Why is history so important for yesterday today and tomorrow?

Answer 1

History is incredibly important to the world and to each of us individually. It connects the three parts of time: past, present, and future. It tells us how we fit in the world and why.

Nothing predicts the future better than what has happened in the past. What we do in the present reflects what we understand of the past and how we want to influence the future.

History shows us patterns of human interaction and world history. When we understand this, we can use the best of what we have learned to the advantage of society and then do our best to avoid the things that have been shown to hurt society.

History is that which is known. We can take that knowledge and build on it, improving the world around us. As we improve our society and world, we can dare dream that we might have a better future than our past. This gives us hope to keep going. Maybe one day we will have even learned how not to have wars; one day there might be no more sickness.

Without what others have learned before us, we could not have advanced as a society to the point we are today. We owe our progress to them.

However, there were things in history that were better than what we have today. The air and the oceans were less polluted. Until the rampant expansion of western civilizations, the earth's natural resources were abundant. Unfortunately, as population increased, so did the appetite to consume our earth's treasures in huge leaps.

Today, we consume vast quantities of the earth's natural resources, but we have learned, as a result of our past that we must conserve and protect. So, we try try to replenish earth's storehouses through things like reforestation, conservation, and enacting laws to protect wildlife and the environment.

By building on what we have learned from history, there is no need to begin from scratch. Consequently, societies don't have to learn the same thing time and time again.

But how does history teach us where we belong in this world? Our ancestors are a part of our world's history. When we learn that history, our ancestors become very real people to us--we learn why we are the way we are and we learn how we fit into this world of ours. It gives a sense of belonging and a courage for the future.

The sciences, to mention only one example, have been hugely impacted by history over the passage of time. Einstein built his theories on many ideas that came before him. Scientists today, build their advanced theories and findings on the work that Einstein did. Today, Stephen Hawking carries the banner; and he is one of our gifts to the future.

Each succeeding generation adds something new and original that future generations can use. Those new and original things are part of yesterday's history, today's work, and tomorrow's hope.

And, ultimately, by keeping our history first and foremost in our minds and eyes, we keep it alive and well, for all of us and for future generations.