond.

Where is weed legal? The states where recreational, medicinal marijuana is allowed in 2024

Why is 420 associated with weed?

You may have heard some of the most popular rumors that have circled the cultural zeitgeist over the years: that 420 is the code police used to describe marijuana smoking; 420 is the number of active chemicals in weed that get you high; April 20 was Bob Marley's birthday (it wasn't); that it's a reference to Bob Dylan’s song “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” (12 times 35 equals 420).

In reality, it's much simpler and perhaps less exciting than any of that.

While no one can say for certain, one widely accepted origin traces back to a group of teenagers hanging out after school.

In the early '70s, five students at San Rafael High School in Marin County, California would meet outside of the school after extracurricular activities had ended for the day. The group, eventually called the "Waldos," simply for the fact they met by a wall to do their thing, made their official meeting time 4:20 p.m. and eventually started using 420 as code for smoking.

One of the Waldo members, Dave Reddix, later got work as a roadie for the Grateful Dead, and the band helped to popularize the term, he told Time. Specifically, a flyer distributed by a group of Oakland Deadheads in December 1990 inviting people to smoke on April 20 at 4:20 p.m. did the trick.

A reporter at High Times magazine got hold of the flier and printed it in 1991, bringing it to the attention of cannabis fans across state lines. The magazine continued to use the term in future publications, solidifying its place in popular vernacular.

Steve Bloom, the "High Times" reporter who originally received the flyer, later credited the Waldos for originating the term, saying in a 2013 blog , "...they wanted people all over the world to get together on one day each year and collectively smoke pot at the same time. They birthed the idea of a stoner holiday, which April 20 has become."

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Where is weed legal?

Looking forward to partaking this 4/20? Make sure you know the laws in your area before you do.

The legalization of marijuana has been a long state-by-state process, and various levels of use from none to medical to recreational are allowed in jurisdictions across the U.S. At least 25 have fully legalized recreational use, and more are either in the process or have future voting on the books.

Wondering about the status in your state? Check our list of where recreational, medicinal marijuana is allowed in 2024.