The purpose of historical inquiry is not simply to present facts but to search for an interpretation of the past. Historians attempt to find patterns and establish meaning through the rigorous study of documents and artifacts left by people of other times and other places.
In fact, historians are a bit like detectives - using evidence to find out what happened and why. This is not an easy job. They must be able to recognize evidence, decide how useful it is and come to conclusions based on what they have found out.
There is another reason to study history: it's fun. History combines the excitement of exploration and discovery with the sense of reward born of successfully confronting and making sense of complex and challenging problems.
In fact, historians are a bit like detectives - using evidence to find out what happened and why. This is not an easy job. They must be able to recognize evidence, decide how useful it is and come to conclusions based on what they have found out.
There is another reason to study history: it's fun. History combines the excitement of exploration and discovery with the sense of reward born of successfully confronting and making sense of complex and challenging problems.