the history of history

The history of history is the study of how people have recorded and understood past events over time. Ancient civilizations like the Sumerians and Egyptians kept records on clay tablets and papyrus. Greek historians like Herodotus and Thucydides introduced systematic storytelling and analysis. Throughout the Middle Ages, monastic scribes preserved texts, while the Renaissance renewed interest in classical sources. Modern history emerged as a scholarly discipline in the 19th century, emphasizing critical methods and diverse perspectives. Today, history incorporates multiple sources—documents, artifacts, oral histories—and uses technology to explore the complex narratives of human pasts.