Benefits of Studying History

This question is a classic question, but it is always disturbing and evocative of the first human heart until today. Since the time of Socrates, Herodotos (484-425 BC), and Thucydides (456-396) people view history as an exemplary life. This theory is referred to as the examplar theory of history. History can provide values ​​or norms that can be used as guidelines for everyday life. For the Chinese history is a mirror of life. The tradition of writing history for the people of China are very old. King or the ruling dynasty obliged to write a history of the king or dynasty it replaces. Such phrases in the ancient Romans expressed in the adage: historia vitae magistra, which means that history is the teacher of life.

In order to live a better life to the people must be studied history.

History is the record of accumulated human experience. Learn the history of studying any form of peak experiences and the changes that have been achieved humans throughout the centuries. Of past human history obtaining supplies and point of departure for building a new history. Human life should always be in dialogue with the history of the past to be able to build a history in the present, and projecting a view into the history in the future. Historical dimension of human demands for reforms, and always strive for progress.

According to Robert Jones Shafer (1974) historical benefits are as follows:

1. Expanding human experiences.

Learning history is tantamount to dialogue with the community and the nation at any time and at any time. From historical experience that one can draw from the experiences in dealing with and solving the problems of life in all its aspects such as political, economic, social and cultural. Basically the problems of human life is almost the same, the different is the detail and intensity. How to cope with and respond to the issues, both intellectually and emotionally, is not too different. By studying history, therefore, the attitude and personality of a person will be more mature.

2. By studying history will allow a person to be able to look at something as a whole (to see things whole).

History offers so many and varied (the multiplicity or variety) condition and the human experience. There is no discipline that is able to present the record of human experience is so thorough, in addition to history. Religion, philosophy, and other social sciences to contribute the same, but only to the extent and in the manner of science itself. The overall dimensions of history are expected to be able to build the integrity of the human personality.

3. History has an important role in the formation of identity and personality of the nation.

A society or a nation may not know who they are and how they became what it is today without knowing the history. History of the identity of the nation has a reciprocal relationship. Deep roots and a long history will reinforce the existence and the identity and personality of a nation. The nation, therefore, be proud and love of history and culture.

Nugent in his book Creative Huistory (1967) answered the question of why we need to study the history of the two terms,.

1. How can history help us make a living?


2. How can history help us Become a better person?

History as a human experience providing various alternatives to choose so much a way of life (a multitude of ways).

To answer these questions Nugent (1967) state unequivocally that:

    '' Know of other peoples, know yourself.''

Every person is a product of society and society is the product of the past, is a product of history. By studying history we will be able to avoid many mistakes and the shortcomings of the past to improve the future then.

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