What is history? The American Heritage dictionary defines history as: " A chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events." History to me is significant events and people that have happened or are from the past, that influence things today. History is things that set the groundwork for many ideas and practices in the present. History is risks taken in order to make amends. People well known in history are the people who take these risks. For example, Christopher Columbus taking a sea voyage across waters never sailed by any other person. Martin Luther King Jr. making great speeches about his oppressed race that no one else dared to make. Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence, declaring and starting a war with the most powerful country of the time.
Why do we study history? We study history to make an influence in our lives. We see how these people take risks and make gains. We see how these people changed life for the better, if not for them for their children or grandchildren. We see that without these people we wouldn't have many of the things we have today.
Zhu Rongji prime minister of China said, "History can never be covered up." He's correct in so many ways. History never goes away. It keeps reappearing ubiquitously. Everything we know is attached to history. People in the past influence people in the present. Past people of their occupation have influenced all musicians, actors, writers, artists, poets, athletes, and more. There style comes from someone else who they looked up to. Everyone has role models they look up to, and it's because of the things that those people have accomplished in the past.
History can simply be defined as influence. It shows time and time again that history influences all the things that we do and say throughout our lives.