History is the study of events that happened in the past. It’s a vast subject with plenty of information to digest. Luckily, there are many ways to approach it: you can focus on a single person or event, you can study general trends, you can delve into specific details and more. But no matter what your approach, the key to studying history is making connections.
Whether it’s the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago or an obituary, everything that happens leaves a trace. That record of the past is called history and it exists in various forms, including books, oral stories, art and even a record of the electromagnetic waves that left our galaxy.
The first historical records are thought to have been created by Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 2900 bc. They were written in cuneiform and described military victories, economic changes and social unrest.
These records, along with other archaeological and anthropological discoveries, are the basis of modern historical research. Historians work to analyze these sources in order to create a narrative of history that explains why things happen. They also work to understand how these histories were created, and what they reveal about the societies that produced them.
As a discipline, history is constantly evolving. For example, historians once accepted cyclical history (that certain events repeat) and providential history (that God controls all of the world’s happenings). While these theories have been disproved, they still linger in the minds of some historians and are often reflected in their writings.
Some historians take a more thematic approach, focusing on the factors and forces that shape or influence history. Others are more concerned with the development of great ideas or movements that affect people and their society. Historians may also study what are called ‘flashpoints’, which are events or discoveries that serve as the ignition points for larger changes in history, such as the invention of printing, gold mining and the emergence of Christianity.
If you’re a history major, your knowledge of the past will expand exponentially with every course you take. However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the names, dates and facts you need to remember. This is why it’s important to use tools like mnemonic devices, timelines and flashcards to learn the material. It’s also helpful to broaden your perspective on the subject and see how it intersects with other areas like politics, religion, literature and economics.
There’s no denying that it takes time to become a master of any subject. But with a little practice, you can make your way through the study of history with ease. When you’re ready to dig in, start with the big picture and work your way down to the finer points. Then, you’ll know that the time you spent on your studies was well spent. If you’re lucky, some of those finer points will stick in your memory for a long time to come.