History - Cultures, People, and Events

EncycloZine.com History : About, Archaeology, Biography, Civilizations, Events, Ideas, Outline, Wars • Books, Posters, Quiz, Software

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History is the study and interpretation of the recorded past. We often think of history as a set of dates, names, and facts to be memorized. Facts do help us study history, but they are nothing more than trivia until we try to make some sense out of them. Thoughtful, informed interpretation and synthesis of these facts will help us understand the development and interrelationships of human societies. The subject is traditionally divided into ancient, medieval, and modern periods, and often classified according to countries or regions (eg British, European, African). Archaeology, Biography, Civilizations, Events, Ideas, Outline, Wars, What is History?

There is also a dimension of classification according to subject-matter, recognizing such domains as political, ecclesiastical, social, and economic history, and overlapping with the interests of other academic disciplines. Recent years have also seen the emergence of new perspectives, such as comparative history and oral history, and new emphases in methodology, such as the focus on the role of techniques of investigation in establishing historical 'facts'.