"How can we understand our present or glimpse our future if we cannot understand our past?

How can we know who we are if we don't know who we were? …

History is not the story of strangers, aliens from another realm; it is the story of us had we been born a
little earlier."

Stephen Fry

The Importance of History in Our Own Lives

These two fundamental reasons for studying history underlie more specific and quite diverse uses of
history in our own lives. History well told is beautiful. Many of the historians who most appeal to the
general reading public know the importance of dramatic and skillful writing—as well as of accuracy.
Biography and military history appeal in part because of the tales they contain. History as art and
entertainment serves a real purpose, on aesthetic grounds but also on the level of human
understanding. Stories well done are stories that reveal how people and societies have actually
functioned, and they prompt thoughts about the human experience in other times and places. The
same aesthetic and humanistic goals inspire people to immerse themselves in efforts to reconstruct
quite remote pasts, far removed from immediate, present-day utility. Exploring what historians
sometimes call the "pastness of the past"—the ways people in distant ages constructed their lives—
involves a sense of beauty and excitement, and ultimately another perspective on human life and
society.

History Contributes to Moral Understanding

History also provides a terrain for moral contemplation. Studying the stories of individuals and
situations in the past allows a student of history to test his or her own moral sense, to hone it against
some of the real complexities individuals have faced in difficult settings. People who have weathered
adversity not just in some work of fiction, but in real, historical circumstances can provide
inspiration. "History teaching by example" is one phrase that describes this use of a study of the
past—a study not only of certifiable heroes, the great men and women of history who successfully
worked through moral dilemmas, but also of more ordinary people who provide lessons in courage,
diligence, or constructive protest.
History Provides Identity
History also helps provide identity, and this is unquestionably one of the reasons all modern nations
encourage its teaching in some form. Historical data include evidence about how families, groups,
institutions and whole countries were formed and about how they have evolved while retaining
cohesion. For many Americans, studying the history of one's own family is the most obvious use of
history, for it provides facts about genealogy and (at a slightly more complex level) a basis for
understanding how the family has interacted with larger historical change. Family identity is
established and confirmed. Many institutions, businesses, communities, and social units, such as
ethnic groups in the United States, use history for similar identity purposes. Merely defining the
group in the present pales against the possibility of forming an identity based on a rich past. And of
course nations use identity history as well—and sometimes abuse it. Histories that tell the national
story, emphasizing distinctive features of the national experience, are meant to drive home an
understanding of national values and a commitment to national loyalty.
Studying History Is Essential for Good Citizenship
A study of history is essential for good citizenship. This is the most common justification for the
place of history in school curricula. Sometimes advocates of citizenship history hope merely to
promote national identity and loyalty through a history spiced by vivid stories and lessons in
individual success and morality. But the importance of history for citizenship goes beyond this
narrow goal and can even challenge it at some points.
History that lays the foundation for genuine citizenship returns, in one sense, to the essential uses of
the study of the past. History provides data about the emergence of national institutions, problems,
and values—it's the only significant storehouse of such data available. It offers evidence also about
how nations have interacted with other societies, providing international and comparative
perspectives essential for responsible citizenship. Further, studying history helps us understand how
recent, current, and prospective changes that affect the lives of citizens are emerging or may emerge
and what causes are involved. More important, studying history encourages habits of mind that are
vital for responsible public behavior, whether as a national or community leader, an informed voter, a
petitioner, or a simple observer.
What Skills Does a Student of History Develop?
What does a well-trained student of history, schooled to work on past materials and on case studies in
social change, learn how to do? The list is manageable, but it contains several overlapping categories.
The Ability to Assess Evidence. The study of history builds experience in dealing with and assessing
various kinds of evidence—the sorts of evidence historians use in shaping the most accurate pictures
of the past that they can. Learning how to interpret the statements of past political leaders—one kind
of evidence—helps form the capacity to distinguish between the objective and the self-serving
among statements made by present-day political leaders. Learning how to combine different kinds of
evidence—public statements, private records, numerical data, visual materials—develops the ability
to make coherent arguments based on a variety of data. This skill can also be applied to information
encountered in everyday life.
The Ability to Assess Conflicting Interpretations. Learning history means gaining some skill in
sorting through diverse, often conflicting interpretations. Understanding how societies work—the
central goal of historical study—is inherently imprecise, and the same certainly holds true for
understanding what is going on in the present day. Learning how to identify and evaluate conflicting
interpretations is an essential citizenship skill for which history, as an often-contested laboratory of
human experience, provides training. This is one area in which the full benefits of historical study
sometimes clash with the narrower uses of the past to construct identity. Experience in examining
past situations provides a constructively critical sense that can be applied to partisan claims about the
glories of national or group identity. The study of history in no sense undermines loyalty or
commitment, but it does teach the need for assessing arguments, and it provides opportunities to
engage in debate and achieve perspective.
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.
Importance of History in Our Life
Category: Blog, Essays and ParagraphsOn July 17, 2016 By Teamwork

History is such an important subject and plays a very vital role when it comes to
shaping of our society. History is the study of past events. We refer to the past when
comparing it with the present times and deduce the changes that have taken
place. These actions of the past also shape our future actions. Therefore, history plays
a vital role in preparing us for the future.

Here is a quick look at 10 reasons why history is important to us.

History is such an important part of our everyday lives. Not only because there are
certain past events and occurrence’s that shaped our present world, but also due to the
fact that humanity tends to go through the same challenges over and over again. The
only difference is that people learn from what has already happened and develop better
problem-solving mechanisms. Read on and find out why history is an important part
of our life.

1. History promotes patriotism and enhances responsible citizenship. By studying

history, one finds out how his/her nation emerged, the problems encountered and also
the nation’s values. He /she also discovers how the country interacted with other
societies. This information enables him to appreciate his nation and becomes a
responsible citizen.

2. Learn important lessons: The study of history helps us understand the present and
predict the future.’History repeats itself’ is a statement we hear on a regular basis. This
means that some trends and patterns in our lives tend to repeat themselves. Statistics
and experiences from the past can be the roadmap for national planning and sharing of
resources. This is through studying the various dynamics that shaped certain
phenomena. Business professionals can study past recessions in order to avoid
one. Even at a person level, people can avoid unnecessary pain and suffering just by
learning from history.

3. History helps us understand what informed the actions of those before

us. Sometimes we try to understand why certain things happened in the past, or why
particular individuals who greatly affected the course of history acted in the manner that
they did. Studying history will help as understand the reasoning that informed such
actions. In the same breath, we can try to use the lessons learnt to do better.
4. History equips us with vital skills: Skills that can be acquired from the study of
history include data analysis, research expertise and evaluation skills. These skills can
be applied in other fields other than history itself.

5. History is fun: Many people like exploring and discovering new things. Studying
history gives you an opportunity to explore activities that occurred in the past. And by
exploring, you find out what used to happen yet still not known to other people. People
have different opinions about facts. Find your opinion.

6. History is a good subject for career and professional development. The study of
history helps create good political leaders, professionals (teachers, lawyers) and
business people. One can study history in order to teach at any stage of school. The
best lawyers base their legal arguments on past cases. Journalists study history in order
to report news in a more informed way.

7. It creates a sense of moral understanding: When you read the stories of past
individuals and situations, you put yourself in a position to question your own moral
sense, improve it so that it can face the real world around you.

8. To find inspiration: There are people who overcame adversity and surmounted
several obstacles in the past with very minimum resources. We can draw inspiration
from such people and imitate their strength in solving the challenges that face us today.
It’s always nice to know that the problems that we face are not unique, or that some
people faced even greater problems but still managed to succeed.

9. Cultural consciousness and cross-cultural appreciation can be realized

through the study of historical events. Sometimes people behave in certain ways
and we quickly rush to judge them without understanding why they are that way. When
we study history, we come across many societies that have different cultures and norms
and you may want to learn those cultures. We develop a deeper understanding of our
society and live in harmony with those that seem different from us. We make sense of it
all and forge ahead, fully aware of how far we’ve come.

10. It provides information about genealogy: It is a common practice to find people

studying their family history. This important because you get to know your family tree
which in turn helps you avoid taboos such as marrying from your clan. People also like
to identify with their forefathers and mothers especially if they were reputable
concerning wealth, royalty and so on.

11. History makes us better citizens: As we learn about governance in history, we are
compelled to be responsible citizens by participating in democratic activities such as
voting, community work, as well as vying for leadership positions.
12. Better society: It’s important to know where we came from, and the journey that
our ancestors traveled in search of a new home. Cultivating a sense of identity makes
us appreciate who we are, and use our diversity and uniqueness to build a better
society.

13. To preserve important memories and events: The future generations will need to
know about those who came before them and influenced the world in one way or
another. We study history so that we can pass on stories to the next generation.

14. To make the better world: All these reasons only lead us to one thing; creating a
better world by doing better than those who came before us. That should be the ultimate
aspiration of every individual, to make the world a better place.

15. Many historical personalities are role models of many. For example, Mahatma
Gandhi was instrumental in promoting the use of non-violence as a tool of airing
discontent voices in the society. Similarly, a student who want to be good in poetry may
read the work of Rabindranath Tagore, Robert Frost and many more.

Conclusion
The value of history cannot be underestimated. The study of history is not irrelevant as
some people project it to be. We don’t have to live in the past, but we can definitely do
better by learning from it and using the lessons learnt to lead more meaningful lives.

History plays a critical role in promoting one’s intellectual growth and development. Let’s
learn to embrace our history, learn from the mistakes our ancestors made, appreciate
their achievements and have fun while discovering more.