Why Do We Study History?

Why do we Study History?

People live in the present. They plan for and worry about the future. History, however, is the study of the past. The purpose of historical findings and inquiries is not simply to present facts but to search for an interpretation of the past issues. Historians attempt to find patterns and try to relate through the rigorous study of documents, laws and artifacts left by people decades or centuries ago. It is commonly understood that an understanding of the past is essential to an understanding of the present. Yet we study history for a variety of reasons--to understand civilizations that thought and acted differently in their duration of time, than we do in our own time. History also provides a unique understanding into human nature and human civilization. Without study of history we would not be able to find out the past about ourselves (background), our ancestors, our country or even the world. History has