Everyone learns from everyone else. For example, I know nothing about the Mac. But other students in the class will. This means viewing the past through the present only. I want you to use your own experiences and current world themes and patterns that help you in understanding.
Analogies can be valuable.
You must try to be as that person was. You must take all this into account. Otherwise, you will be challenged. Simple Causation vs the Bucket. I can think of nothing that occurred in the past that can be reduced to one cause.