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History is not just a simple chronicle of events, but rather a
story of humanity and the various forces, both explicit and implicit, that have
shaped the course of events. It delves into the dramatic personalities that have
shaped the destinies of nations, and speaks of the turn of events that have
changed the course of history. As a part of social science with nations as
centers, history is a unified study of the world's events, highlighting the
cause and effect relationship that shaped them. It is imperative to read history
because it is the story of humanity itself, and everyone is entitled to know the
history of the world in order to understand how humanity reached its current
position. By studying history, we learn about the human sacrifices, bloodshed,
and difficulties that have paved the way to where we are today.
A true student of history becomes a part of it. They struggle,
enjoy, and are confounded by the events described. While on the surface history
is a simple chronicle, when personalities are concerned, it is surcharged with
emotions. The stories of Socrates' trial, the battle of Thermopylae, the
fortunes of Roman consuls, and Shivaji's struggle with the Moghuls, among
others, have all changed the face of the earth. The student of history believes
in the inevitability of certain events that go against all calculations, but
they do not become a cynic. Instead, they become wise, and that is the greatest
aim and gain of reading history. Despite knowing the futility of wars and other
conflicts, humans still engage in them. However, when wise men guide the affairs
of countries, humanity prospers, and there is peace. Unfortunately, where people
falter and neglect the danger signals, humanity is pushed into the holocaust of
war. It is a wonder that humans do not learn from history, which is why the
saying goes that "history repeats itself."
The importance of history pertains not only to factual history
but also to imaginative history. Imaginative history is the historical novels
and plays that have been written over the years. These stories take a certain
event as the backdrop, around which the story is built. Sir Walter Scott
specialized in this sort of novel, and his books "Kenilworth" and "Talisman"
deal with real personalities and genuine events. Another famous instance is "A
Tale of Two Cities," which deals with the French Revolution. Similarly,
different languages' novels and plays have used world history as the backdrop.
By understanding the customs, manners, and philosophies of different periods,
these novels and plays help much more than the actual pages of history. Whereas
actual history merely reports on the personalities concerned, in novels and
plays, the personalities reveal themselves so mightily that one cannot forget
them.
In conclusion, the study of history, whether factual or
imaginative, is highly rewarding, and none can be said to have been truly
educated unless they have studied history. History teaches us how humanity
reached its present position, highlights the mistakes and successes of our
predecessors, and enables us to avoid repeating the same mistakes. By learning
from history, we can make better decisions in the present, paving the way for a
better future. |
