This, of course, was entirely false. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Biography of Idi Amin, Brutal Dictator of Uganda, Biography of Stephen Bantu (Steve) Biko, Anti-Apartheid Activist, Gain Some Wisdom From These Zulu Proverbs. Who Was Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the Father of Tanzania? 17 million people died during World War I. What Was the Extension of University Education Act in South Africa? The Second Congo War: Its origins and initial stages, The Suez Crisis: Key in the Decolonization of Africa. And for a century, since the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, there were no pan-European wars. In the summer of 1914, there was arguably no more peaceful, prosperous and well-connected world that had ever existed on earth. Few people care about what people that are no longer with us did in the past. Many of us have the faintest idea what happened in the past and how it can affect our present and future. Similarly, the American Revolution could easily have been derailed by General George Washington's foolhardy decision in the spring of 1776 to keep much of his army in Manhattan as a great British fleet of 400 ships -- one of the largest fleets hitherto assembled -- surrounded the island. The General History of Africa (GHA) is a pioneering corpus, unparalleled in its ambition to cover the history of the entire African continent, since the appearance of human beings to contemporary challenges faced by Africans and Things that happened many years ago can affect what is happening today. Africa is the birthplace of humankind and knowing its history is essential for understanding the global society that's grown around it. When we study any other group, we recognize the fullness of their humanity. African History and Culture Africa is the birthplace of humankind and knowing its history is essential for understanding the global society that's grown around it. This belief is deeply rooted in a Judeo-Christian conception of history, one in which we are all trying to reach the Promised Land, which some have conflated with the United States itself. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill understood the gathering threat posed by Nazi Germany long before his peers did. Who knows, maybe it will help you too. Was Nok Culture Sub-Saharan Africa's earliest civilization? History reminds us that the forces of darkness are ever-present in the human soul and that few of us really have the capacity to be heroes. And Abraham Lincoln felt that slavery had to end before many of his colleagues did. It’s our pride, our shame and our mystery. They didn’t know then that history was one of the most important subjects they’d ever study. Does anyone doubt that if Osama bin Laden had had access to gene editing technologies, he would have used them against his enemies? What Was the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland? Important strides in public health such as the germ theory of disease and the discovery that cholera was spread by contaminated water had been made in the West. Do You Know What Events Led up to the Suez Crisis? When and How Did Apartheid Start in South Africa? The Spanish influenza at the end of that war killed tens of millions more. For example I was taught about the importance of Wallingford in Life is full of changes but the only thing that can help us understand those changes is history. Now that I realize how history is important to us, I wish I spent more time reading history books. The Legacy of Jomo Kenyatta, the First President of Kenya. And just as Newton was both a scientist and an alchemist, the founding fathers declared "we are all created equal" while many of them owned slaves. What Was the British South Africa Company? Hopefully we can continue to do so. In many ways, Weimar was one of the most liberal polities of the early 20th century, yet it birthed Nazism, which in turn led to the Holocaust. Which African Countries Were Never Actually Colonized? Here’s why it’s so important to start learning history. Biography of Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu, South African Activist, Causes and Efforts to Control Soil Erosion in Africa. "History never repeats itself but it rhymes," is an observation sometimes attributed to Mark Twain. How Did Goods Get Across the Sahara in Medieval Times? My mom once said, “If your great-grandmother was alive, she would have laughed at our lifestyles.” It was interesting for me to learn more facts about the past generations and understand why they had different life priorities and what purposes they had. What are you interested in? What Caused the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya? What Happened to Ghana Since It Gained Independence? The 1976 Soweto Uprising Student Protest Was Met With Police Violence, The Story Behind Robert Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe, Blacks Abolition of Passes and Co-ordination of Documents Act. Countries were bound together by new trade routes, which were enabled by steam ships, trains and the telegraph. By Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst, Peter Bergen is CNN's national security analyst, a vice president at New America and a professor of practice at Arizona State University. Events happen at an ever-increasing pace. A Very Short History of the Ivory Coast Region, A Brief History of the Country of Morocco, Ancient Egypt: Birthplace of the Modern Calendar, Moving Quotes From Julius Kambarage Nyerere, How the Freedom Charter Led to A Crackdown on the ANC. History isn’t just a school subject. Choose the aspect of history that totally intrigues you and grab as many history books as you can read. Milton Obote: Two-time President of Uganda, The History and Meaning Behind West African Kente Cloth, Origins of the Trans-Atlantic Trade of Enslaved People. When we recognize the red flags, we can avoid or combat against them. With every step forward, we can still take two steps back. Trying to sort through these hard questions enables us to have empathy, or the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of our forebears. Or maybe a bit of both? History isn’t boring when you love what you read. We know about these wars, but we hardly understand the change and reason. Kings, queens, explorers, sovereigns, researchers, artists and many other prominent people did a lot for us. It seems like a simple question with an even simpler answer: We don't know where we are going if we don't know where we're from. Here, you'll discover resources on the continent's prominent historical figures, complex racial politics, and turbulent military past. What Was the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act? Remembering their names is one of the best ways to be grateful to them for what they did. That Thomas Jefferson was also a slaveholder should remind us that the story of human progress is hardly the magnificent, linear journey toward the promised land of peace and justice that we often believe it to be. He is the author of "United States of Jihad: Investigating America's Homegrown Terrorists.". Ancient Egypt: Predynastic Period (5500-3100 BCE), How Racial Groups Were Assigned in Apartheid South Africa, The Science and Madness of African Exploration, A Historical Look at the Mfecane in Africa. Holocaust survivor on why we can never forget, United States of Jihad: Investigating America's Homegrown Terrorists, rise of antibiotic-resistant super viruses, Peter Bergen: On July 4, it's worth reflecting on the importance of studying our history, History allows us to understand our own fallibility, and if we heed its lessons, prevents us from repeating the same mistakes. None of the great powers thought that the Great War would cause the collapse of the Turkish, Russian, German and Austro-Hungarian empires and would contribute to the eventual dissolution of the British empire. Almost all of those who did oppose the Nazis perished under ghastly tortures. What Was Ujamaa and How Did It Affect Tanzania? And who among us can honestly say that they would have been one of the few Germans who stood up to the Nazis. What Was the Black Consciousness Movement? The British commander General Sir William Howe's much larger forces of soldiers could have finished off Washington's army in New York, but instead the British general dithered -- allowing Washington to organize a hasty retreat and survive to fight another day.