Introduction
History has always been one of the most interesting and controversial subjects. It is the only way for us to know some events happened many years ago. There are a lot of works devoted to the history and certain historical periods. These works serve not only to provide us with some historical facts and events, but also highlight the work of historians. Actually this question evokes a lot of different points of view and discussions.
This paper deals with the discussion of the work of historians, our own perception of history and its usage in modern life, as history is one of the main sources for creation of the movies and TV shows, exhibitions and writing books. As people turn out to be conscious of being discussed and deliberated, they look to please the estimation criteria as an alternative of improvement of their abilities. The inherent motivation which leads to learning is then the wish to look clever successful. Yet estimation is very important for learning as a process of feedback gives control and sustains (Crabtree and Nash 31).
Discussion
It is very often debated that spending the greatest part time on learning history is irrational and useless, because some information that is received from such studies has no practical implementation.
This is the danger of history that focuses on questions of the common good: Those in
positions of authority may think they already know what the common good is and
that their role is to reproduce their opinions to tell others what to think about the New
Deal or Vietnam… (Barton and Levstik 39).
But still, not everyone can agree with it. History gives a lot of important sources for consideration of diverse people and societies, foreseeing future events and composing the identity of the person. History is able to produce past experiences and create the steps of progress. It demonstrates a great number of examples of “cause-effect” incidents, which assist to recognize unusual mechanisms of the society. Everything that is going on today rooted from the past and has the straight effect on our future. Being conscious of the history helps to keep away from previous mistakes and helps to make correct decisions.
The greater part of all the political arguments has an extended history that is why studying of history can be very helpful in searching for the correct decision today. Any subject of learning requires explanation: its supporters must give explanation why this very subject worth attention. The most part of broadly recognized subjects and history is surely one of such subjects; create a center of attention for some people who just like the information and ways of consideration involved. But audiences less impulsively strained to this subject and more uncertain about the reasons why to trouble need to be acquainted with what the reason is.
In this case historians can help to find the answer. The profession of a historian is useful, as they provide people with knowledge. Historians do not make any operations connected with the heart transplants; moreover they do not improve freeway design, or catch criminals and something like that. In our society that rather properly expects education to provide with helpful targets, the functions of history may seem harder to classify than the functions of engineering, commerce or medicine. History actually very helpful, actually crucial, but the results of historical learning are less touchable, from time to time less instantaneous, than other disciplines.
During the past history was explained by the reasons, which we would not accept. For example, one of the causes history takes its place in present instruction is the fact that some time earlier leaders supposed that a acquaintance of definite historical facts assisted to differentiate the educated and well-bred person from the uneducated. Knowledge of history was used as showing device indifferent societies, beginning from China and finishing with the United States. This way is still sometimes used. Regrettably, this use is able to persuade boring memorization—a genuine but not attractive feature of this discipline.
To my mind learning history is rather useful as it gives the possibility to know a lot of interesting facts and events. There are so many things that one get to know from the world history, from precedent populations, societies, and famous towns, to significant people of those times that performed a lot of discoveries, which now are taken for granted. World history underwent a lot of financial, political, and societal changes. There is a great number of ways for studying history and everyone chooses the way he/she likes most of all. The first and one of the most reliable sources for studying history is literature, presented by the great number of different books, magazines and manuscripts.
A lot of outstanding books help students and teachers in studying history and searching for some historical facts. Unfortunately, the history is often regarded as just a list of questions to be poses in series, with the replies suitably recorded. The aims of studying history are not obviously respected, and the connection among the history and checking is frequently not evidently stated.
It is possible to learn the history completely from the literature, due to the fact that people and times possess a big influence on many writers who presents historical literature. These authors did not take their ideas from anywhere. These ideas are the results of their thoughts and in depth studying of history, whether it is war or piece times, history of arts or science. Their books are always perfect basics for the history learning. During early centuries, religion was the main ruler of the countries and people. People stack to the idea that all the rulers were sent to the Earth by God or another Supreme being in order to perform their mission on the land.
That is why, literature in general, and some historical works in particular are influenced by religion. Practically each piece of work in anticipation of the 18th century comprises some sort of religious orientation.
One more way to learn history is mass media, to be more precise, television and internet. Nowadays there are so many programs, TV shows and movies, which can provide with the relevant and reliable historical facts. One who is fond of history can find everything according to his taste. Whether it is film, TV show or just Internet article, one can find a lot of interesting information there. Of course, they are created in close cooperation with historians as only they can provide with rather reasonable and truthful historical facts. One more way of being closer to history is visiting different museums and different historical exhibitions.
Fortunately, due to the progress and work of the historians and archeologists people can not only know some historical facts, but also get in touch with the subjects, representing certain periods in history. Thus, for example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York contains numerous historical works, which are the evidence of certain historical periods. Another helpful way of studying history is architecture, as due to it we can observe different changes in history which found their reflection in the architectural tendencies. Still, sometimes we can come across the tendencies when some important historical events and dates are left out or given not precisely.
It may occur for different reasons. First of all different historians can give different explanations to certain events, providing different data or reasons. As we know people are different and everyone has different point of view concerning this or that event that is why some historical events can be left out or explained by different people in different ways.
Conclusion
So, studying of history is rather interesting business. In the world of modern technologies you can use a lot of ways for studying that is reading books, watching historical movies and visiting museums. Everything mentioned above is possible due to the hard work of historians who help people to come to history closer.
Works Cited
Barton, Keith.C, Linda S. Levstik. Teaching History for the Common Good. USA: Routledge, 2004.
Crabtree, Charlotte. A, Gary B. Nash. National Standards for World History: Exploring Paths to the Present. Denver: National Center for History in the Schools, 2000.