by Paul Rance

Created on: April 18, 2010   Last Updated: April 19, 2010

The importance of history can never be underestimated. If humanity had actually learnt from history, then a lot of wars and atrocities would have been avoided.

There does seem to be, in recent times, a tendency to dismiss history as no longer being relevant to a modern society; but history is, and always will be, relevant. It teaches us to try and not repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. While a lot of those mistakes are still being repeated, then it seems to justify the importance of history in our lives, and consequently that is why it is still important in being taught in schools.

History is a guide for us. If we look at history throughout the ages, then it is how we have advanced technologically. People from the past learned new things, those things were recorded, and each new generation has taken things further forward. Without history, then every new generation would have to start from scratch! Also, simple things are passed down from grandparents to parents and from parents to children. History is not always important just because of big events, but it can be important just down to learning an unusual recipe from grandma!

When we are gone, do we really want to be forgotten, and do we really want to forget about every living thing and everything we've held dear when they are no longer around, and are history? History is a lot more complex than just facts and figures in a musty old book.

There are negative aspects to history - when people don't learn the lessons from the past. This is particularly true of conflicts which have been ongoing for centuries. This is where the anti-history brigade will cry out about the pointlessness of history, and of being more inclined to sweep the past away. But, things aren't that simple. Teaching people to face their problems, and gradually evolve out of a negative cycle is the way forward. To look at where things went wrong, and continued to go wrong, and address the problem. So, better to learn and grow.

Though often dismissed as dry, history, in the right hands, will fascinate more than bore. Many things in history have been so outrageous how can anyone really call it dull? Everything, indeed, becomes history - from The Beatles to Shakespeare. Should we dismiss those two creative giants just because they're out of time?

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