“History is a vast early warning system.” - Norman Cousins
History is powerful. Know what happened in the past, and you’ll be better prepared to interpret your world, avoid repeating mistakes, and influence the future of your nation.
When you get past dry descriptions and delve into the stories, history can also be rather pleasurable. There are thousands of remarkable, surprising, and significant accounts to consider.
In this week’s lesson, we’ll take a look at three ways you can give yourself a liberal education on the history of Western civilization and the world.
Assignment 1: Get a Textbook (But Don’t Use It Too Much)
History is one of two subjects where I find an actual textbook to be useful. Why? Because history must be understood in context. Many people pick up bits of history and study particular parts of history in isolation. However, knowing where these pieces fit in the larger puzzle of world events is essential to a complete liberal education.
Any basic, college-level textbook will do. You may be able to find one at the library or pick one up at a local used bookstore. You can’t get a complete understanding of history by reading a textbook; just use it to help yourself visualize the “big picture.” [click to continue…]
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