introduction

History History is one of the social sciences that specializes in

studying the past of people. Historians are interested in studying
documents related to all past events, and also preparing new
documents based on their research, which constitutes great
importance. In writing down their documents, historians use various
sources such as folk stories, archaeological remains, and works of art.
As well as books, blogs, and traditions, this is what made history
generally limited to all human events since the beginning of writing
and its development nearly five thousand years ago. In many schools,
history is considered an important field of study, because through it
people’s national feeling increases, and through it concepts are also
justified. Nationalism and ideals.
From the above, the following problem can be raised: What is the
nature of the study of history and its importance?

The importance of studying history:

The importance of studying history lies in the fact that history is one
of the most important elements on which any society relies in its
development or decline, and because history has a close relationship
with various sciences. The study of these various sciences is
considered a study of history, and because of the importance of the
science of history, the Arabs have devoted great attention to it, as they
tend to know the fate of previous nations, as well as their interest in
genealogies and events of timeand in the following points we mention
the importance of studying history in general:
- tudying history helps to know people and their contemporaries,
and is important in identifying names without error if those
names are similar.
 - Studying history helps to learn the abrogated and abrogated, as it
contributes to clarifying new news from old. [4] It is history that
bears witness to The past, the present, and what the future could
be.
- The importance of studying history lies in taking lessons and
benefiting from the past, avoiding making mistakes that were in
the past, and trying to search for solutions to these mistakes.
- Through studying history, we can know the truth about events.
And the facts and the extent of their authenticity.
- History helps in knowing the history of the narrators, their
journey in seeking knowledge, and the state of the narrator,
whether he is truthful or lying.
- When studying history, we can know the state of nations in
terms of strength or weakness, and we can also know the extent
of nations’ ignorance or knowledge, and their activity or
stagnation.
- When studying history, we can be inspired by the good role
models that history highlights to us, and which had a great
impact on life, and they are role models. It will not be forgotten
over time.
- When studying the stories of nations and their history, a person
can know the universal laws, the end of the oppressor, and the
victory of the oppressed. God Almighty has told us in his Holy
Book many stories, such as the stories of the prophets.
Because the study of history is of great importance, Ibn Khaldun
devoted most of his books to highlighting the importance of history
and clarifying its meaning. Ibn Khaldun mentioned that history is an
art that is transmitted by nations and generations. The study of history
describes the natural and philosophical sciences, as well as the
religious sciences, and pays attention to their roots clearly as if they
were from reality. Nations have rushed to study history because of its
importance in knowing and realizing the truth, taking positions on the
experiences of the past, and the ability to plan and link them to the
present in which we live. Were it not for the importance of history, we
would not have found regular scientific research that pays great
attention to historical studies so that they are based on accurate and
solid foundations

The identity of history

Some literary and historical scholars differed in defining the identity
of history at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the
twentieth century, and more than one trend appeared to us in defining
the identity of history, which are as follows:
- Some say that history is not a science at all (it is not a science),
as it does not subject historical events to examination, scrutiny,
and experimentation, and it is not possible to derive established
scientific laws as is found in other sciences, such as chemistry,
for example. Those who hold this opinion believe that history is
far from being a science because it is based on The element of
coincidence sometimes, and there is also an element of freedom
of will and human personality, and this destroys any scientific
basis on which history can be based.
- Some writers believe that history is an art, whether it is a
science or not, and writing history requires the skill of the writer,
as there must be intervention by the historian in order to explain
the reasons and circumstances that led to the emergence of
historical events.
- Some scholars believed that history cannot be stripped of its
status as a science, as history is a science based on criticism and
analysis and not on experience, and it is similar to the natural
sciences, especially geology.

The study of history

 is a group of educational means that contribute to learning about
historical events, by relying on observation and study of the historical
stages that were associated with past human eras, by collecting
scientifically documented evidence that proves historical events. The
study of history is classified as a type of science, which most
universities in the world are interested in teaching, as a means of
learning about ancient civilizations that existed in one of the historical
eras.
The study of history is one of the reliable methods relied upon by
archaeologists and explorers to reach results for their academic
research on historical discoveries, which helped most of them identify
cultural discoveries that were not previously known. Examples
include: the discoveries that appeared at the beginning of the twentieth
century about... The Pharaonic civilization in Egypt, and contributed
to arriving at many interpretations that helped archaeologists learn
about the ancient history of the Pharaohs.

The historical curriculum

is a set of means and methods that contribute to documenting history
and linking it to realistic sources and references, based on the
following stages:
Collecting documents
is collecting the largest possible number of historical documents about
a specific thing, and these documents include all the things that are
possible. Obtaining them, such as: papers, tools, writings, etc. Any
document, whatever its nature, may contribute to the study of history
correctly, and enable the application of the historical curriculum in a
study and scientific manner that contributes to preparing for the study
of history, to reach the results associated with it.
Document criticism
 is the process of classifying historical documents, relying on their
references to ensure their authenticity, historical accuracy, and the
integrity of the information contained in them. Historical scholars rely
on all the data available to them about each available document, to
distinguish between the original document and the forgery, so that the
historical study depends on sources.
Real, true. Historical analysis is the analysis of all historical
documents, to reach correct results about the study of history, which
helps the scientist, researcher, or student who is researching a specific
historical field to present his study conclusion on the historical topic
in an accurate and correct manner that contributes to adding a new
study that works to prepare An interpretation or clarification of a text
or an ancient historical discovery

Benefits of studying history

Understanding Ethics
The study of history contributes to understanding ethics, as studying
the stories and situations of people in the past makes the person who
studies history evaluate his own moral sense, and seeks to refine it in
order to avoid the complexities that people faced in the difficult
circumstances of their lives. The student of history does not only study
the stories of the great men and women of history. But also ordinary
people who were examples of courage, diligence, and sacrifice in life,
as the stories of these people who survived misfortunes or difficult
circumstances throughout history are a source of inspiration for others.
Acquiring analysis skills:
Studying history provides the student with other skills other than
enriching knowledge about the past, such as making him acquire
analysis skills. This skill is very valuable and important in many jobs,
in addition to giving him the ability to prioritize information to make
appropriate decisions about something. This step takes place after
analyzing the available information.

Cultural Awareness
The study of history makes a person more aware of culture and more
specifically of other cultures, by exposing the student to different
cultures. Where he can understand the actions of different peoples and
accept them better, such as understanding the racial tensions that
occurred in America after the abolition of slavery, and these tensions
still exist to the present time.
Gaining knowledge:
Studying history can make a person more knowledgeable and explore
things, in addition to the possibility of asking important questions
about things and also answering these questions. Talking with a
history student is interesting for others. Whoever wants to know why
something happened at the present time can go to ask Sociologists or
economists; But to obtain a more in-depth background on the subject,
a history specialist must be asked about the matter because they have
information about the past and can understand it and explain its
relationship with the present.
Conclusion
The science of history is gaining great importance at the global level,
as awareness is increasing in light of globalization of the importance
of this science among nations and peoples who are making great
efforts to know it, explore its depths, and keep pace with its
developments. Historical methodology has developed in a forced
manner over the past decades. History curricula are no longer limited
to merely narrating events, but have gone beyond it to include the
study of historical theories and their contemporary applications, and
dealing with primary sources. The specializations of this science have
branched out to include: political, economic, cultural, scientific, and
artistic history, and even contemporary historical studies. It has
become linked to the development of the rest of the sciences. The
more the sciences develop, the greater the need for the science of
history to explain the story of its development and to analyze its
events. Therefore, the goal of the science of history is: reading the past
to understand the present and anticipating the future.