Most people think of history as a kind of unproblematic study of what-really-happened-in-the-past. But historians know that determining what really happened is a complicated business. Even the most objective historical events are inevitably mixed with truths, biases and hopes. In fact, a single event such as the Trojan War can take on thousands of different interpretations when people of all sorts of backgrounds impose their own notions of truth upon it.
In the course of their work, historians learn how to examine and evaluate many different kinds of evidence: public statements, private documents, archaeological finds, numerical data, visual materials and so on. They develop the ability to combine these elements into a coherent whole and then to make sound arguments based on the evidence they have gathered. Historians also become familiar with the concept of significance, a value which is given to individuals, events, ideas and sites by a community. It is a matter of judgment and is not necessarily linked to greatness. Thus, Cromwell’s putting the inhabitants of Drogheda to the sword is not enough to make him significant; nor is Hitler’s use of gas weapons significant.
One of the reasons that historians insist on teaching the past to their students is that it helps us to understand ourselves and our own time. Historians can teach us how societies and cultures change over time, how they evolve from primitive communities to complex city states and from animism to monotheism. They can show how, through conscious and unconscious inheritance, the values of our ancestors have come to form what we are today.
This knowledge helps us to understand how our own beliefs and values have evolved over time, which in turn makes them more valuable. Historians can also help us to find a sense of identity by showing how our family and group histories fit into larger historical change. For example, examining the way that a family’s members served in major wars can give us a better understanding of our place in our country and the world.
The study of history also teaches the skills of investigation and analysis that are essential to any responsible citizen. This is especially important as we face increasingly complex questions about the past, such as the morality of our use of military force, the relationship between science and religion, the nature of globalization and the place of culture in a world of increasing interconnectedness.
Those who understand the importance of history to a democracy can appreciate why there is a growing worldwide movement to include more and better history in schools at all levels. Without it, a society has no shared memory of where it came from and where it is going, and cannot engage in serious discussions of its core values or how the decisions of its past account for present circumstances. The study of history is the foundation of political intelligence. And it is the precondition of democratic debate. Unless we are all prepared to learn about the past, we will never be able to understand the present or decide how best to deal with its challenges.