USE OF HISTORY
Why do we study History?
in order to appreciate arts and literature
in order to prevent prejudice
in order to encourage civic participation and citizenship
in order to provide a moral lesson
in order to understand the present and prepare for the future
in order to ensure that great deeds are not forgotten
history is the only thing that is real
to understand people, how they act and why they acted.
in order to foster personal growth - study history because everything you learn
makes you smarter
To develop a sense of belonging to our country
We are proud of our motherland
History helps us to understand our world
You cannot understand people if you do not understand their past
You cannot understand our community if you do not know how it came to be
You cannot understand our nation without history
You cannot understand our world if you do not understand history
History gives us identity
Studying history gives people a sense of nationalism
It gives groups such as ethnic, organization, even schools a sense of identity
It gives family and personal identity as well
History help us Understand People
People make up society and it is very hard to test how that kind of group behaves
when it is made up of 4 billion people
History acts as a “social laboratory”, one of the few way we can help predict the
future behavior of such a large group
Those that study and understand History become good citizen
It provides national identity
Provides examples of success, morality and of course the examples of the opposite
Helps us understand current world affairs and conflicts by understanding the root
of the problems
Provides support for making decisions and encourages, “responsible public
behavior, whether as a national or community leader, an informed voter, a
petitioner, or a simple observer
How do you take the first steps to become a historian?
Jobs of the Historian:
Historians have at least four different jobs
Each of these jobs is important to understand the past so we are able to understand
ourselves, our society and our world
The Detective
Investigates the past
Determines what happened
Separates truth from falsehoods or misinterpretations
Separates out bias in historical writing to find the truth (or as close as possible
The storyteller
Tells the story of history to others
Imparts lessons, morals, and other learning of history
Entertains and fascinates with the epic story of our history
The Judge
Judges history and makes moral decisions. Example: was someone evil or just
misunderstood?
Ever heard the saying, “We will see how history judges me?”
Sorts what should be emulated and what should be discarded
The Philosopher
Is a reflector and may also be speculating on what was right or wrong
Ponders important questions and attempts to pull out meaning from history
Not only speculates on the lessons of the past but also may attempt to predict the
future
Relevance to life
You will develop an appreciation of the society in which you live and of other
societies, past and present
You will also develop a greater awareness of your own identity and traditions
You will learn more about the particular role of women in shaping the past
Relevance to careers Employers tend to see those with a history education as:
Independent thinkers
Open-minded and objective
Disciplined
Good communicators
Able to analyse issues and problems
Able to put together logical arguments
Communication skills
The study of history is not just about interpreting the past but also presenting your
thoughts
History helps you to write in an organised, coherent, logical way, supporting your
views with evidence
This will help you in your other subjects, as well as in life and work later
Research skills
By exploring these types of evidence you will enhance your research skills
You will become skilled at locating historical data from different sources,
evaluating it and recording and presenting your findings
You will also realise the importance of looking at issues from more than one point
of view
Analytical skills
You will also develop your ability to think critically, to evaluate the usefulness
of sources, to detect bias or propaganda
These skills are very useful in many careers and in everyday life
ICT skills
History allows you to access ICT, developing skills that are relevant to life and
work today
The Internet offers a huge range of appropriate historical web sites
Many other electronic resources also exist for the study of history, such as CD-
ROMs, library databases and catalogues
The use of modern digital media makes studying history very enjoyable and
stimulating
In conclusion Choosing history allows you to acquire a combination of skills and insights
that will
broaden your understanding of the world
develop you as a person
prepare you for a future career
enable you to participate fully in society.
