Why is it Important to Study History?

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‘We all live in the present and we plan for the future – but how do we understand where we’re going and what progress looks like? To know exactly where you’re going, you first need to understand where you have come from. For that you need an appreciation of history.

History is one of the most respected and most valuable academic subjects your child will learn. This guide takes a deep dive into the importance of learning history at school, plus a few tips for studying it effectively. 

Benefits of Studying History

Entire societies, and the individuals within them, benefit from gaining a deeper understanding of history.

Develop an Understanding of the World - Through history, we can learn how past societies, systems, ideologies, governments, cultures and technologies were built, how they operated, and how they have changed. The rich history of the world helps us to paint a detailed picture of where we stand today.

Become a More Rounded Person - History is full of stories. Some are inspiring and uplifting; others are chaotic and immoral. There are lessons, both good and bad, to be learned from the way our ancestors have interacted with other people who have different ways of living. In a modern world where inclusivity is embraced no matter your background, an understanding of how past societies have integrated is key to humanity improving in the future.

Understand Identity - Nations are made up of a collection of stories and legends. These stories shape the way we think about our country and our standing within it. History is where we learn about how great institutions are formed, and how they’ve contributed to where we are today.  For many of us, looking back at incredible fellow countrymen is a way of establishing our own identity. Finding who we are and what mark we can make on the world is a huge part of childhood. Allowing children to learn about the identity of their country is one way of facilitating that.

Become Inspired - Those historical stories can also serve to inspire individuals to greatness. History remembers brilliant people and their heroic acts that have changed the shape of nations. You get a huge amount of motivation from learning about the inspirational events that make up where we are today.

Learn from Mistakes - “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana’s quote is one of academia’s most cited and paraphrased lines, and one that explains perfectly why everyone should study history. The past is filled with warning signs. We must be able to reflect on the events that built up to them, learn from mistakes made and resist and question if we see similar patterns emerging.’ (Source) 

“That makes a lot of sense,” says Tiffi. “Let’s look online to find out who writes history. Would it be history teachers? I’ll look up history teachers to see if that’s it.” 

Tiffi finds out that history teachers just encourage students to view the world from multiple perspectives. They facilitate learning by providing stimulating discussions, readings, and projects. They often help students comprehend and process the significance of difficult social and political issues. Then she sees the question who writes history and finds out that it’s a historian who studies and writes about the past. They are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race, as well as the study of all history in time. 

That’s it! Now it’s time to find out exactly what a historian does …….. 

Let’s continue - What is a historian and what do they do?

Start at the beginning – What is the historical truth?