Why Study History Is History Useful It doesnt

Is History Useful? ■ ■ It doesn’t help build schools, fight fires, perform operations,

“History is something that never happened told by someone who wasn't there. ” Ramon

“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in

“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality,

“There are human truths to be derived from history, and truths well worth the

To sum up: How can we understand anything of other people or ourselves, if

History Helps Us Understand OUR WORLD ■ ■ You cannot understand people if you

History Give Us Identity ■ ■ ■ Studying history gives people a sense of

History Helps Us Understand People ■ ■ People make up society and it is

Those That Study and Understand History Become Good Citizens ■ ■ It provides national

Now that I have you all convinced history is important… How do you take

Jobs of the Historian ■ ■ Historians have at least four different jobs Each

The Detective ■ ■ Investigates the past Determines what happened Separates truth from falsehoods

The Storyteller ■ ■ ■ Tells the story of history to others Imparts lessons,

The Judge ■ ■ ■ Judges history and makes moral decisions. Example: was someone

The Philosopher ■ ■ ■ Is a reflector and may also be speculating on

The End Is Just the Beginning ■ ■ Are you willing to put on

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Why Study History?

Is History Useful? ■ ■ It doesn’t help build schools, fight fires, perform operations, help sell merchandise, or launch a space shuttle. So…why do we study history?

“History is something that never happened told by someone who wasn't there. ” Ramon Gomez de la Serna “History deals not only with the lives of great individuals…it may be said to consist of the sediment of the lives of millions of smaller men and women who have left no name, but who have made their contribution. ” A. L. Rowse “What is past is prologue. ” William Shakespeare “Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it. ” Winston Churchill

“The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things rotten through and through, to avoid. “ Livy

“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity. ” Cicero “History is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind. ” Edward Gibbon “History is a myth we all agree to believe. ” Napoleon

“There are human truths to be derived from history, and truths well worth the telling, some large, some small, some general, some technical. Some, if not the most important, of the problems which face society today are not new ones…The purpose of historical investigation is to produce answers, in the form of concepts and generalizations to the fundamental problems of historical change in the social activities of men. ” J. H. Plumb

To sum up: How can we understand anything of other people or ourselves, if we know nothing of history? The historian shows us how change has worked in the past and helps us to understand the present and make educated guesses about the future. SO…. . What does History do for us?

History Helps Us 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 Give 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 Helps 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 7 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 Citizens ■ ■ 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. ”

Now that I have you all convinced history is important… 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

The End Is Just the Beginning ■ ■ Are you willing to put on the four hats of historian and attempt to understand the past… In order to ensure a brighter future for yourself, for your family, for your community, for your nation, and for your world?