Creative Arts & Media

What is "History"?

History (from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation) is the study of the past. Events occurring before the invention of writing systems are considered prehistory. History is an umbrella term that relates to past events as well as the memory, discovery, collection, organization, presentation, and interpretation of information about these events. Scholars who focus on history are called historians. The historians role is to place the past in context, using sources from moments and events, and filling in the gaps to the best of their ability. Written documents are not the only sources historians use to develop their understanding of the past. They also use material objects, oral accounts, ecological markers, art, and artifacts as historical sources.