For example, many cultures in the Middle East have existed for thousands of years. The people of Iran have a cultural history going back to the days of the Persian Empire, some 2,500 years ago. Contemporary Iranians develop a sense of history that is both deep and proud. Other Middle Eastern people have a similar sense of the past. This sense of the past is seen in the way that people from the Middle East approach everyday life.
History is used as a basis for many modern actions.
Decisions made at both the government and the family level are often heavily influenced by historical situations. In comparison to ancient cultures, North American culture is extremely young. This may be one of the reasons why most North Americans do not have the same sense of the past as do people in the Middle East. North Americans are oriented almost entirely toward the future. They plan what they are going to do tomorrow, next week and next year.