History is an evolution and growth. H. G. Wells has rightly said, “The knowledge we possess of life before the beginning of human memory and tradition is derived very largely from the markings and fossils of living things in the stratified rocks." But in spite of all the difficulties about the study of history of the nations and mankind, it is useful to study in more than one way.
Advantages for the study of world history:
(1) It Widens our Knowledge. We usually have very little knowledge about the world and that how it came into being. We also do not know how the life came to survive in the world. It is the study of world history which makes the people wise and knowledgeable. In the words of Jawaharlal Nehru : "In the history we read of the great periods in the life of nations, of great men and women and great deeds performed, and sometimes in our dreams and reveries we imagine ourselves back in those times and doing brave deeds like the heroes and heroines of old."
(2) It helps in knowing world cultures: It is through the study of world history alone that we come to know about the past cultures and civilizations of the world. It is through the study of history that we have come to know that once in the world developed the great Indus Valley civilization, Greek and Egyptian civilizations and so on. It is again with the help of the study of world history that we know that what were the causes responsible for the fall of these civilizations and so on.
(3) Rise and fall of empires: By studying of the world history, we come to know about the rise and fall of the empires. How from tiny feudal societies, states, and empires came into being is another interesting study. Still interesting study is that how the people in the empires were ruled and what were the causes of their downfall. These causes are in fact the great lessons of history to the mankind and posterity. Who does not know that rise and fall of Roman Empire forms an important subject of study for the students of history even today.
(4) Knowledge about institutions: Today we have some well defined and well established institutions e.g. the institution of family, marriage, etc. We have also many well established customs and traditions like those of wearing, eating, dancing and even playing etc. But these did not develop all of a sudden. It took centuries before these customs, traditions, rituals and institutions developed. The study of world history enriches our knowledge about all these important aspects of life.
(5) Knowledge about economic life: Still another advantage about the study of world history is that it helps us in knowing economic life of the people as it was in the past. It is through the history that we come to know how the man in the beginning bad no living standard. How gradually his standard improved during stone and copper ages and also how cultivation and tools helped in raising his economic standard. Then we come to know about the introduction of barter system in our economy. Then came the coins and so on. The history also tells us as to how the people began to trade within the country and also with the outside world. About the boats and ships which were used for trade purposes, we come to know through world history. It is through the study of world history again that we come to know as to what was produced in surplus and in which country. Similarly which country had favourable and unfavourable balance of trade is known to us through the study of world history. This study also helps us in knowing coinage and currency systems and so on.
(6) Feelings of oneness: Study of world history tells us that in the past our fore fathers lived together at one point of time or the other. Similarly we come to know that much of our cultural heritage comes from one source. It also tells that we followed many similar customs and traditions. Since our ancestors had close trade relations with each other, therefore we ought to develop feelings of Oneness. These feelings as we know, are very badly needed today because the world is sharply divided. The west claims superiority of culture over the East, though history is a witness that the civili.sations in the past started from East and travelled to the West.
(7) Opposed to racial discrimination: Today a large part of the world is suffering from racial discrimination. There is discrimination between the coloured and non-coloured people. There is a fight going on between the white and the negroes and so on. But the study of the world history is opposed to the concept of racial discrimination. It makes us abundantly clear that all the races originated from common ancestors and that racial discrimination started at a very late stage and is thus unwanted and uncalled for.
(8) Spirit of toleration and brotherhood: It is unfortunate that today in our world there is no spirit of toleration. We are quarreling with each other over race, caste, creed and religion. We fight against each other as enemies. The result is that mankind has fought many wars in the name of religion. We have also fought two global wars to make the world safe for democracy and for maintaining peace. Even a rapid survey of the world history makes it clear that the people in the past lived with each other in a spirit of toleration and with the feelings of brotherhood.
The study of world history thus makes us wise and tolerant. It makes us abundantly clear that the world of the past was quite different from the world of today. The history is bound to make our knowledge wide and our outlook quite different. It makes us clear as to how the man became cultured and civilized.
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