A discipline that deals with past events and their causes, history includes the discovery, collection, organization, presentation and interpretation of historical evidence. It is an interdisciplinary academic field that has roots in philosophy, religion, law and art. Many students view history as a collection of facts to be memorized and regurgitated on tests, but the discipline is actually much more complex than that. It is a field that demands a critical eye and a willingness to explore conflicting points of view.
The study of history gives students experience dealing with and assessing various kinds of evidence-public statements, private records, numerical data and visual materials. It also provides an opportunity to develop skills in organizing and presenting these materials in coherent arguments that make sense to others.
When historians use primary sources, like eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Little Big Horn or letters written by congressmen advocating for woman suffrage or discussing the outcome of the Civil War, they are aware that the record reflects the point of view and dominant ideas of the time. These factors can produce discrepancies in the interpretation of the evidence that is used to create an account of what happened, and it is one reason why scholars try to gather as much information as possible about a particular event from a variety of sources.
Historians also understand that their conclusions will always be subject to debate. This is why they use the scientific method in their work: establishing and testing hypotheses, publishing only their results after thorough review, evaluating their conclusions against other works of scholarship. Although some aspects of history are still art and interpretation, the discipline has evolved into a social science, with the same kind of rigorous standards that apply to other disciplines.
Students can gain a deeper understanding of the human condition by studying history, especially when they learn about individuals who have weathered adversity and come out stronger on the other side of their conflicts. Studying history also helps a student test and sharpen their moral sense by providing examples of certifiable heroes from the past.
The study of history can help an individual become a better citizen by giving them the context in which to understand and appreciate the sacrifices that other people have made to protect and promote their freedom. It also gives them an opportunity to consider what is important in their own lives and how they can contribute to a society that values liberty, equality and the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens.
In addition to its practical benefits, the study of history is an enjoyable and intellectually stimulating endeavor. Skillful exposition of the human record provides an understanding of how our world came to be, and why it is the way that it is. While the general public’s view of history as mostly an assembly of facts continues to create a dichotomy between what practicing historians believe and what the general public thinks about history, it seems that there is an increasing appreciation of the discipline and its value in life.