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History: What Is The Purpose Of History?

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I know that you were never one concerned by history, because you felt it was not relevant to you, that it was boring and maybe it was even inaccurate. However, in my studies I have found quite the opposite. History is more than dates or names, history is us. It is why and how, it is the thoughts and motivations of people long gone but whose struggles are able to resonate within us.

There is no single history, no matter what text you read, what you remember you will never have a comprehensive account of what happened. As a society of individuals we have our own thoughts, motivations and experiences which make different people. So the purpose of history is not about what happened, but what can be proven. (Arnold ¶1-3) History explains that in 1856, James Buchanan was elected president but it is not able to comprehend the reason every voter put Buchanan’s name on their ballot. It can gather reasons, supported by old newspapers, interviews or records of speeches, but to know the mind of every voter is …show more content…

Integrity, honesty and sharing credit are integral to the field. Evidence, whether primary or secondary sources, must come from that which prove to be legitimate. (AHA ¶4,6,8) One cannot say, for example, that the ancient Egyptians worshipped cats based upon drawings found on a vase which has no known origins. Yet a historian can theorize this and, with the help of others possibly, find old paintings or writings which would support such a theory. That is what I think is the fun part of studying history, the joy in finding and touching things from centuries ago. Can you imagine mother holding such a thing and trying to envision the life of the person it once belonged to? Were they a king, or maybe a thief? Did they have children they loved or did they live alone in a hut? History lets you discover

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