"Why do I have to study history?" It is a good question to think about.
Did you ever look at an old photograph album or listen as your parents or grandparents told you about the “old days”? Learning about the old days helps you to learn why you are the kind of person you are. Most people have within them a yearning to know where they came from, who their ancestors were, and what went on before they themselves were born. we can learn about history through old documents, books, monuments, historical buildings, writings on sculptures .
Learning about the past helps you to live better in the present and to prepare for the future. By studying how people acted in the past, you can get ideas about how you would act in similar circumstances. This is how you learn the “lessons of history.” For example, how was Hernando Cortes able to conquer the mighty Aztec empire and its army of thousands with only 500 Spanish soldiers? It is sometimes said, “Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are destined to repeat them.”
History will also help you to understand ways of life different from your own. History tells not only about other times, but also about other countries, other customs, and other religions.
To write about the past, historians need facts. Usually the best source for facts are books and other documents that were written during the period of history being studied. Inscriptions on monuments, seals, coins, medals, and works of art from the period are also helpful. This is how our ancestors transfer the culture, knowledge, wisdom to the future generations.
Historians are also helped by Archeologists and Anthropologists. Archeologists excavate the ruins of ancient peoples to find how they lived. Anthropologists study the development and customs of living of human beings, and the social structures we live in. Historians put together their facts in a step-by-step account. They also make general statements about what the facts mean and what we can learn from them.
The history of western civilization is usually divided into ancient history, medieval history and modern history. Most of the events during these periods took place in the Near East, Europe, and North America. There is also much interesting history about the civilizations of Asia, Africa, and South America. Local history—the story of the area in which you live—can be fascinating. You can visit places where events took place and talk to people who remember them.
History can really seem to come alive when you visit historical place .Visiting historical places influence us in many was it helps us to imagine, visualize the past life and the carvings, sculptures, artwork may help us to think in a creative way, also the statues, carvings, and paintings show us what ancient peoples looked like.For example when you visit Ellora caves--one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave which features Hindu, Buddhist, Jain monuments. In the rooms of rock you can imagine the life of native Indians who lived there in about 600-100 C.E period.
Also when you visit Lepakshi Temple which is known for its huge 70 pillars and carvings on the wall. Among the 70 pillars there is one pillar hanging from the roof that doesn’t touch or barely touches the floor, and I wonder how simple things become ‘divinely amazing’. when we explore that area we can get an idea on how our ancient architects of India were highly skilled and creative.
So if you are interested to know about the history, go visit and explore historical ,mysterious places that reflects the past and start asking about culture, tradition, and the past life to your grandparents.
" ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN AND MOST INCORRECT STATEMENTS ABOUT HISTORY CAME FROM HENRY FORD, THE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER. HE SAID: HISTORY IS BUNK. "
Author
Ramya pogula.
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