The main benefit of the study of history is to dispel the illusion that people living now are significantly different from people who lived in earlier times.Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statemen

The study of history has long been regarded edifying, as exemplified in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, in which the protagonist Catherine Morland finds more intellectually sophisticated and sensible reading historical materials. Indeed, studying history proffers us human beings mirrors into past events and serves us as an avenue to avert committing the same mistakes and to reap merits from valuable lessons. A quick glance at history indeed can manifest similar repetitive patterns of humanity throughout the course. However, to asseverate that people living now are significantly different from people who lived in the past is an illusion and that studying history can help disillusion such is to outright overlook the many subtleties that have emerged throughout and enriched the progression of humanity.

Granted, one benefit of studying history is to expose some ubiquitous and universal human attributes—ranging from our desires and motives to our fears and foibles. Such human nature has remained constant over time. Julius Caesar’s desire to conquer the European territory and Adolf Hitler’s ambition to dominate the world and erase inferior races seem to denote that certain qualities of human beings do not undergo significant changes. The broadening of realm of Mongolia into Europe and the colonization of the Aztecs and Mayans by Spanish conquistadors are just among the many examples. History also instructs us that major social ills are inveterate in our root of our human civilization and that any sorts of reform and penalty have been tried with only partial success, leaving the roots of human vices intact. For instance, crime and violence have plagued the majority, if not all, of the human society. Almost all of the countries have enacted certain legislative measures to fight against crimes and social injustice, but to no avail. Additionally, history has informed us that democracy and egalitarian sovereignty would only last for so long before greed and ambition corrodes them. Take the Roman Republic. It stood for centuries as a pride of Roman citizens for being the epitome of democracy; however, the Republic began to disintegrate when the aristocrats dominating politics began to surreptitiously change the ways elections were run for their now favors. The avaricious human nature compelled these aristocrats to secure their now authority and wealth within the republic. This gradually transformed an originally inclusive and egalitarian institution that epitomizes democratic ideals into a political entity that merely benefits the very few that controlled the central power. The present-day history, therefore, is not so much different from that of the past, and the history is expected to repeat itself in the future.

Nevertheless, humans as a kind have transmogrified drastically, especially when compared with their lives of modern days to those years ago. Homo Sapiens have shifted from engaging in hunter-gathering to sedentary agricultural production, which requires the formation of villages, states, and nations. More convoluted hierarchical management systems have arisen out of the needs of controlling and stabilizing societies. Egalitarian society that dominated hunter-gathering civilizations gave way to more plutocratic society, in which the financially advantaged dominate and control the power. Besides, humans have experienced many evolutionary phases, such as Scientific Revolution, Industrial Revolution or the lunar landing in the early 20th century, in the history, during and after which more complicated and abstract ideas and notions have sprung. These ideas, if not limited to, entail the suffrage extended to women in the 20th century, the abolishment of apartheid by Nelson Mandala, the legitimation of same-sex marriage that had been previously stigmatized by United States Supreme Court. Society’s attitudes toward artistic expression, literature, scientific and intellectual inquiry, cultural mores, custom values, and ideals have been evolving and in a continual state of evolution. A heightened awareness of all the changes help us formulate informed, reflective, and enlightened values and ideals not only for ourselves but for our offspring. Our society dearly benefits as a result.

Another problem with the statement is that it clearly undervalues other equally important advantages of study history. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that failed to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Learning from history provides us an opportunity to know about the contingencies, hardships, and dilemmas that wise people faced when making their decisions. This part of learning history is critical since we can learn to be more circumspect and cautious when having to make similar decisions. Similarly, we could also learn about the courage and tenacity of history’s great leaders, explorers, pioneers, and the like. Their stories can galvanize us at the nadir of our lives. Learning history also allows us to trace to the root of social problems and issues before we attempt to resolve them.

All told, generally we can see that the study of history provides a wide array of benefits. It is true that history often repeats itself and that lives of mankind will always share some similarities. Yet, history has other lessons to offer us as well. It can help us formulate more informed values and ideals, inspire us to great achievements, point out mistakes to avert, and enlighten us on how far humanity has already progressed and evolved.