Importance Of History

Why is it important to study history? Explain your answer.

Quick Answer
Studying history is important because it allows us to understand our past, which in turn allows
us to understand our present. If we want to know how and why our world is the way it is
today, we have to look to history for answers. People often say that “history repeats itself,”
but if we study the successes and failures of the past, we may, ideally, be able to learn from
our mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. Studying history can provide us with
insight into our cultures of origin as well as cultures with which we might be less familiar,
thereby increasing cross-cultural awareness and understanding.

Expert Answers
Murl Larson | Certified Educator
The study of history is important because it allows one to make more sense of the current
world. One can look at past economic and cultural trends and be able to offer reasonable
predictions of what will happen next in today's world. One can also understand why some
rules exist in the modern world. For example, one can understand the importance of the social
welfare programs if one looks at the Great Depression and New Deal. We can also look back
on the Civil Rights movement and see why the United States puts so much effort into creating
a system where everyone is equal before the law and has equal access to public amenities.
History also allows us to see how the United States gradually created the Constitution after it
had just fought a war against a central government that did not care for colonial interests.
Without a background in history, one does not appreciate why the Constitution was
revolutionary for its time. More broadly, history enables us to understand different cultures.
If those are not good reasons for studying history, one can study history because it allows one
to exercise their critical thinking skills. These critical thinking skills are important for all areas
in life, academic and otherwise. Historians also write a great deal; a study of history allows
one to practice writing for different audiences.

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litteacher8 | Certified Educator

The main reason to study history is so that you find out all of the facts for yourself. If you
don't study history, you won't know when someone is misleading you. People always have
their own version of the facts. It's important that you know for yourself.

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mapriem | Certified Educator

It is...

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What is History for?

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Jasmin Ritchie | Certified Educator

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Student Answers
millneraa | Student

History is a valuable resource for us in numerous ways. History offers us connections with the
people that came before us, and the societies that they developed. These connections allow us
to use their experiences both negative and positive to affect our personal and societal
development.

Historical connections provide us with identity. Genealogy unites us with our familial history,
allowing us to connect with and understand our roots, and those who came before that share
our DNA. Occasionally, our individual genealogical history can surprise us with relations we
never knew were possible, opening doors to family and culture that we never knew that we
were connected with.

Community, Cultural, and World history provide our societies with a framework. We can
cultivate an understanding, utilizing history of course; that allows us to further develop as a
society, moving forward rather than backward.

Studying history can inform us of the complexities of dealing with adversity in all its forms.
We can evaluate the actions, reactions, and culmination of that adversity and use the data to
inform our behavior and morality.

History provides us with many examples of good leaders, poor leaders, and societies that rose
and fell for myriad reasons. Throughout history we see adequate business people, admirable
ones too, we see failure, regret, action, stability, as well as Catastrophe’s, and we take them to
heart learning from them in earnest.

rythm | Student

The term “History” was actually derived from the Greek word “historia” which means
knowledge that one acquires through investigation or inquiry. History has its importance
because:

a. It increases our knowledge of our cultural heritage and our ancestral roots where we
originate from. It also enhances knowledge on cross-cultural diversity on an international
level.

b.It helps us inculcate moral values as we learn of the courage and diligence of the men and
women who portrayed such traits in the past. Besides, we also learn from past mistakes made
by our forefathers and avoid repeating them.

c. It helps students develop their research skills and assess sources of information.

d. It educates us about the evolution of man.

So this subject is an important aspect that students must study.

irie1211 | Student

It is important to study history because it helps us understand situations in the present.

Looking back at past events helps us shape the present and the future.

nev03-gardner | Student
History, very broadly, is an all life-encompassing subject. Its main focus is on the study of the
origins of life and it's consequences on earth, as also the origins of our universe as envisioned
by our earliest predecessors, and gradually passed on to their descendants.

According to history scholars, the first period is the pre-history stage. The earliest humans
gradually evolved in communication through their actions, sounds and signs to formulate
languages. Information was first handed down orally which became legends and then when
written language prevailed, history was recorded for posterity.

History is of vital importance to the human race because it primarily recounts the rise and fall
of human civilizations. Historians are able to piece together life spans of generations and
understand and compare progress and regress for future generations to come, possibly for the
future survival of the human race as a whole.

nuangalat | Student

The study of history is important because it helps us understand people and societies.History
offers data on information of how people and societies lived and behaved in the past.History
helps provide identity.Historical data contains information of how families and even nations
were formed and how the evolved while retaining cohesion.For one to be a good citizen,the
study of history is essential as it promotes national identity and loyalty.Not only does history
contribute to moral understanding,it is also important in our own lives and useful in world of
work.

History also helps us explain how systems were put in place in the past and how we relate to
them in the present.

dcmc01 | Student

Studying history is important as it helps us to understand moral contemplation. Studying and

reading past stories of individuals and their past situations enables the learner to measure his
or her own moral values and sense. Students are also inspired as they learn about those who
worked hard, suffered, and persevered to bring change to the society. Out of these inspirations
they will work hard to achieve their goals in life. Studying history provides identity. This
happens when the learners study about the beginning of families, groups, institutions and even
the whole country and how they have evolved to sustain changes and cohesion. In America
the most obvious importance of studying history is that it provides facts about families and
how they have interacted and survived vast historical changes. These changes can happen
through climate, technological advancements and many more. As they understand these
changes they learn to respond to any kind of change that may arise.
History also provides link with other subjects which has historical backgrounds.(Subjects like
economics, social studies, social arts). As they study history they they develop cross carricular
skills and interest.

hoesslek | Student

It is important to study history for a litany of reasons. Among the many benefits to the study
history the most vital reason of to do so is to identify mistakes of the past to avoid their
repetition in the present and future. Through the study of history, citizens, policy makers, and
governments as a whole can identify patterns of behaviors and cycles that led to both positive
and negative turns in events.

An outstanding example of the practical application of the study of history in our modern
times and its usage to avoid a recurring issue is the wreck of the oil tanker the Exxon Valdez.
On March 24, 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker collided with a cold water reef in Prince
William Sound off the coast of Alaska. The collision of the ship with the reef tore a hole into
the single walled hull of the tanker resulting in 10.8 million gallons of crude oil spilling into
the waters of Prince William Sound and what is to this day still considered one of the worst
environmental disasters in history. However, through the study of the historical events and
policies that led to the wreck and subsequent environmental issues, new laws and policies
were put into place to prevent a similar incident from reoccurring; one such policy now
requires that all tankers carrying hazardous materials such as oil are required to have double
reinforced hulls.

The wreck of the Exxon Valdez is a small example of the ways in which the study of historical
events and the actions leading up to them can be analyzed and applied to prevent similar
events from ever happening again. Studying and analyzing the events of the pasts allows for
us as individuals and communities to make informed decisions about the present to avoid
recreating the problems of our past.

ren100 | Student

History refers to the study of past events in relation to human affairs. It is important to study
history because as people live in the present, they tend to worry about the future. Nonetheless,
past events help in foretelling and shaping the future. By studying history, we get to learn and
understand change and how the society we live in came to be. History offers a deep-rooted
knowledge on the existence and change in our society. By learning history, we gain a better
understanding of our cultures and traditions since it contributes to moral comprehension.
Studying the historical array of events and individuals who lived in the past with diverse
characters and behaviors helps us gain lessons on life issues and skills. In addition, history
provides information that has evidence about our families, institutions and our country as a
whole, how they were formed and evolved over time, and we can only understand such
information by studying it. Lastly, studying history is essential for good citizenship as it helps
people to be loyal to their country through patriotism.

thejourney | Student

History is the foundation of newer generations if it is documented. It carries along knowledge

that allows future generations to understand the past and build on it the constructive way. As
such, future generations learn from past mistakes, past successes and evaluate whether history
should repeat itself or not. History is an essence from generations to generations. The issue
that might surround an historical knowledge, is its credibility. Meanwhile, the benefits of
acquiring an historical knowledge whether credible or not, outweighs the damages of
disregarding it. For a knowledge to be considered historical, there has to be a at least, a slight
truth about the situation that it is about. For instance, there are speculations about who really
discovered America, but the reality about such a speculation is that, America has been
discovered by other civilizations.

dawnbandoricksmith | Student

Studying history is an important endeavor when attempting to understand our past, present,
and future. As we grapple with current events of political, cultural, and ethical importance,
methodically studying human history helps us to develop our knowledge leading to informed
solutions to problems. The study of history is not only critical to gathering knowledge of facts
such as dates, but to help develop critical thinking skills.

Placing value on the study of history assists students of any age to consider reflectively the
contemporary culture and world. Without informed thought, the same mistakes are made
repeatedly and the same solutions continue to evolve. Unfortunately, without critical analysis
of history the solutions are often only temporary. The study of history is essential in any
attempt to truly understand our place in the world.

nicoleoudinhikk | Student

History is one of the most important subjects for all students. It does not matter what you
intend to do to make money, knowing and understanding what happened in the past can you
understand what is happening now, how things will work out, and what the future may hold.
As an individual, you know that others can understand your views or opinions better if they
understand who you are personally. The same goes for understanding other cultures, economic
systems, and political structures. In today's global market, this will help you professional as
you will be interacting with people from all over the world. However, this is only one benefit.
Another benefit of know history is so you can understand why things are happening in our
society today. For example, the American housing market bust of 2008 can be compared to
Black Monday of 1929. First, you identify the parallels between why the crashes occurred, the
amount of people affected, and the effect on society and the economic system. After there is
an understanding as to how this has happened before in history, you can look to see how
America recovered from it in the past and devise ways to help America recover from the
housing market. You can also better understand why certain efforts are being tried, and other
recovery programs avoided if you see the failure and success of the implementation
previously. Although this list is not exhaustive of all of the benefits of knowing your history,
the last one that I will mention is the ability to be a Jeopardy champ! Knowing history helps
you learn geography, political figures of the past, as well as have a small understanding of the
advent of many things in modern society. All of which can provide a wealth of knowledge for
you to pull from when playing the game.

mgnwtsn | Student

It is important to study history because historical knowledge provides empowering, relevant,

and practical counsel for present day people and events. When we turn to the past, we find
examples of what communities can achieve when they collaborate on solutions to propel
humanity forward during times of harrowing hardship – an ongoing reality shared across
generations. While there are differing perspectives of how history should be taught and
learned, studying history is an opportunity to strengthen essential critical thinking skills by
challenging us to analyze multiple sources of information, separate fact from opinion/bias,
and to synthesize our learning into an educated position. This is an empowering and practical
competence to have in any area of study. And because no new day starts without yesterday
shaping its existence, possessing historical knowledge allows us to better understand multiple
timelines influencing current events, heightening our social consciousness. Therefore, when
historical inquiry is taken beyond the stereotype of being a memorization game of dates,
names, and places, it possesses the power to greatly influence both our present and future
experiences.

flo-254 | Student

Earlier leaders believed that those who had a good grasp of certain historical facts were more
educated. They stood a better chance of being admitted into law schools or even business
promotion. Even today, history holds an essential part in our society and the beauty of
studying history is that it enables us to understand people, societies, and various cultures. The
only way we can fully understand human behavior is through the study of history. This
knowledge of how societies function helps us run our own lives. History helps us better
understand ourselves, where we come from and appreciate our legacies.

The second reason is that history helps us understand our present and shapes our future. When
we study history and learn about shocking atrocities that were committed and the events that
led up to them such as the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, we avoid going down the same path. Of
course, we all understand that history repeats itself so others mistakes in the past serve as a
lesson for us. Humans learn from the past.
A third fundamental reason is that the study of history sharpens our mental faculties. Modern
innovations such as the automobile are as a result of the study of history. For instance, the
Henry Ford spent 15 years testing horseless carriages before pioneering the model T motor car
in 1908. History enables us to creatively use our thinking abilities.

It is impossible to exhaust all the reasons why it is important to study history. But the fact
remains that we cannot escape from our past. History is what defines us giving us a clear
understanding of the world around us. Besides, isn't it just fascinating to preserve the inspiring
stories of those who lived in the past and pass them down to the next generation?

habrown | Student

To study history is important to the survival of humanity. It has been said before by the
philosopher George Santayana, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to
repeat it." Without a recording of history, how can those living understand how society
thought in the past, why they did what they did, and the impact those choices made in the
immediate aftermath and even today? To ignore history and not study it is to ignore some
great lessons that could improve the future.

Learn history and you will see the patterns emerge. You will see people of the past who did
not remember history and therefore made the same mistakes as the people before them.
History is important in that it reveals all of the past. It is there for you to study and learn from
so that the future can be improved upon.

phzanelato | Student

"A people who do not know their history are fated to repeat it."

user238781 | Student

Why to study history; to know yourself, to know your world, to know others. Is that what you
are asking, cause that's what I am!

al1gfala | Student

It is important because history helps you understand the past to predict the future and help in
creating it.

hawraaghandour | Student

Studying history gives us wide opportunities to get better understanding of our past
experiences to count on the great achievements and avoid the horrific mistakes. It allows us
to think critically about our present situations to take decisions for our future. understanding
history helps us avoid repeating the mistakes over and over again. The more we study history ,
the wiser we become. Doomed are those who can't interpret history well.

Images:

melissamorghan | Student

we should study history because we can get a better understanding of a country or place

kingkhangkool | Student

It helps you understand what has happened in the past.

newlandsgirlsschool | Student

history is good it is a persumentive of life and help u do da right thing

lexil0 | Student

Studying history is important because it allows us to see societal patterns. Throughout history
there have been both great successes and horrific failures. As the saying goes "those who are
unfamiliar with their history, are bound to repeat it". Studying history allows us to build on
our accomplishments and learn from our mistakes. History all puts life into perspective. It
allows individuals to see where they came from which better allows them to situate
themselves in their own lives.

moralesmilet | Student
Studying the history is very important...it will teach us to be satisfied and thankful for
whatever we have now..if you look back the way our ancestors live, you will be thankful.. for
your life is easier and more comfortable now.

dacutewarriorkitten | Student

I'm sorry, it really dosen't matter to me. My teacher just makes it so boring it makes me want
to burn every history text book in the world. I hope this makes you laugh :) .

purity-omwega | Student

History as a subject enables us to know about our origins,appreciate our cultures as well as
others and also helps us to know why things are the way they are.it has also became a field of
study hence people are able to get careers and make a living.In short we can be able to
reconstruct the past through studying History....

hermy27 | Student

One of the greatest benefits of studying history is that it allows us a chance to learn about who
we came from. The people of the past are those who came before us, and it is interesting to
see how some of the thoughts, attitudes, and practices of today can differ so drastically from
those throughout history. On the other side of that coin, it can be fun to learn about ideas that
began 100 years ago that are still a modern day issue. An example of this would be to look
back at the suffragettes of the early 20th century who paved the way for the modern day equal
rights movement. They were fighting to make sure that women could be treated as equal
citizens of our country, including the right to vote, own property, or hold credit. In fact, it
wasn't until the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 that women were allowed to possess a
credit card in their own names (not attached to a father or husband's account). The equal
rights movement is still a current hot topic 100 years later.

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kevin0001 | Student

It is important to study history because you would get to learn about our world and it's past.
History can show you a lot about past human civilization, successes in the past, great
ancestors, failures and disasters, and so much more about the past. You would be more aware
about the world and much smarter if you learned about history. If you don't learn about history
you might repeat the past mistakes in history.

Wiggin42 | Student
Whether to study History or not is not a question at all. As a human we should know or have a
curiosity to who was our ancestors? How did they live? what did they do in this world? It
reveals not only our past but how we can design our future in a better way. There are valuable
lessons in analyzing our past to figure out the future outcome without paying a huge price for
it.

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laurto | Student

History is really important because it helps us understand why we live the way we are living
and why we are where we are as a species and country. Studying history allow to learn from
the mistakes of our ancestors so we do not do the same things they did and work to become a
better place. It allows us from repeating the same mistakes and allows us to avoid worse
results than those seen in the past.

acompanioninthetardis | Student

History teaches us to learn from our mistakes and past experiences. it allows us to avoid
making the same mistakes over and over again.

parama9000 | Student

Sorry it is think and question.

parama9000 | Student

It allows for people to thunk and question whether one's culture's actions ethical, moral etc.

Yojana_Thapa | Student

It is crucial to study history because history is the answer for how this world came to be.
History teaches us lessons learned from previous mistakes. It teaches us what this country
should do and shouldn't do. Because we know the consequences already. This says it all,
"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

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epollock | Student

The most obvious reason is so that we don't make the same mistakes in the past and are able
to avoid them by choosing more postive courses of action. It is almost as if we are doomed to
destroy ourselves.
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inaamethyst | Student

I'd like to share my opinion for the question why is it important to study history.

It is important to study history

-It keeps us aware on how our ancestors lived during their time, on how they managed
their living.During their time,there's no any machines that they can use like us now.

-It gives us information on how a person came to be,or how a thing started.

-If we do not have history,our mind will be conscious on how God created us,how
did our nation came to be,or what's the reason of God why He created us,why are we
here now?

Those questions and so many more are not going to be answered without history.

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jillyfish | Student

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

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