Why, if at all, is History important to society?

However History is very important to society as it created a sense of national identity by documenting the countries own unique past and culture. It creates a sense of national unity by using a struggle felt by the majority of the population, in turn the people are united by this struggle working more co-operatively together rather than for individual gain (in theory). Marwick supports this stating “Individuals, communities, societies could scarcely exist if all knowledge of the past was wiped out”[13] without a national history, there would be little sense of unity and little national pride. John Tosh argues that history is vital is “social groupings need a record of prior experience, but they also require a picture of the past which serves to explain or justify the present, often at the cost of historical inaccuracy”[14] This argues that history is important as it created a sense of unity, however, the cost is that is often twisted or inaccurate as a result. This use and manipulation of History can also be seen in more extreme forms of political leadership, Hobsbawm argues that “history is the raw material for nationalist or ethnic or fundamentalist ideologies”[15]  as more radical political systems, such as fascism, manipulate history further to create a stronger sense of national identity. They focus on the victories of the nation in history such as in wars and its successes rather than its flaws, failures and mistakes in history. Hitler’s fascism took this to the extreme as he indoctrinated the German people into believing that Nazi Germany was superior to other countries. Fascism also uses history to justify its negative actions. An example of this would be Mussolini’s fascist dictatorship as he used Italy’s previous loss in the war with Abyssinia, over emphasising the humility of it, to declare war again during his reign. Stating that Italy could not fully regain its national pride until the Abyssinians had been defeated. This use and manipulations of history is obviously, very damaging to society. Hobsbawm supports this emphasising the damaging effects “bad history” can have on society “Our studies can turn into bomb factories”[16] Marwick argues there is a “social necessity for history”[17] however Jordanova argues that “Public history is popular history”[18] suggesting that the history understood by General society many not be entirely truthful but popularised history, history that may “promote particular interests.”[19] These may be the interests of the government, trying to maintain a position of strength and power or may be the interests of the people, trying to prevent panic. Jordanova sees this control over history and what it focuses on by arguing history “shapes the forms such curiosity is permitted to take.” Public history for the masses it is argued is less important to the individual when it is manipulated, as nothing can be learned from it.  The nature of the historian also has an effect on the usefulness and importance of history and his work as, as Carr argues, the historian’s background and personal bias must be taken into account as this affects his writings, History is biased by the historian and as the facts cannot speak for themselves, they are interpreted by the historian and edited by them ever so slightly. Berlin supports this stating “history is what historians do”[20] claiming in other words that history happens only how the historians say it does, they control the past. Historians in the past have tended to be well educated, white and middle class or above, focusing on the political side of history and the great men, rather than the masses. To society this diminishes its usefulness as it lacks focus on the bigger picture. This leads to Great Man Theory, or what Jordanova calls “superstar history”[21] as historians begin to focus on single individuals such as Hitler instead of Nazi Germany as a whole, it becomes of less educational use to society this was as again, there is no bigger picture.

The flaws in some aspects of history and the rise of historians like Carr, who argue there must be increased attention paid to the background of the historian rather than his work, can be argued to have led to a loss of interest and importance of history to society as the historical profession has become “such a subject of controversy”[22] and has been thrown “into a crisis of self confidence about what it is doing and how it is doing it”[23] this crisis could be seen as causing the decline of history’s use in society, much like the decline of religion during the Victorian era and its loss of importance to society. History can be seen as of declining importance however it can be argued it still retains its educational value in that those studying it hone and develop their writing skills, which help them in other areas of society, rather that their knowledge. J.H. Plumb stated that “History is now strictly organised powerfully disciplined but it possesses only a modest educational value and even less conscious social purpose.[24]” Although history may now have little importance to society its discipline and organisation may still prove useful to the individual. Jordanova opposes this view that history is diminishing, arguing however that it is becoming “superstar history” and popularised, however this is not always true history as it is edited and manipulated to for purposes of profit end governmental control rather than educational and social value. Tosh also agrees arguing that history includes the “accepted belief”[25] rather than honest history with placed emphasis on “vivid turning points and symbolic movements which confirm self image and aspirations.”[26] From this is can be argued that history is, again, manipulated by those in power to improve the appearance of the nation to its people. Or that history, due to the extending length of time in which humans have been documenting the past, the widening variety of areas of study and numbers to study it today, is causing History to become difficult to summarise it to society and the individual. Due to the advancements in technology and travel it could be that society is losing its individual culture and history. It may be that a nation is longer united by its past but by its future as the rapid technological developments make society focus and unite over what it is becoming rather than what it was.      

In conclusion History is important to society as, as Marwick phrases it “We cannot...escape from the past”[27] We must be wary of what lays in the past as although History may not repeat itself, events may certainly be very similar. Building historical knowledge helps us deals with the future and unites society. However, the historian must be wary that not only do biases affect their history and how it is written unintentionally. But that history can also be used intentionally and manipulated to influence society and those who study it.

[1] E.H. Carr, What is History? Pg. 25

[2] Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, Margaret Jacob, Telling the Truth about History. Pg. 5

[3] Max Beerbohm, http://www.activehistory.co.uk/historical_quotations.htm

[4] Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, Margaret Jacob, Telling the Truth about History. Pg. 1

[5] G.R. Elton, The Practice of History. Pg. 1

[6] Arthur Marwick, The New Nature of History. Pg. 10

[7] John Tosh, The Pursuit of History. Pg. 2

[8] Mark Twain, http://www.activehistory.co.uk/historical_quotations.htm

[9] George Orwell, http://www.activehistory.co.uk/historical_quotations.htm

[10] Ibid.

[11] Eric Hobsbawm, On History. Pg. 6

[12] Ibid. Pg. 6

[13] Arthur Marwick, The New Nature of History, Pg. 31

[14] John Tosh, The Pursuit of History. Pg. 3

[15] Eric Hobsbawm, On History. Pg. 86

[16] Ibid. Pg. 7

[17] Arthur Marwick, The New Nature of History, Pg. xii

[18] Ludmilla Jordanova, History in Practice, Pg. 126

[19] Ibid. Pg. 137

[20] Isaiah Berlin, History and Theory, The Concept of Scientific History, Pg. 1

[21] Ludmilla Jordanova, History in Practice, Pg. 193

[22] Joyce Appleby, Lynn Hunt, and Margaret Jacob, Telling the Truth about History, Pg. 5

[23] Lawrence Stone, History and Post-Modernism, Pg. 217-18

[24] J.H. Plumb, , http://www.activehistory.co.uk/historical_quotations.htm

[25] John Tosh, The Pursuit of History. Pg. 3

[26] Ibid. Pg. 3

[27] Arthur Marwick, The New Nature of History, Pg. 32-33