History is one of the most contested subjects in all of academia. It is often portrayed as a dull, boring subject that is best left to the dusty shelves of a library no one ever visits. Yet, the truth is that history is anything but a discipline that should be consigned to some antiquarian endeavor. In fact, it is perhaps the most modern and relevant of all disciplines to date. The reason for this is that it provides a crucial window into the past that people use to shape their identities, beliefs and cultures in the present. However, this does not mean that it is easy to study or even understand. History is a difficult and sometimes intractable discipline because of the difficulty in determining what actually happened. A single event can take on thousands of different meanings when viewed through the lens of all sorts of different vantage points.
This is why the discipline has always been so contentious. Its practitioners debate virtually everything, from what should be studied to the precise cause and effect of events. Even something as simple as whether there was actually a Trojan War fought during the time Homer and Virgil described takes on many different interpretations when different historians look at it.
The discipline is also often used as a weapon in culture wars, when it is used to shape identities, legitimize certain actions and discredit others. When used for this purpose, it is a dangerous and divisive practice. However, when used for a more emancipatory end, it can be powerful and liberating. For example, studying the history of radical dissenting traditions that were drowned out or anticolonial resistance movements that were defeated can help to open spaces of critical and imaginative possibility for our own times.
One way to approach history is by reading a few historical biographies, particularly biographies of famous historical figures. They are an excellent way to get a feel for a specific time period and can make history less intimidating to the autodidact. For example, Benjamin Franklin is a fascinating figure to read about because he was so multitalented and accomplished in so many different fields. He was a printer, inventor, statesman and author, among other things.
Another good strategy is to break up your study of history into smaller, manageable chunks and focus on each individually. By using study tools like timelines, maps, charts and taking quizzes, you can effectively master history in a much more engaging way.
Finally, it is important to remember that history is not really a discipline built upon facts, but upon interpretation. This is why it is so difficult to determine what really happened. If we could tape-record what actually took place, then the questions of what should be studied and the conclusions that should be drawn would be much easier to answer.