Some students learning history may grow weary, as they delve into these studies that to them seems of no good use. It is the classic feeling of “When am I ever going to need this?”. If I wish to be a musician or an artist, an engineer or a doctor, why must I learn history now, O Magistre Magne? Really, history is a humanity which one learns not to assist them at their profession, but like literature, art and philosophy, to benefit the person learning. Not to mention that it is relevant, since you are living in it!
So, why do we study history? Well, I would say, first, that we study history for the same reason we read stories. History is primarily that, a grand anthology of epic tales. Epic tales incite fantastic imagery and force one to comprehend things which are foreign to what he knows. He cannot go back in time, so he must imagine this world. In this way, history helps to cultivate the imagination. But it is not just the vivid imagery that gives purpose to our studies, but also the people which the stories are about. When we hear the great story of Cincinnatus, who defeated the Aequians while the Romans were disadvantaged in one day, and then declined the power offered to him so that he may return to his humble farm, we form a vision of this man as one of virtue, dignity, patriotism, and humility. When we read of what he did, there is something within us which says, “Yes, this is a good man.” It is the same when we read about heroes like Aeneas and Achilles, and even Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings. Seeing those who model virtue is enlightening to the soul, and cultivates the moral imagination. This can go in the other direction too, of course. You have figures in history who seem like pure evil, and they are usually described as decadent and self-indulgent. The vision of the evil is just as important as the vision of the good.
The nurturing of the moral imagination is the main part which I wish to emphasize. Aside from that, there is also great use in understanding the systems which were prevalent in the time. These may be social systems, political systems, or relations between governments (war and diplomacy). It is good to have an understanding of the institutions and interactions between men. History does repeat itself, and it is nice to know when it is happening. Lastly, history will give you trivia. It is nice to have a knowledge of the little things, for the joy of conversation, and for the sake of making connections to other things. For example, with knowledge of Cincinnatus, one can know the origin of the name of Cincinnati, Ohio.
When we are learning history, we must be aware of the important elements. The stories come close to the top of the list, as discussed earlier. The people too, for the same reasons. The place gives a visual understanding and creates a setting for these stories. Observing the time periods allows one to study many different histories at once, as they are occurring at the same time. The place and time provide perspective. The interactions and big events which influence the rest of time are also important. The social dynamic of the sexes, the classes, and the religion of the time also give perspective and insight to these stories and people. After all, history is centered around man and his interactions over the course of many eras, so the time and place and the surroundings of the stories of the man are there mostly for context.
How does one study history? There are writings from or close to the time being studies, like histories, literature, plays, philosophy, and mythology which give one learning good insight into the times. There are the archeological things; artifacts of things people used every day, like bowls and shovels. The art and architecture, and also the biological findings, such as mummies, bones, and other remains. Much can be discovered through linguistic observance too. Relations between various peoples can be analysed based on the language, and other deductions may be made. Now, though there are many tools by which one may study, there are difficulties in doing so as well. There are many things within an old society which are destroyed and lost, hindering research. Different people may interpret the evidence differently, so you always face the problem of accuracy, and also, many writers of history have an agenda! In spite of this, the tall tales of history still stand their own.
THE EDUCATION OF A MILLENNIAL 