When many people think of history, they see a dry subject that’s mostly rote learning — memorizing names and dates. But, the reality of history is much more complex. In fact, it’s a powerful tool for understanding the world around us. Here are four reasons to make history a priority in your education.
Develops Research Skills
Historians use research to understand past events and societal trends. They scour public statements from political leaders, private records, numbers, visual materials and other data to form the most accurate picture of what happened. Learning how to sort through all of this information builds your ability to analyze and interpret all sorts of information you encounter in the world. It also helps you to distinguish between a reliable source and one that’s less trustworthy.
It Inspires People
History tells the stories of brilliant people and their heroic acts that shaped nations. These stories can inspire us to do great things ourselves and serve as a reminder that we live in a connected world and it’s up to each of us to contribute to its success.
It Helps You Prevent Repeating History
Studying history teaches you the lessons of previous mistakes and events so that you can avoid reliving them in the future. Whether it’s the high cost of war, the loss of a loved one or a devastating flu pandemic, studying history can give you insights into what to expect and prepare you for potential risks.
It Teach You to Judge Objectivity
It’s not uncommon for people to have misconceptions about what historians do. Some believe that they’re simply a bunch of “pointy-headed” people who study what “really happened in the past.” Professional historians know better. They know that history is a messy business, subject to a variety of human impulses — pride, vanity, self-righteousness, the obfuscation of the truth – and that the end results can often be very different from what was intended.
A Mastery of Different Perspectives
It takes a lot of skill and patience to deconstruct the narratives that are often constructed about the past and to get at the actual historical record. It is crucial that students learn to identify the underlying assumptions in the arguments of their teachers, peers and the media about historical events. This can be a key factor in disarming the partisanship that can cloud people’s understanding of history.
A Study of Contested Histories
The field of history is filled with controversies, disputes and disagreements. Some of these controversies center on the scholarly approach to writing history and how it should be written. Others involve the meaning of specific documents or the significance of particular events, or how certain events should be interpreted and portrayed in our lives today. These contested histories are often very important, and can lead to a deeper understanding of the nature of historical knowledge itself.
A study of history can help you become a more effective citizen, student and person overall. It can teach you how to look at a problem from multiple angles and make decisions with the highest level of scrutiny.