Human beings are
interesting creatures. We live in small
bubbles that to us seem large in the moment.
These bubbles typically function as echo chambers which consistently
reinforce the world view we’ve been fed ever since we were children. We go on living day-to-day, not fully understanding
the present, regularly worried about the future and lacking in a basic
understanding of how we – as individuals and as a society – got to where we are
to begin with. As a result, we grasp as
straws in a futile effort to make sense of the world around us. This is especially true in our modern world
where technology provides ample sound bites, quotes, memes, and even TikTok
videos that do little more than distort our little bubbles of reality.
Breaking free of
these distracting bubbles requires us to look into our past, both as individuals
and as a larger society. Breaking free
means looking back at our past not for nostalgic purposes but instead to understand
a greater narrative of who we are and who we hope to be. It means asking difficult questions, uncovering
ugly skeletons, and discovering both the failures and triumphs of bygone eras,
all of which added together has created the world we now inherit both individually
and collectively. This is what history
ultimately is and why history matters so much.
It is the study of humanity in all its glory, horror, triumph and
tragedy.
For us to benefit
most from the study of history we must understand what we are talking about If history were simply the
understanding of important dates, events, etc. one would only need to memorize
a World Almanac. And though the
assimilation of data does have its advantages, the mere memorization of dates
and events does not make one historically literate. Understanding history means thinking
critically about the past in a way that protects the integrity of previous
events while still providing meaning for the present. As Historian John Fea states in his book, Why
Study History, “Historians are not mere storytellers. Not only do they have the responsibility of making
sure they get the story right; they are also charged with the task of analyzing
and interpreting the past.”[1] In other words, the study of history is both
art and science. Having the ability to
tell a meaningful story with a purpose that resonates in the present is the art. Maintaining the integrity of that same story
by relying on factual source material, placed in proper context, is the science. This is why the study of history can be, for
many students, either a tremendous thrill or the epitome of boredom. The ability of the historian/teacher to effectively
tell a meaningful story while maintaining historical integrity is what makes
all the difference.
Since history is
much more than mere dates, this means every individual, organization, generation,
etc. will often adopt their own understanding of the past. In other words, we different people, from
different walks of life, will write their own interpretation of the past. As Pulitzer Prize-winning Historian Gordon
Wood put it:
The past in the
hands of expert historians becomes a different world, a complicated world that
requires considerable historical imagination to recover with any degree of
accuracy…The drama, indeed the tragedy of history comes from our understanding
of the tension that exists between the conscious wills and intentions of the
participants in the past and the underlying conditions that constrained their
actions and shaped their future.[2]
Keeping Dr. Wood’s comments in mind,
history becomes something more than just an art or a science. History becomes a foreign language. And as any student of foreign languages can
attest, in order to truly learn that language one must be immersed in it. You must embrace the culture, the people and the
customs. The same is true of
history. To truly appreciate and learn
from history, one must understand the past on its own terms, by the rules,
customs and climate in which it existed.
Instead of bringing the past to us, we must go to the past. To become “fluent” means we have accepted and
understood these rules and customs, which aren’t native to us, but still have
tremendous value.
For
many people, this practice of uncovering the past may not appear to provide a
tangible value to society, like a doctor who heals the sick or a mechanic who
can fix that which is broken. This supposed
frailty is superficial, since it
fails to comprehend the true value history can and does provide to
humanity. As Historian Peter Stearns
explains, “In a society that quite correctly expects education to serve useful
purposes, the functions of history can seem more difficult to define than those
of engineering or medicine. History is in fact very useful, actually
indispensable, but the products of historical study are less tangible,
sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines.”[3] Though it may not yield tangible fruit, the
study of history should be esteemed as a fundamental pillar to any society.
The
Late mountaineer, George Mallory, who died while exploring Mount Everest, was
once asked why he wanted to climb the world's tallest mountain. His answer: “Because it’s there.” The
same can be said for the study of history.
We study the past because it’s there.
The value of that pursuit should be self-evident. George Mallory’s ability to conquer tall
peaks did not provide society with any palpable benefit but it did give humanity
hope and inspiration. The same can be
said of the past. We study history
because it is our story, the story of humanity.
Like a distant peak, the past begs us to make the ascent up sharp cliffs
and daunting terrain. But once at the summit,
the view becomes clear. We can see for
miles that which before could never be seen.
This is why the study of history matters.
[1]
John Fea, Why Study History? (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group,
2013). Pp. 3.
[3] Peter
Stearns, “Why Study History?” American Historical Association. https://www.historians.org/about-aha-and-membership/aha-history-and-archives/historical-archives/why-study-history-(1998).
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