Why study history? Patterns. A simple example can be found in our textbook, The Americans: The chapters and information within do follow a generally chronological order but, more importantly, the main theme is Historical Movements, or patterns.
The Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Fall of the Berlin Wall: these events took place over a period of almost 50 years. Taken one by one, they are but the sum or their parts. However, when you begin to notice similarities, roots leading from one event to the next, that you begin to see the real significance. We connect all these by saying they are part of the Cold War, a title that includes and organizes any number of disparate events, people, conflicts, lives, deaths together to become something that stands for more than just any one thing.
While this may seem simple, it is a deceptive simplicity: our whole lives attain meaning through identification of these patterns. I feel hungry so I eat and the hunger ends. That is a consistent pattern and that it helps me to live, to avoid pain, to work through my daily life gives it significance. This same basic principle can be applied to anything. So why is history so special, if it is but a series of patterns that we draw like anything else? Because it provides us with something greater than just the sum of it’s parts: perspective.
For the last several years, the United States has been engaged in a violent conflict against terrorism and tyranny in the Middle East. Without understanding the significant patterns in the history of that region how can we identify how best to fight those forces arrayed against us? If we know that many of those opposing us are individuals who have lived through war after war, oppression after oppression, and are familiar with violence, we can predict that while poorly-supplied, they will be hardened, dedicated opponents, willing to do whatever it takes to get results. We also come to know how to talk to them, to honor their pride, and work with them to get the things they truly desire, without betraying their core beliefs; to treat them like the humans they are.
All of this we can take from history, the perspective and the patterns that built that perspective. Without these things how can we hope to truly be successful not just in the larger world but in our daily lives? Historians are peacemakers. By sharing that perspective we can avoid the violence and conflict that continue to terrorize humanity, and build something better, better technology, governments, and communities. We understand other's’ history, and therefore, their perspective.
History is much like psychology and sociology, but on a larger scale: studying the causes of the past, to predict the effects of the future. Only if we know about the causes can we do something to encourage or prevent the effects. History is self preservation and self improvement, the essence of life itself. If we can’t find value and meaning in that then what can we find value and meaning in?
The Korean War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Fall of the Berlin Wall: these events took place over a period of almost 50 years. Taken one by one, they are but the sum or their parts. However, when you begin to notice similarities, roots leading from one event to the next, that you begin to see the real significance. We connect all these by saying they are part of the Cold War, a title that includes and organizes any number of disparate events, people, conflicts, lives, deaths together to become something that stands for more than just any one thing.
While this may seem simple, it is a deceptive simplicity: our whole lives attain meaning through identification of these patterns. I feel hungry so I eat and the hunger ends. That is a consistent pattern and that it helps me to live, to avoid pain, to work through my daily life gives it significance. This same basic principle can be applied to anything. So why is history so special, if it is but a series of patterns that we draw like anything else? Because it provides us with something greater than just the sum of it’s parts: perspective.
For the last several years, the United States has been engaged in a violent conflict against terrorism and tyranny in the Middle East. Without understanding the significant patterns in the history of that region how can we identify how best to fight those forces arrayed against us? If we know that many of those opposing us are individuals who have lived through war after war, oppression after oppression, and are familiar with violence, we can predict that while poorly-supplied, they will be hardened, dedicated opponents, willing to do whatever it takes to get results. We also come to know how to talk to them, to honor their pride, and work with them to get the things they truly desire, without betraying their core beliefs; to treat them like the humans they are.
All of this we can take from history, the perspective and the patterns that built that perspective. Without these things how can we hope to truly be successful not just in the larger world but in our daily lives? Historians are peacemakers. By sharing that perspective we can avoid the violence and conflict that continue to terrorize humanity, and build something better, better technology, governments, and communities. We understand other's’ history, and therefore, their perspective.
History is much like psychology and sociology, but on a larger scale: studying the causes of the past, to predict the effects of the future. Only if we know about the causes can we do something to encourage or prevent the effects. History is self preservation and self improvement, the essence of life itself. If we can’t find value and meaning in that then what can we find value and meaning in?