Concept of History

History is the analysis and interpretation of the human past enabling us to study continuity and changes
that are taking place over time. It is an act of both investigation and imagination that seeks to explain
how people have changed over time. Historians use all forms of evidence to examine, interpret, revisit,
and reinterpret the past. These include not just written documents, but also oral communication and
objects such as buildings, artifacts, photographs, and paintings. Historians are trained in the methods of
discovering and evaluating these sources and the challenging task of making historical sense out of
them. History is a means to understand the past and present. The different interpretations of the past
allow us to see the present differently and therefore imagine—and work towards—different futures. It 1
is often said to be the “queen” or “mother” of the social sciences. It is the basis of all subjects of study
which fall under the category of Humanities and Social Sciences. It is also the basis of the study of
philosophy politics, economics and even art and religion. No wonder, it is considered an indispensible
subject in the complete education of man.

Defining History
The origin of the word History is associated with the Greek word ‘Historia’ which means ‘information’ or
‘an enquiry designed to elicit truth’.History has been defined differently by different scholars. Following
definitions indicate the meaning and scope of History.

Burckhardt: “History is the record of what one age finds worthy of note in another.”

Henry Johnson: “History, in its broadest sense, is everything that ever happened.”

Rapson: “History is a connected account of the course of events or progress of ideas.”

History-a Science or an Art

Opinions are very much divided on the question whether history is a science or an art. History is a
science in the sense that it pursues its own techniques to establish and interpret facts. Like other
natural sciences such as the Physics and Chemistry uses various methods of enquiry such as observation,
classification, experiment and formulation of hypothesis and analysis of evidence before interpreting
and reconstructing the past. History also follows the scientific method of enquiry to find out the truth.
Though historian uses scientific techniques, experiment is impossible since history deals with events that
have already happened and cannot be repeated.

Arguments against History as a science

1. No forecasting: Rickman has rightly said, “History deals with sequence of events, each of them unique
while Science is concerned with the routine appearance of things and aims at generalizations and the
establishment of regularities, governed by laws.”A historian cannot arrive at general principles or laws
which may enable him to predict with certainty the occurrence of like events, under given conditions. A
scientist on the other hand, looks at knowledge from a universal angle and arrives at certain
generalizations that help him to control the present and predict the future.

2. Complex: The facts of history are very complicated and seldom repeat in the real sense of the term.

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3. Varied: The underlying facts of history have wide scope. They are so varied that they can seldom be
uniform.

4. No observation and experimentation: Historical data are not available for observation and
experimentation.

5. No dependable data: Historical data are the products of human thoughts and action which are
constantly changing. They therefore cannot provide dependable data for the formation of general
principles and laws.

History is both a Science and an Art

History is a unique subject possessing the potentialities of both a science and an art. It does the enquiry
after truth, thus history is a science and is on scientific basis. It is also based on the narrative account of
the past; thus it is an art or a piece of literature. Physical and natural sciences are impersonal, impartial
and capable of experimentation. Whereas absolute impartiality is not possible in history because the
historian is a narrator and he looks at the past from a certain point of view. History cannot remain at the
level of knowing only. The construction and reconstruction of the past are inevitable parts of history.
Like the work of art, its wholeness, harmony and truth are inseparable from a concrete and vivid
appreciation of its parts. History, in fact, is a social science and an art. In that lie its flexibility, its variety
and excitement.

Scope of History
The scope of History is vast; it is the story of man in relation to totality of his behavior. The scope of
history means the breadth, comprehensiveness, variety and extent of learning experiences, provided by
the study. History which was only limited to a local saga, has during the course of century become
universal history of mankind, depicting man’s achievements in every field of life-political, economic,
social, cultural, scientific, technological, religious and artistic etc., and at various levels-local, regional,
national, and international. It starts with the past; makes present its sheet-anchor and points to the
future. Events like wars, revolutions, rise and fall of empires, fortunes and misfortunes of great empire
builders as well as the masses in general are all the subject matter of history. History is a comprehensive
subject and includes-History of Geography, History of Art, History of Culture, History of Literature,
History of Civilization, History of Religion, History of Mathematics, History of Physics, History of
Chemistry, History of Education, History of Biology, History of Atom, History of Philosophy-in fact history
of any and every social, physical and natural science we are interested in. History today has become an
all-embracing, comprehensive subject with almost limitless extent.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

History is important to study because it is essential for all of us in understanding ourselves and
the world around us. There is a history of every field and topic, from medicine, to music, to art.
To know and understand history is absolutely necessary, even though the results of historical
study are not as visible, and less immediate.

1. Our World

History gives us a very clear picture of how the various aspects of society — such as technology,
governmental systems, and even society as a whole — worked in the past so we understand
how it came to work the way it is now.

2. Society And Other People

Studying history allows us to observe and understand how people and societies behaved. For
example, we are able to evaluate war, even when a nation is at peace, by looking back at
previous events. History provides us with the data that is used to create laws, or theories about
various aspects of society.

3. Identity

History can help provide us with a sense of identity. This is actually one of the main reasons
that history is still taught in schools around the world. Historians have been able to learn about
how countries, families, and groups were formed, and how they evolved and developed over
time. When an individual takes it upon themselves to dive deep into their own family’s history,
they can understand how their family interacted with larger historical change. Did family serve
in major wars? Were they present for significant events?

4. Present-Day Issues

History helps us to understand present-day issues by asking deeper questions as to why things
are the way they are. Why did wars in Europe in the 20th century matter to countries around
the world? How did Hitler gain and maintain power for as long as he had? How has this had an
effect on shaping our world and our global political system today?

5. The Process Of Change Over Time

If we want to truly understand why something happened — in any area or field, such as one
political party winning the last election vs the other, or a major change in the number of
smokers — you need to look for factors that took place earlier. Only through the study of
history can people really see and grasp the reasons behind these changes, and only through
history can we understand what elements of an institution or a society continue regardless of
continual change
6.Political Intelligence

History can help us become better informed citizens. It shows us who we are as a collective
group, and being informed of this is a key element in maintaining a democratic society. This
knowledge helps people take an active role in the political forum through educated debates
and by refining people’s core beliefs. Through knowledge of history, citizens can even change
their old belief systems.

7. History Teaches Morals And Values

By looking at specific stories of individuals and situations, you can test your own morals and
values. You can compare it to some real and difficult situations individuals have had to face in
trying times. Looking to people who have faced and overcome adversity can be inspiring. You
can study the great people of history who successfully worked through moral dilemmas, and
also ordinary people who teach us lessons in courage, persistence and protest.

8. Builds Better Citizenship

The study of history is a non-negotiable aspect of better citizenship. This is one of the main
reasons why it is taught as a part of school curricula. People that push for citizenship history
(relationship between a citizen and the state) just want to promote a strong national identity
and even national loyalty through the teaching of lessons of individual and collective success.

9. Learn From The Past And Notice Clear Warning Signs

We learn from past atrocities against groups of people; genocides, wars, and attacks. Through
this collective suffering, we have learned to pay attention to the warning signs leading up to
such atrocities. Society has been able to take these warning signs and fight against them when
they see them in the present day. Knowing what events led up to these various wars helps us
better influence our future.

10. Gaining A Career Through History

The skills that are acquired through learning about history, such as critical thinking, research,
assessing information, etc, are all useful skills that are sought by employers. Many employers
see 2these skills as being an asset in their employees and will hire those with history degrees in
various roles and industries.

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11. Personal Growth And Appreciation

Understanding past events and how they impact the world today can bring about empathy and
understanding for groups of people whose history may be different from the mainstream. You
will also understand the suffering, joy, and chaos that were necessary for the present day to
happen and appreciate all that you are able to benefit from past efforts today.

12. Reading And Writing

You can refine your reading skills by reading texts from a wide array of time periods. Language
has changed and evolved over time and so has the way people write and express themselves.
You can also refine your writing skills through learning to not just repeat what someone else
said, but to analyze information from multiple sources and come up with your own conclusions.
It’s two birds with one stone — better writing and critical thinking!

13. Craft Your Own Opinions

There are so many sources of information out in the world. Finding a decisive truth for many
topics just doesn’t exist. What was a victory for one group was a great loss for another — you
get to create your own opinions of these events.

14. Decision-Making

History gives us the opportunity to learn from others’ past mistakes. It helps us understand the
many reasons why people may behave the way they do. As a result, it helps us become more
impartial as decision-makers.

15. How To Do Research

In the study of history you will need to conduct research. This gives you the opportunity to look
at two kinds of sources — primary (written at the time) and secondary sources (written about a
time period, after the fact). This practice can teach you how to decipher between reliable and
unreliable sources.

Branches of History
The discipline of history concerns itself with the study and analysis of events in the past. It is an
academic subject covered thoroughly in school and also offered for higher studies as perusing
world and national history is important since it allows us to gain a thorough understanding of all
the events and processes of the past that have contributed to the making of the present
society. From topics ranging from the beginning of agriculture in the ancient era to Nazism and
the world wars, everything comes under the purview of history.
Now, let’s explore some of the major and sought-after branches of History you must know .
Here are the major branches of history:
 Political History: The history of political systems
 Social History: The history of people and societies
 Economic History: The history of the economies and economic processes
 Diplomatic History: The history of international relations
 Art History: The history of various forms of art
 Food History: The history of food cuisines
 History of Science and Medicine: The history of medical science
 Cultural History: The history of world cultures
 Women’s History: The history of feminism
 Intellectual History: The evolution of ideas and famous thinkers
 Environmental History: The history of our natural environment and its diverse components.