SOURCES AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY_ TOPIC 1_HISTORY FORM 1

SOURCES AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORY

Meaning of history

History is the study of man and his activities in different times. These activities enable man to obtain his needs. Man’s basic needs are food, cloths, and shelter

In general, history can also refer to an academic discipline, which uses a narrative to examine and analyze the sequences of past events, and objectively determine the patterns of cause and effect that determine them. 

It is the record of human activities, which enable man to survival and attain essential needs from the environment.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING HISTORY

1.   Understand how African societies were formed, how they developed and the factors that influenced this development.

2.   It also allows us to develop an understanding of the events, conditions and factors that shaped the past and those, which have shaped the present conditions of the world in order to predict the future.

3.   Historical knowledge makes the present comprehensive, which is why journalists and writers of sensational stories spend some time explaining the history of a particular incident; it is only when one knows the past of a person or an incident that the present can became meaningful.

4.   Develop an understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political, economic and technological advancements made by African societies before and after colonial rulers.

5.   Develop the basic skills of critical thinking, reasoning, judgment, empathy and effective participation in human developmental activities.

6.   Studying history also helps us to understand and appreciate the efforts made and strategies used by African people to regain their independence and resist neo-colonialism

7.   Develop, understand and appreciation the need for African unity, cooperation and interdependence, conflict resolution and effective participation in social, economic and political development of Africa.

8.   It also helps us to develop an understanding of the relationships between African’s development problems and foreign intrusion, colonial domination, cultural subjugation and economic exploitation at various stages in history.

9.   -Acquire knowledge for its own sake as you enjoy a novel with fiction, a film with an interesting plot. It is not clear why people are interested in these ventures and in the same way, people do enjoy to know the history of particular topics.

10.        Develop our patriotism, history students know their heroes and heroes and traitors. This makes history a sensitive subject in places where political leaders are not sure of their legitimacy.

11.         Enlightens people about the advantages of certain economic practices for example, the way the development in the world today is measured by the industrial revolution that took place in Europe in 1750.

12.        Understand the level of development at different stages of human development. Without history, it is very difficult to determine or to tell what humans were doing in the past.

13.        Helps us learn about technological transformations, for example primitive livelihood to advanced livelihood (using of stones and wood tools to iron tools)

14.        Understand how humans adapted to their environment and how the struggled to earn a living from the environment. This therefore looks at the long struggle of man by exercises of his reason -to understand the environment and to act up on it.

15.        Understand the relationship that existed between humans, and between humans and the environment.

16.        Acquire skills in historical issues and becoming professionals in history, some people such as archaeologists and historians study history for career purposes.