What Are The Different Types Of History & Why Are They Important?

History is the term used to describe any and all events that have taken place in the past, whether they be large global events or personal events that occurred in one individual’s life. From an academic standpoint, history is an area of study that revolves around what happened in the past, who it happened to, and how the world has changed as a result.

Of course, no single history class is going to focus on everything that’s ever happened in the world. This is why the subject as a whole is split up into different types. But how many types of history are there? And why is learning history important for all students?

How many types of history are there? 
Generally, there are a total of six types of history, each of which centers around a particular niche. These types include:

Political
Political history centers around events, movements, governments, world leaders, and ideas that encompass the political landscape, from the time politicism was born up until now. Studying politics helps people understand the world’s changes and their consequences through the course of history. An example of a subject an American student might study in political history is the Obama administration and the effects Obama as a leader had on the country.

Diplomatic
Diplomatic history is closely tied to political history. However, it is its own subtype. Diplomatic history refers to the study of how two or more states have dealt with one another in the past. It is studied so that people can understand these relationships and how they have affected change. An example of diplomatic history would be learning about the American Revolution.

Cultural
Cultural history is the study of cultural traditions, lands, and people as a way to understand how cultures started and how they got to where they are now. Cultural history can also be the study of the changes in music, art, literature, and certain ideas that can be attributed to a specific culture.

Social
Social history is the study of the social structures that underpin the world and the way different groups interact within societies. While other forms of history typically focus on public figures, social history is more geared towards everyday people. Examples of topics that may be studied in social history include religion, crime, poverty, health, and families.

Economic
Economic history looks at the economic events, structures, and processes of the past and present. It helps students understand certain economic theories that have led to either good or bad outcomes. One example of an economic history topic is the Great Depression.

Intellectual
Intellectual history focuses solely on the thoughts of intellectuals over the centuries. Examples of people who may be studied in intellectual history are famous philosophers like Aristotle and Plato.

Why is learning history important?
Regardless of the facet of history a person is studying, there is importance in each one. This is because learning history allows people to gain a deeper understanding about the generations that came before them. It can be used as a data source to create plans, laws, or theories predicting or dictating how things may turn out in the future.

By fostering a deeper understanding of society, cultures, and individuals’ own identities, history gives people insight into what has happened in the past and what may happen because of it.

Why is it important to learn both sides of history?
People living in certain areas often only learn one side of history. For example, US students are often taught only the American side of history while other countries are typically taught their own version of the same events. This can cause a disconnect, because learning only one side of history only gives people half of what they need to know about the events that took place.

This is why both sides of the story need to be included in history teachings. To get the entire picture of an event, person, or society, students must learn about both the David and the Goliath, so to speak.

What are the different approaches to studying history?
There are various approaches a person can take when studying history. One of the most widely used in academic settings is the technique that requires students to read, reread, and listen to historical lectures. While this approach works for some, certain learners may not respond or be interested in an otherwise interesting part of history because of this technique.

To mitigate this, another way to study history is to fully immerse oneself into it. This is especially true for cultural and societal forms of history. This type of hands-on studying requires people to go to the places they’re learning about and speak to locals, experience the culture, and explore historical sites on their own.

As a very common (and often wrongly attributed!) quote by philosopher George Santayana goes, “Those who cannot remember that past are condemned to repeat it.” This is a great way to sum up why history should be studied: to learn from the mistakes former generations have made as a way to make the future better. 

 

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