Our initial connection to history is sparked by reading an exciting book, hearing an inspiring teacher, watching a gripping documentary, or walking a Civil War battlefield. As our curiosity leads us to analyze the past in greater depth, we discover that history is important in a more profound sense. History is essential to both individuals and society.
History provides our best source of information about how people and societies behave.
This information is critical to understand and evaluate the forces that have conditioned the human experience, including forms of government, social policy, economic structures, scientific and technological innovation, cultural values, family organization and theories about human behavior. History also examines the response of individuals and groups as they seek to direct, control or resist these forces through, for example, political campaigns, public discussions, strikes, wars of independence, and artistic movements. The study of history is also important because it helps us to understand change and, in particular, the evolution of our own society. The study of history develops critical habits and skills and provides a base of knowledge about past societies. Students learn to analyze how and why human values, ideas and actions change through time, evaluate conflicting interpretations of events, and communicate their ideas effectively.