History is the study of the past, primarily the human past. It is an academic discipline that uses evidence to construct narratives of what happened in the past and why it happened. Some scholars categorize history as a social science, whereas others view it as a branch of the humanities or consider it a hybrid discipline. It is generally accepted that studying the past teaches valuable lessons for the present and future.
Most people think of history as “what-really-happened-in-the-past.” However, professional historians know that it is much more than a simple factual record. Even eyewitness accounts of a single event are often incongruent. Trying to determine from several people’s versions of events the truth about an accident or war is no easy task and is prone to errors, bias, self-righteousness and vanity.
Historians attempt to overcome the limitations of the source material by employing the scientific method, posing and testing hypotheses and relying on peer review and other academic protocols. They are experts in evaluating the reliability of primary sources, in distinguishing between them and secondary sources, and in determining how to use them.
Some historians have tended to focus on the great personalities of history and the events they created or led, such as Tacitus or Napoleon or Hitler. However, this approach can ignore or distort other important historical factors and conditions such as economic changes, social developments or popular unrest. Historians also take a thematic approach, analyzing patterns of change in how people lived, worked and thought over time.
The study of history nurtures a sense of identity in a world that is increasingly intercultural, diverse and complex. It enables students to discover how their family and community traditions have shaped the lives of those who came before them. It opens a window to the range of accommodations that individuals and societies have made in response to problems, disclosing their consequences.
It helps students understand how governments work, why laws exist and how societies evolve. Understanding these matters enables them to be better citizens and makes it easier to make sense of the world around them. It helps them become more empathic towards people from different cultures, times and backgrounds by focusing on their hopes, struggles and achievements. It reveals the high cost of making decisions on false analogies and of acting without sufficient knowledge.
Most importantly, history teaches the importance of thinking critically. Unless one understands the past, he is unable to judge the present or predict the future. That is why Thomas Jefferson prescribed the study of history to all who took part in self-government. It is only when a person becomes critically aware of the choices that have been made in the past that he can understand what choices to make in the present and what kind of world he is creating for himself and his descendants. Only then can he avoid repeating mistakes that have been made before. Then he can be free to explore the endless possibilities of life and contribute his part to the common good.