why do we, as americans, study european history?

Question

Of course it's for getting ideas, forming complex socities, and adapting forms of government, but why else?

Answer 1

I would think a society would have an interest in where they came from. In studying history our goal should be to understand the good and bad of the society we are studying in order to improve and avoid the same mistakes. How can we do that without studying the history of others? Unfortunately history has demonstrated we are not really all that smart for it seems "History repeats itself" we keep making the same mistakes over and over much like the Israelites taking forty years to go around a mountain they should have been able to go around in two weeks.

Answer 2

we study it because we once "belonged" to the British (ex: the 13 original colonies). Once we wanted our own independence, the Revolution happened. In American History, we only study what our thoughts and feelings were over here, but in Britian, it could be a whole other different deal. Also, a majority of the population in the U.S. comes from Europe. I am 50% Italian, 25% French, and 25% Irish.

Answer 3

The first & most Americans traditionally came from Europe. History teachers in America usually had European roots. The study of history was broken down into American, Western (European), Eastern (Asian) & international.

For thousands of years, Europe was considered the preeminent civilized place including Greece, Rome, etc. Other places like Asia & Russia were considered less civilized, with less amenities & comfort.

It all comes down to humans feel comfortable with others who are more like them.

Answer 4

It's an important part of our world. In so many ways the States are effected by things that have happened in European history. Not to mention it is important. I've heard so many foreign people say how stupid they think Americans are, and I think it has a lot to do with our general lack of world knowledge, not to mention we even lack information of our own country. I'll bet if you asked people how many Supreme court justices we have, most people wouldn't know. And I'm not even asking for names, just the number...I just personally think it's something that is important, and it's sad that high schools don't study it more...

Answer 5

Where does our heritage begin--most of the people in the US have European roots. From as far back as history has been recorded there has been turmoil religious and social. They are the roots of our democracy. Also don't forget the atrocities that have taken place over the century , expecially WWII , we must keep these in our memory so that history will not repeat itself.

Answer 6

To maybe inform some Americans where Europe is and the countries that are in the European Union. I live in Canada and it is surprising to find that many Americans know nothing of Canada and we are your neighbour so how much do you know about Europe and it is much further away than Canada?

Answer 7

I'm an American and I study European history just because it's interesting!

Answer 8

There are societies that look on the history of their location as "their" history; and there are societies which look on the history of their culture as "their" history. England, which has adopted King Arthur as one of its own though he fought the English and thrashed them, is one example of the first kind. Similarly, France rejoices in the pre-Frankish 'Gallo-Romain' period and in ancient Gaul. Egypt plays up the ancient Egyptians as 'us' although they were black folk, not Arabs, little of their culture has descended to today's Egyptians, and their residual cultural descendents are the Dogon of Mali (2000 miles away).

The Greeks and Turks are examples of the other kind -- the history of Greek culture in Anatolia is not considered 'ours' by the Turks now living there but is 'ours' to Greeks living hundreds of miles away. And Americans tend to that kind too, seeing yourselves as cultural heirs of ancient Athens and William the Conqueror rather than of the ancient Hopi and of Hiawatha and Old Nokomis.

Answer 9

I did at University, but in general, Americans know next to nothing about European (or even American) history....and they get belligerent if one even tries to point out errors!

Answer 10

Because you need to know your history, our history. This seems useless but some of the worst things in the world were repeated because they didn't know their history or the history of other kings.