1. Why Study History
The objective of most higher-level education in general, and specifically of liberal education, is often misunderstood. It is not necessarily in direct preparation for a particular skill or for employment, but instead has a more indirect aim of instilling knowledge, frames of reference and the ability to think and express oneself. History is particularly rich in the opportunity it offers for learning how to think, due to the challenges inherent in its subject matter and to the strong tradition among historians of cultivating the general powers of intellect. The techniques of historical study and thinking, exacting as they are, nonetheless have a high "carry-over- value for other subjects and activities. As such, one cannot help but appreciate the historian's unique plight, and subsequently to see the value in his work as applied equally to all our lives, as human beings. .
To begin with, we must understand and accept that "History is constructed reality" (Burnstyn, 19870), given the simple fact that neither the historian nor the scholar has direct, first-hand knowledge of the events he is studying. As such, we are compelled to refer to documents, statements, or other evidence that pre-dates us and that we assume represents the past, giving us some insight as to what took place. The trouble is that no single artifact is entirely representative of a time or place. Rather, it is the result of, and is equally subject to, individual interpretations at one particular instance in time. The evidence then, cannot intrinsically or independently reflect any given event or its context. It requires the discerning, well-versed historian to give it "meaning" by attempting to deduce the circumstances under which the artifact came to be, and what the particular piece really does represent. In attempting to do this, the historian endeavors to reconstruct reality by factoring in various principles and other sources of information, resulting in a cohesive sum wholly different from any of its parts.
Why study history? ... First, I study history to learn about America's past times. ... Another reason I study history is to make myself more intelligent. ... That is why everyone should be required to study history. ... Everyone has their own opinions on why we study history, but we all have to study it. ...
World history is the study of the ways in which the world changes over time. ... When studying World History it must be taken into account why Columbus was looking for another route to eastern Asia and what the trade situation was throughout the rest of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. ... By studying World History one can find the origins of the Muslim religion with Muhammad. ... The study of World History allows a scholar to understand why parts of the Muslim community disagrees with the actions of the Christian World and the many events throughout the wor...
Linda Levstik wrote a book called "Doing History" that explains how to teach Social Studies in a classroom. ... I also have learned that it is important to have a strong literature based Social Studies program so that children can deepen their understanding of the topic and integrate it into other areas of study. ... This chapter focuses on linking children to the past through family histories. ... Students can find out their origin and discover why their family immigrated, when they immigrated, and find out different problems family member might have faced when they first can to the Unit...
Other myths account for the organization of the world and society, for instance how men and women were created and why they are different from one another. ... (www.mpm.edu/wirp/ICW-14.html) Oral tradition is a great way to research and to study about a culture or civilization. ... For example in the first pages the griot introduces himself and tells what his job is and why he is important. ... Both of these methods are helping historians to understand how these once great African kingdoms rose to power, and why they collapsed. ... When I become a historian I would try to study oral tr...
Scientific history was a better source to prove why different things happened throughout the ages, through studying the specific details from events that occurred in the past, to understand if they caused other things to happen. ... One main reason why this method is so accurate, whereas the work of earlier historians is suspect or "untrue" because the facts of the story are unverified and unverifiable, is because his account, by contrast, is based upon firm evidence, which he has made considerable efforts to check. ... Sacred history is different from scientific history for two main reasons. ...
"Why Western History Matters- is an essay adapted from a speech Donald Kagan delivered to the National Association of Scholars, and was reprinted in the December 28, 1994, issue of the Wall Street Journal. ... He does so by examining older cultures and explaining why they were quintessential to the past and to our future development as a society. ... In conclusion, my acceptance of the ideas expressed by Donald Kagan's essay makes the study of Western History an obligation to bettering of society. After reading this essay of "Why Western History Matters- I feel I have a better understa...
Why I like History Everyone takes at least one history course during his or her educational career. ... History is part of our everyday lives. ... Cars, for example, have been improved upon by studying historical records of the first Model T's. History plays a major part in everyone's life. It is important for us to study our past so we can better understand the world we live in today. ...
Beverly Southgate's work, History: What and Why?... Examining history and the study of history, Southgate provides a thorough analysis of where the study of history has been, and where it is going. ... This serves to further his thesis that the study of history is an evolving idea. ... The study of studying history is heavily based upon philosophy and ideas. ... History: What & Why, is nice tool to aid in the understanding of the study of history. ...