It is an essential part of knowing the context within which one lives.
History is one of the broadest of all fields.
It overlaps and cuts across most other disciplines, frequently borrowing content and adapting con-cepts from them. History places a special emphasis on relation-ships among events, developments, ideas and cultures from all times and places. While it works to uncover valid analogies and compar-isons, it recognizes uniqueness and tries to avoid the overly simple model or the too facile answer. History provides an ideal focus for a liberal education and a functional basis for lifelong learning. It is an essential component of higher education for majors and nonmajors alike.