“Even if you slash my throat, our brushes will not stop writing. If I die, another historian will take my place; if you kill that historian, another will take their place. Even if you kill every historian in this land and take away all the papers and brushes, you won’t be able to stop us. From mouth to mouth, teacher to student, elder to child, history will be told. That is the power of the truth- (Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, Episode 20)”
History is indispensable. In centuries past, this statement would have seemed self-evident as ancient cultures devoted much time and effort to teaching and recording history. Although drawn from a fictional movie, the above quotation expounds on the importance of history and historical records to traditional societies. However, in modern societies, there has been a paradigm shift in the relevance attached to the study of history as historical studies. To some critics of history, man is much smarter now than he was even twenty years ago, that anything from the past is outdated and irrelevant. They prefer to define themselves in terms of where they are going rather than where they came from, believing that the past is already past and should therefore be forgotten. To some other critics, while some things about the past may prick their curiosities such as: Who were those people that existed in the past? What were they like? How did they live? they did not believe that such inquisitiveness was enough to warrant a devotion to the study of history as a full-fledged academic discipline.
As someone who actually studied and is still studying history, I am always faced with people asking me questions such as: why are you studying history? or what future does the study of history holds for you in terms of career choices or job prospects especially in a country like Nigeria where history has been relegated to the background? Against the background of these views, this article attempts to highlight some of the relevance of the study of history to the modern world. It begins by providing a brief definition of history and the various perspectives related to the study of history. The article then offers an insight into the various ways through which the study of history is/can be beneficial to the modern world. It concludes by stating some career options open to graduates of history.
The term ‘history’ holds manifold meanings, all of which are connected to the past. E.H. Carr (1961) defines history as a continuous process of interaction between the historian and his facts, and an unending dialogue between the present and the past. As an academic discipline, it refers to the study and interpretation of not only the events of the past but also their consequences. W.H. Walsh as cited by Osokoya (1996) asserts that the historian aims at a reconstruction of the past which is both intelligent and intelligible. There appears to be no end to definitions of history because many historians will respond differently when seeking to answer such a question. However, it is conceivable and necessary to identify certain features which may be described as essential characteristics of history. Some of such features include its fragmentary nature, its humanistic nature, its termination in the present, its dynamic nature, and the fact that history is factual.
The study of history holds relevance to modern societies in manifold ways, including but not limited to the following: Studying history makes students not only enthusiastic but critical readers. As students of history, you are trained to read and research extensively, critique, and accurately cite and reference sources. You also learn to ascertain various lines of arguments and biases, the styles of writers, the ranges and kinds of sources used in research works. It also equips students with the ability to think critically and make informed judgments about human situations.
Historical studies also help to offer an in-depth understanding of the world and the society in which we live, including providing us with a sense of memory and identity. The presence of historical records is what informed our knowledge of who we are, how we came to be, and how the society in which we live came about. If we have no history, we have no memory and subsequently no identity. It is through the events recorded in history that identities such as ethnicity, religion, and nationality are formed. Through the study and knowledge of history, a sense of belonging, patriotism, national pride, especially inter-group relations with others, can take root and can be used by leaders to inspire people. In this world that is constantly changing, and understanding of socio-political and economic history can serve as coping mechanisms for individuals. Through history, we get to learn about individuals, societies, and institutions that contributed both positively and negatively to national development.
History empowers us to understand the present through the light of the past, thereby serving as an important trajectory linking the past to the present and the future. In his well-known novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell warned, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past” (Orwell 1949: 35). This is true because knowledge of history can shape the way we view the present and dictate the answers we offer for present challenges. If we listen to what history has to say, we can come to a sound understanding of the past in a way that can inform our present actions. Livy cited as one of the greatest historians in Roman history, asserts that the study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience set out for all to see, and in that record, you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid. Without a sense of history, our ability to relate to contemporary issues will therefore be limited. Other relevance of the study of history includes the fact that it provides unique insight into human nature and human civilization.
Although some persons may feel that a degree in history is a waste, the benefits of studying history surpass what you read in books or learn in the classroom. The study of history provides students with several transferable, critical, and analytical skills that can be put to use in a wide range of careers/fields such as archivists, curator, teacher, researcher, media and advertising sector, public sector, editor, translator, non-governmental and humanitarian sectors, to mention but a few. To conclude, although history concerns itself with knowledge about the past, it helps to build skills that are relevant in modern societies, making it one of the most versatile disciplines in the humanities.
References
Carr, E.H. 1961. What is history? London: Penguin Books.
Matthews, G. 2011. History: A worthwhile academic discipline. History in Action, 2(2), 1-5.
Ochefu, Y.A., and Ogbogbo, C.B.N. 2005-2016. The role of historical societies in Nigeria’s development. Afrika Zamani, 13&14, pp.73-85.
Orwell, G. 1949. Nineteen Eighty-Four. London: Seeker and Warburg.
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung, Episode 20.
Posted by Stephanie E. Effevottu Apr 1, 2021
Posted in History Tags: Career Choices, Historian, History, History Matters, Relevance of History, Why Study History
Leave a comment on WHY STUDY HISTORY: THE RELEVANCE OF HISTORY TO THE MODERN WORLD
Great one steph!
It is true that studying history also aids in giving us a thorough awareness of the world and the community in which we reside, as well as a feeling of remembrance and identity. It would be fantastic if I could make the subject engaging for my kids since I want to fully engage them in it. Maybe I can buy an imperialism game or anything else that simulates history. They seem to really like those types of interactive games, in my opinion.