When I was in school, my first four years of history were little more than a chronicle of England’s kings and queens, from the Battle of Hastings to the end of the 18th century. Modern history was barely mentioned. I found it dull and uninspiring. But in my fifth year, my “exam year,” I had the chance to switch to social and economic history, which focused primarily on the British Industrial Revolution. That I loved.
Over Christmas, I’ve been reading Yuval Harari’s Nexus. Early in the book, he makes an interesting point: history isn’t just the study of the past—it’s the study of change. Looking back, I think that’s why I found social and economic history fascinating. It aligned with my interest in science and technology, their impact on society, and how the modern technological world was born.
History isn't the study of the past; it is the study of change.
History teaches us what remains the same, what changes, and how things change.
Knowledge Letter: Issue: 296 (Subscribe)
Tags: Industrial Revolution (3) | social change (20) | Yuval Noah Harari (10)
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Photo Credits: Midjourney (Public Domain)
