I love History, and You Should too
There are many reasons why people dismiss history. I love history, but most people I know don’t. When I ask them why they’ve never opened a history book, the answers they give often include the following: it’s “boring,” it’s “irrelevant,” there’s “too much detail” and “knowing it doesn’t get you rich quick… or rich at all.” My closest friend who I’ve known since pre-school told me history was his least favorite class. He described the experience as “the teacher muttering something about dates, names, and events. It was boring and didn’t seem important enough to remember.” My mom echoed the same point. I think history is taught poorly in school for most people. Luckily, I can’t say the same for myself. I had excellent history teachers who made the subject compelling. I wish more people shared my experience.
History is more than just my passion. The great men and women who came before also serve as my teachers. Their words and their actions, as well as their struggles and achievements help guide me through life’s journey. Here are 3 reasons why I love history, and why you should too…
1. History explains how we got here
I live in Cincinnati, otherwise known as the Queen City. It sits on the edge of the Ohio River, which borders Kentucky and Indiana. Today if you venture downtown to the river bank you’ll find 2 city staples, the Great American Ballpark, home of the Reds and Paycor Stadium, home the Bengals, and Joe Burrow (most importantly.) If you rewind 300 years and stand at the same spot, you won’t see a stadium, skyscrapers, or even Joe Burrow. 3 centuries ago this section of the river, along with the hills, woods, and valleys that make Cincinnati served as home for another group of people. They were called the Shawnee and they were one of the greatest and most feared tribes in the United States.
They held territory in Southern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana. Historical records point to French and Dutch explorers making first contact with them as far back as the 1600’s. During the 18 and 19th centuries more europeans spilled into the Ohio valley, uprooting the Shawnee from their homes. After the Revolutionary war the natives fought many battles with the Americans for control of their land. Led by some of the most brilliant military minds in modern history, they managed to hand the Americans several defeats. The most famous Shawnee to emerge at this time was named Tecumseh. The indispensable chief of the Shawnee came close to achieving something no native had ever attempted before. He gathered tribes from all across the U.S. and formed a confederation of 5,000 warriors, according to historical accounts. Unfortunately for Tecumseh it wasn’t enough and the Americans defeated them at Battle Ground, Indiana. Tecumseh died, along with the Shawnee’s dream of reclaiming their land. The once great nation fled the midwest and migrated south to Texas and Mexico.
Why is this relevant to us today? If you venture to many of Cincinnati’s parks you’ll find signs and clues that the Shawnee were once here. The name Shawnee appears in many places. Shawnee Run is a road that takes you through Milford. Shawnee Lookout is a park where you can find native American earthworks. The past isn’t gone, it’s right here under our noses. The baton has been passed to us, and the story is now ours to tell.
2. It’s a great place to look when you need an answer
We’re often confronted with difficult problems and the answer isn’t always easy to find. The good news is that there’s a great place to look if you’re on the hunt for a solution.
In 1860, a broken, desperate man in his early 40’s moved his family to Galena, Illinois. This man spent most of his adult life drowning in debt. And after a series of failed business ventures he settled in this small town to work under his father-in-law. at a leather company. He had no personal success to point to. The people who knew him often worried about his mental state; his bouts of melancholy were frequent, along with his tendency to drink heavily. His name was Ulysses S. Grant.
Skip ahead 1 year, and the U.S is plunged into war. Patriotism and a sense of duty energizes Grant and he enlists in the army. He climbs up the ranks and within a year he’s made a general of the U.S. army.
During the early years of the war, the north loses many battles due to poor leadership. Union generals appear useless and incompetent. However, one general gives the north hope. Grant tears through the south and defeats every army in his wake. He becomes the Union’s only bright spot. He will soon become its salvation. For Grant, this marks the first time in his life where he’s been able to excel. He’s discovered a talent he never knew he had, and he’s using it to great effect. Grant’s genius on the battlefield led to the north defeating the south and ending America’s deadliest war. Today his name is heralded in U.S. history, and many consider him one of the greatest American men to date.
Grant’s story is a good reminder that even the best of us fail. We often stumble through our career path. Finding the right job can often seem daunting, even impossible. The point is be patient, keep powering through and you’ll find something that matches your talents (hopefully it isn’t war.)
3. It’s our shared story, and the greatest story
Do you enjoy a good story? If you had to name your favorite book, movie or television show you’ll probably choose one that invokes a strong feeling, such as sadness, inspiration, hope or happiness. We can trace most of our favorite movies to… you guessed it! History. If you like Star Wars then you might remember when goosebumps lined your body after Luke destroyed the Death Star. The air battles in George Lucas’s trilogy were heavily inspired by the war fought in the skies of Europe during World War II. Today the Star Wars franchise is worth $65 billion, according to Title Max. The last 4 Star Wars movies released in theaters grossed between $500 and $950 million, ranking them among the highest grossing films of all time.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King grossed more than $300 million at the box office, and scored 11 oscars, matching Titanic and Ben Hur for the most wins. You might recall the famous scene when King Theoden and the Rohirrim charge into the orc army, saving Minas Tirith from the wrath of Sauron. The calvary charge mirrors the real life rescue of Vienna. In 1683, the Ottoman Empire laid siege to Austria’s capital with a staggering 300,000 men. The city was about to crumble, when the the king of Poland John III Sobieski and his cavalry smashed their way into the Ottomans, breaking their forces and saving the city.
We love stories. Our favorite ones are often inspired by real events. History isn’t just a tool. It’s a story. It’s our story, and it’s the greatest story ever told.
Those are 3 reasons why I love history. I hope after reading this you can walk away with a renewed interest in the topic.
NEXT: I will review my top 10 favorite history books