Why History?

We seem to have an extraordinary obsession with history in the UK. We as a nation have an insatiable penchant for historical pulp fiction novels and costume-dramas on TV. Companies such as the National Trust and English Heritage turn over hundreds of millions of pounds each year and own large tracts of land all over the country. Whether or not this phenomenon is apparent in Europe or elsewhere abroad I am not sure, but certainly the British seem to enjoy examining the past.
Some historians are critical of this amateur love for history, and are aggrieved at the way in which the ‘dumbing down’ of history depreciates its true value. This is undoubtedly true for those who see history as a purely academic subject or who wish to keep history locked away in dusty libraries and archive rooms in museums. And, indeed, this method of studying history in an academic and ‘true’ way, following outlined precepts and principles should not be derided. Exclusive and inflexible it may be, but it nevertheless produces the main of our academic history, which is the base of all historical knowledge.
However, history is not an exclusive and academic subject, for which one must go to university in order to study it simply because it is not important that students of the discipline follow rigid guidelines of learning, unlike students of mathematics or psychology. Whilst basic skills must be understood to comprehend history, such as chronology and basing assertions of fact rather than fancy, much of the learning comes from experiencing rather than reading or being taught history. Thankfully educational institutions were the first to recognise this, although not without facing much hostility, and many history courses are becoming more and more interactive and personalised, with emphasis placed upon individual learning rather than theory teaching.
As well as a change in attitude towards conventional historical study i.e. degrees and PhDs there has been a there has been a massive rise in the number of genealogy and ancestry courses and literature available either on-line or as local groups. Many newsagents stock up to as many as 10 different history or genealogy related magazines (although this figure is put to shame by the number of magazines available featuring cars or even angling!).
The reasons for this national obsession are manifold. Firstly, as a European nation we have a lot of historical evidence to examine and study. Unlike American and African nations, what Europeans left behind has lasted and is well documented. Only Asian civilisations have achieved the same or even better levels of historical remains. Buildings, cities and writings that survive are of immense value to historians, and make the job or writing or studying history so much easier. The fact that African and North American nations tended to be migratory, and also that many African and American civilisations were simply wiped out or made subservient to white Imperialists in the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries has meant that little documented evidence of their cultures and customs remains.
Secondly, British history is a fascinating and, for the most part, glorious tale of a nation that has many clearly visible ways of how the past has shaped its present and future. Henry VIII’s break with Rome, Charles I’s execution, William of Orange’s ‘Glorious Revolution’, the Act o0f the Union between England and Scotland and Cook’s claiming of Australia for Britain are all examples of how British history has direct implications upon British nationhood today, and how our future as a country will pan out. Very few countries have the ability to look at the past with such clarity and assess each piece of history with such accuracy.
Finally, British history is interesting. Undoubtedly the French have a fascinating historical story to tell, but the variety and vibrancy of British history must surely steal the show. Events such as 1066 and William the Conqueror, the Wars of the Roses, the Civil War and the British Empire have such a multiplicity of stories and characters that make the events seem so much more worthwhile to study. This may appear to be a narrow-minded viewpoint, and there will be many who disagree. Indeed, studying history would be worthless without an examination of the American War of Independence, the French Revolution, Communist Russia and Nazi Germany, as these are undeniably key points on which much of the world’s history hinges. Nevertheless, I still maintain that Britain is fortunate to have such a wide ranging and varied history as make any study of it seem so much more worthwhile, and this is surely why so many people seem to have an affinity and fascination with our history.