What is History?

Guptajit Pathak asked:


History is often said to be the ‘queen’ or ‘mother’ of social sciences. Hence, it outdates the other social sciences. No doubt, history is the basis of all subjects of study which fall under the department of humanities and social sciences.

History is the basis of the study of politics, ethics, economics, philosophy, sociology, and even art and religion. Here, it is said to be an indispensable subject in the entire education of men and their lives.

Human beings, primitive as well as civilised put a concept of early times. In the olden times, men wondered from place to place for searching and hunting foods and animals. This people did so much willingly and unwillingly and laid the background of historical knowledge in ancient era.

Still, there emerged no real idea of history. For a critical discussion, the ancient men made no classification between what was real and unreal, what was important and meaningless, what was beneficial or not, what ought to be done or not etc.

It was during the sixth century B. C., the scientific history began to progress. In this regard, mention may be made of the Greeks particularly the loanians laid the background of writing history and its trends. The Greek word ‘historia’ meant learning of a source of information. It is noted that, it passed from Greek to Roman and other languages and occupied a definite, vital and wider implication.

History has a pivotal role in the area of education. No doubt, it acquaints the future citizens with the idea of past and makes such a growth in their conception on the basis of which, they may, build up their present scenario and can prepare for the better future. It is only history which tells as about the human art and civilization. Hence, one famous historian has said, “what men have done and said and above all what they have thought — this is history”.

Graphics of history or historiography is the history of historians’ writing or account. What is significant in it is not the historical events and character, but, historians, their valuable topics or titles of history, their traits and problems find a place.

Basically, the historical concept implies the seeing of events of their real scope, what is co-related to other events. Here, the role of a historian is of great value. His attitude, role towards a growth and progress that decides whether his work can be said as real history or fake.

In conclusion, history is the scientific study of events that have occurred in the human life since its inception. It developed through the ages as a great result of continuous and comprehensive work of historians. Still the human beings and the human civilization reside in the entire world. Here, history contacts all the affairs of universe relating to every human.