What is history?

History is the systematic study and documentation of human activities, derived from the ancient Greek word "historia," meaning inquiry or investigation. Prior to the invention of writing, events were considered prehistoric. History involves the pursuit of knowledge about the past using historical sources, such as the memory of events, discoveries, collections, organization, presentation, and artifacts or ecological markers. History is often incomplete and subject to interpretation based on the perspective of the observer, leaving room for ongoing debates.

History is also an academic discipline that utilizes narrative, based on facts and experiences, to explain, investigate, question, and analyze past events and examine patterns of cause and effect. Historians sometimes debate which narrative best represents events and the significance of various causal relationships. Historians also discuss the nature of history itself as an objective and subjective pursuit and its relevance to contemporary issues.

Stories specific to a particular culture but unsupported by external sources are generally classified as cultural heritage or legends. History differs from myths or legends in that it is backed by verifiable evidence. However, the cultural impact of ancient narratives has evolved over centuries and continues to shape various perspectives on the nature of history, which is still subject to multiple interpretations. Modern historical research encompasses a wide range of topics, including studies of specific regions and investigations into specific themes or elements of history. History is taught as part of elementary and secondary education and is a major discipline of academic research.

Herodotus, a Greek historian from the 5th century BCE, is often considered the "Father of History," although he has also faced criticism as the "Father of Lies." Alongside Thucydides, who lived in the same era, they provided significant contributions to the establishment of a foundation for the study of past events and societies. Their works are still read and the gap between Herodotus, who wrote culturally-centered histories, and Thucydides, who wrote military-centered histories, remains a subject of debate in modern historical writing.

Historical research has at times been classified as part of the humanities and at other times as part of the social sciences. It can also be seen as a bridge between the two broad fields, integrating methodologies from both. Some individual historians strongly advocate for one or the other categorization. The Annales School in the 20th century revolutionized world history research by incorporating external disciplines such as economics, sociology, and geography into historical research.

Traditionally, historians recorded past events through written documents or transmitted through oral traditions, attempting to answer historical questions through the study of written, spoken, and physically preserved sources. Generally, sources of historical knowledge are categorized into three main groups: written, spoken, and physically preserved, and historians often refer to all three.

Human History:

This refers to the story of humanity's past as it is lived today. Human history has been studied through primary and secondary source documents since the invention of writing. History begins with prehistoric times, then transitions to the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. In Europe, Asia, and North Africa, it is divided into the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic periods.

The Neolithic period saw the emergence of agriculture in the fertile crescent around 10,000 BCE. Humans began systematic and planned animal husbandry for survival, and many humans transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to permanent settlement as settled farmers in one place. With the development of efficient and predictable grain farming, surplus led to the development of occupations, labor specialization, and the birth of social stratification and urbanization. As human societies became more complex and population increased, accounting and writing systems were needed. True writing systems were first recorded in Sumer in the late 4th century BCE and were soon recorded in other regions of the Near East.

During the Late Bronze Age, Hinduism developed in the Indian subcontinent, and during the Axial Age, religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism emerged. With the rise of civilizations, ancient history experienced the rise and fall of empires. Subsequent to this, there were developments in Christianity, Islam, and the Renaissance.

With the introduction of the printing press in the 15th century, the dissemination of information accelerated, hastening the end of the Middle Ages and ultimately enabling the possibility of scientific revolutions. The early modern period between 1500 and 1800 witnessed the Age of Discovery and Enlightenment. In the 18th century, the accumulation of knowledge and technology led to the Industrial Revolution, resulting in rapid urbanization.

Today, history is more intertwined than ever before due to population, agriculture, industry, science, and information advancements, which have accelerated environmental destruction and the threat of war.

The historical division mentioned above is well suited to European history. In other places such as China and India, historical timelines developed differently until the 18th century. However, due to extensive international trade and colonization, most histories were not separate but rather practically interconnected. The present era is even more intertwined, with increased interconnectivity resulting from population growth, agriculture, industry, science, and information advancements, which have accelerated environmental destruction and the threat of war.