After reading the article of Stearns that is titled Why Study History, answering the question ‘Why is it important to study history?’ seems very easy for me. I believe that history is the biggest treasure the society possesses. Moreover, if people study history, they develop many skills, which will be useful in future life and at work. Many employees are eager to hire history graduates, as they have various well-developed abilities. For example, history students can assess evidence and conflicting interpretations. Due to these abilities, people who study history can through past events understand and evaluate changes in the today’s society. Studying history also helps people to understand different cultures and societies better. Besides, history provides family identity. The main characteristic feature of history is that it teaches us by example, and our goal here is to assess correctly the specific historical event and to take advantage of it (Stearns, 1998, n.p.).
For many years, archeologists were trying to find ways ancient people arrived to America. The migration of ancient people began nearly 60,000 years ago. The migration itself was possible due to the low sea levels, thus ancient people could follow their prey along the land bridge. Therefore, hunters walked from eastern Siberia to Alaska. Colonists inhabited then unpopulated continent of Canada after the receding of ice caps. These ancient people are called Clovis culture and are considered the first Americans. However, researchers are still finding more evidence to support this claim (Curry, 2012, n.p.).
Thus, to get to America ancient people walked very long distance. What were the reasons for this migration? One of the possible reasons is the change of climate. There may have been temperature changes, either too hot or too cold weather, droughts, and floods. Consequently, climate change may have affected the possibility to get food, so ancient people may have come to America in the search of food. One more possible reason for migration is ancient people being chased. Additionally, maybe ancient people came to the New World to begin new life (Small, 2009, n.p.).
Gold, God, and Glory
The motivations of Gold, God, and Glory generate the European exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. Gold here indicates the search for material wealth. This search was performed by selling people, namely African slaves, and by selling different resources like American metals. The word God indicates here the traditions of Christianity, as opposed to Islam. Glory refers to the power struggle between monarchies ("Gold, God, and Glory", n.d., n.p.).
The search of Gold, God, and Glory created a kind of conquest among Europeans and they gradually were providing a basis for Western dominance throughout the world, thus shaped the today’s society. The influence of Western Europeans motivated by Gold, God, and Glory is even more profound as they introduced such notions as capitalism and industrialization in Africa and Asia ("Gold, God, and Glory", n.d., n.p.).
References
Curry, A. (2012). Ancient migration: Coming to America. Nature, 485(7396), 30-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/485030a
Gold, God, and Glory. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 22 May 2016, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045300940.html
Small, M. (2009). Why did Humans Migrate to the Americas?. Live Science. Retrieved 22 May 2016, from http://www.livescience.com/7640-humans-migrate-americas.html
Stearns, P. (1998). Why Study History (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www.fcps.edu/FairfaxHS/pdfs/summer2013/APWH_2013_2of3.pdf
