What is history and why do we study it?

History is the record of past events, the people and cultures, places, as well as ideas. We study history for many different reasons. We do it to learn from our mistakes as well as our successes. and we use it to support our ideas. We also use it to help us understand various aspects of our present day culture; these understandings include: the prevention of conflict or disagreement, and promotes peace. It also prevents prejudice and racism, as well as ignorance and bias. For example, it can help us understand why some culture refuse to shake hands, or why some cultures believe it is right to sell children or women. It can teach us why it is incorrect to stereotype races, or to base our beliefs about places and peoples based on the little information we have of them. Finally, it can help people in power, such as a president, learn from the mistakes of his predecessor, and lead the country up, instead of down.

"'History,' Stephen said, 'is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake.'" ~~James Joyce