History is a discipline that encompasses a wide range of subjects and ideas. It is often framed as the study of change over time, with historians offering complex explanations of why and how things have changed. However, there are many different ways to understand history, and these perspectives can influence the way we see the past.
For example, an ancient Greek writer called Plutarch argued that history is primarily about great people, their character, ambitions, abilities and leadership skills, and their mistakes and failures. This view of history can be a useful tool to use when researching a certain time period, but it does not provide a complete picture.
A more complete and accurate understanding of history requires a fuller grasp of how historians select and organize facts about the past to create a coherent narrative about it. It is important to remember that the historical narrative is a human construct that aims to inform, rather than please.
This is why historians often take a rigorous and critical approach to their work. They try to elucidate what is known, tease out what is not, and situate it in the world that produced it. They also try to avoid ‘fluff’ that adds to the length of a text but does not help the reader understand it better.
Another key issue to bear in mind when learning about history is that it is a constantly evolving field. There are always new discoveries about the past, which can challenge or even contradict existing theories. This is the reason why historians need to be constantly updating their work, and the reason why it is a good idea for non-history-students to follow and learn from the work of historians.
When taking a history class, it is important to pay attention to the syllabus and read as much as possible before the first class. This will help you to understand the context of the period and place that you are studying, and how this affects the events that occurred. It is also a good idea to look up any primary sources that your professor may suggest, as these will be more likely to offer an authentic picture of the past than a popular movie like Schindler’s List or Brave Heart, which are not necessarily historically accurate.
Everyone has a theory of history, which shapes the lens through which they see the world. It might be based on half-remembered high school classes, pop culture like Saving Private Ryan or Game of Thrones, or a deliberate and thoughtful study of the past that they have chosen to make a part of their lives. Regardless of how it is formed, all of us live with a history that surrounds them every day – from the languages they speak to the cultures, traditions and religions that they have inherited, to the technologies that they use. Understanding the importance of this heritage is a crucial element in our ability to learn about and shape the future.