Why Study History?

GUIDING QUESTION

What types of things can history reveal about the past, and how does that knowledge help us today?

"We do not just risk repeating history if we sweep it under the carpet, we also risk being myopic [shortsighted] about our present."

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian author

History is the record of past people and events. It offers insight into how people have lived, how complex societies have formed and collapsed, and the reasons why human cooperation and conflict have occurred throughout the past. History helps us understand why our community, nation, and world are the way they are.

The more people know about the past, the better they can gauge present conditions and make informed decisions about their opinions and actions. Think about it: every law, custom, language, and technology you encounter today has roots in history.

People learning about history from a park ranger at an Australian archaeological site
Learning about history happens in many ways—not just from books. Here, visitors learn about indigenous history at an Australian archaeological site.John R. Kreul/Alamy Stock Photo

People study history to gain a clearer understanding of human society. We examine past events to see how decisions are made and how solutions to problems are considered. History explores the way that society and nations change—or why they stay the same. History tells the story of the ways that cultures develop over time.

Learning about the past helps us understand the present. Why is a war being fought in a certain area? Why does one country separate into two? Why do people migrate from one place to another? Understanding the events that people experienced in the past can help us make sense of current events.