What is History?
By Will Brock
World Ancestry Staff
Published 3 August 2008

History is not merely about old ruins and famous battles. It is a detailed and comprehensive examination of human civilization and culture from as early as the nomadic Neanderthals and as recent as the last political upheaval or military conflict. Many have said that the study of history allows us to learn from mistakes of the past and avoid them in the future. That is only a branch on the tree that represents the history of humankind.

A study of history allows us to understand our origins and discover answers to a multitude of important questions. How did the Roman Empire collapse? Why did Sparta operate as a military state? What truth exists to the myth of Atlantis? What effects did European colonialism have on the modern world? Understanding history allows us to understand ourselves, our people and our own nation. Whilst understanding where you came from may not be a direct influence on where you are going, it certainly helps.

The study of our past is a broad endeavour that encompasses many professions. Some of these include archaeology, anthropology, paleontology, geology and biology. Through these disciplines historians are able to learn about the knowledge and practices of previous civilizations and even the physical differences between earlier humans and ourselves. This is achieved by examining a range of historical items ranging from written texts, ruins, human and animal fossils and common items such as jewelry, pottery, weapons, and art.

A common misconception of studying history is that it is simple and easy, that knowing the past simply involves reading the works of a single writer and all will be revealed. Unfortunately, this is never the case for historians. Piecing together the past is much like constructing a puzzle, except that not all pieces are present and some may be distorted or simply do not belong. A significant problem that historians encounter, particularly ancient historians, is highlighted by the saying, "The victors write history." Essentially this means that not every source can be considered entirely accurate or objective. For example, Rameses II (Rameses the Great) of Egypt was well known for his military victories and great construction works, but once historians examined his deeds in greater detail it was discovered that some of his greatest victories were little more than stalemates and that many of the Egyptian constructions credited to his name were built by previous Pharaohs—Rameses simply had his name inscribed onto them.

Besides intentional misinformation, historians have to deal with a lack of primary sources, partially destroyed sources and even determine what is fiction and what is based on fact. Many ancient cultures are filled with tales of supernatural creatures and amazing acts. Greek mythology speaks of the Hydra, a serpent with nine heads that would grow two more heads if an existing one was removed. The Bible tells the tale of Moses parting the Red Sea in order to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. It is up to current historians to determine whether these legends were legitimately believed by the people of the time, merely exaggerations, or simply fiction.

Whilst historians may encounter a range of difficulties in their field, modern theories and techniques developed due to advances in technology ensure that dating accuracy improves and locating structures and artifacts from the past becomes easier. The puzzle of the past still contains many absent pieces, but the search for said pieces provides humanity with the opportunity to better understand itself and its origins. There is no telling what the future may reveal about the past.

HISTORIA CODEX