What drives your passion to study history?

Question

To think that we study history with the knowledge that we will one day be history. When you think that history is sub divided into centuries, and again sub divided into the the life span of individuals, what fuels the fires to learn their stories?

Great answers, I think that each of us have our own reasons and yet they are all somewhat the same.
I really like the "Why we are, who we are" bit.

I agree that the world would be better is we new more about history but would we learn the same lessons?

No one is really dead until they are forgotten. immortality.

The nature of man, great beautiful, horrible, and tradgic.

Answer 1

History is the fount of knowledge and i'm seeking the Grail.=) Every moment that passes is fresh History made, even when we read today's newspaper or a newly printed book it could be said they're Historical artifacts that will give future Historians a window on our time.

History is the story of humans, new chapters are constantly being written. Loving History opens your mind to intellectual development and possibilities, everything we have ever achieved is part of it. All History is fascinating to me, i love learning about ancient civilisations where we nearly got it right, only for a succeeding civilisation to take retrogressive steps and analyse what went wrong, how it could have been better. I love reading about cultures, philosophies and people that were truly inspirational, knowledge of History is the greatest tool we can employ to help us make our current time a great one for EVERYONE to live in.

That's a little of what makes me passionate about History anyway. Excellent question too. =)

Answer 2

Being a student of history for over a decade, I have to say it has answered a lot of questions for me. People often stress that to understand humanity, you have become spiritual or very philosophical: like there are clear answers in either field. However, I have found history to be a much better teacher of how humans... well... be human. It is not with cold dispassion that I see the human race; I have seen people (in history) accomplish great things and, of course, at the same time inflict horrible pain & anguish upon others.
I find that studying history often gives a person a lot of insight they would not otherwise have; you can predict (within a range) of how a group will respond to change and the fallout from that decision. However, the "doomed to repeat it" sentiment that is often common with a question like this is a fallacy. Henry Kisinger once said, "History only teaches by analogy, not by example. The events in past will never exist once again but can, once in a while, guide us to solutions we may not have thought of". Zeno also thought the same thing ("you can't step in the same river twice"); events in the past had a level of complexity that sometimes we can't see. What is important to remember though is that when a person studies history, they are reborn in the sense that they have a lot more insight and are willing to go beyond simple explanations of events.
I think the first world would be better if more people studied history (they do, however, have to apply it within their daily lives for it to be effective). In short, I study history because the benefits of this pursuit have made me more informed of what the human animal is capable of; good or bad.

Answer 3

I love to study History for that reason, I like to wonder whether Adolf Hitler, Elizabeth I, William the Conqueror ever thought they would have numerous books, films etc written about them?
It just interests me how lives are so much different, even in the space of a couple of decades.
Lorna

Answer 4

That is how the human civilisations developed over the generations. History is our key to immortality! The human's survival and prosperity are achieved by learning history and past skills and knowledges from our ancestors.

Answer 5

So that we can LEARN from the experience of others WITHOUT PAYING THE PRICE it cost them.
John Jay (1745-1829 A.D.) The Federalist, No. 5

In order to IMPROVE OURSELVES by following the examples of great men and women of the past.
“. . . Select from their actions all that is noblest and worthiest to know. Ah, and what greater pleasure could one have? Or what more effective means to one’s moral improvement?” Plutarch (c.46-120 A.D.) The Lives of the Noble Grecians. . . ---Timoleon

“So that it becomes a man’s duty to pursue and make after the best and choicest of everything, that he may not only employ his contemplation, but may also be improved by it.”
Plutarch (c. 46-120 A.D.) The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans --- Pericles

To LEARN the constant and UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF
HUMAN NATURE by seeing men reacting in different kinds of situations and circumstances.
(Ex. Humans still love, hate, hope, and need friends.)

Answer 6

History allows us to understand how other cultures and societal structures have dealt with the Human Condition. What has worked and what has not. In a way you can see it as a guidebook.

Also, I am a firm believer in the Old Proverb, "Those who do not Remember (study) History are condemed to repeat it"

Answer 7

what fuels my fires? well, i happen to think that man throughout history is horribly underestimated. when you look around and see the evidence of great men and great work it just boggles the mind. the pyramids? look in their tool box, what tools did they have to build such incredible monuments that are still here today? castles....all over europe. we see them as a romantic reminder of times of gallant men and damsels, but what were they really? they were weapons of war! the romans and the greeks, where would we be without them to show us the way of architecture and philosophy and science? the vikings who were raiders, invaders, traders, explorers and sailors! the east, with silks and spices and gun powder and confucius... the middle east using inoculations hundreds of years before we ever knew and.........well, i could do without the algebra...

the people...the kings that have left their mark so far in the future they would be astounded! william the conqueror with his army of the blessed and the worlds first database king!
the magna carta, the code of hammurabi, shakespeare, the bible, the constitution. i will quit now. i just get so excited!!!!

Answer 8

Life holds great lessons. That and the fact that my ancestors have a very complex history. "For lack of knowledge, they will perish."

Answer 9

I like learning about History because I wanna know how my ancestors lived =]

Answer 10

It's all about the study of people, who they were, what they believed, how they lived and what they hoped and dreamed for ... it's life, that's history, life incarnate.