History: Why Do People Study History?

I am often asked Why do people study history? Is it because it makes people feel a strong connection to their ancestor? Or perhaps the thrill of uncovering lost knowledge drives history forward. History is a complex and delicate subject which unlike science there may not be just one answer so historians must continually question the “generally accepted truth.” By seeking knowledge through history, we as humans are forced to face our own personal biases by either putting them aside or using them as fuel to support one’s own hypothesis. The True historian will look beyond their opinions and cultural restrictions by collecting information from both sides and then determining the best course of action. During the twentieth century, there was a shift in idea on how historians should analyze and study history. Modern day historians study the past in hopes of better understanding the present. One technique historians use to narrow down specific events is by looking for tuning points or eras of major change that lead to a greater impact. One cataclysmic event that has recently become under great debate

Unfortunately, most of the documentation that has survived the black death focuses on the lives of the nobility and clergy leaving historians to analyze and fill in the gaps of what the peasants must have faced. It is fair to assume that with a majority of the population belonging to a lower social class the plague would have had a greater impact on the poor. With over half of the population eradicated Many modern-day historians see this event as a cultural, technological, and economical turning point in human history worldwide. By examining records and testimonies of people living during each different outbreak of the plague we can see a clear change in mentality and understanding of human