Throughout History...

Hello friends,

I come across eye-rolling nods to “history” all the time - mostly when the press, a politician, or an activist wants to make some sort of sweeping generalization or promote a narrow agenda. By far, the most overused expression meant to situate something in the greater scheme of things is “throughout history…” Usually, I encounter it reading essays - when kids want to write something that makes them sound knowledgable. Hey, they are young and inexperienced, so I work with them to explain why using such clichés is not the best idea. But often enough to cause irritation, I hear it uttered by adults who should know better.

Honestly, I can’t think of anything to say about history that is more trite and meaningless than “throughout history.” And - it only amplifies my irritation when the writer or speaker assumes a sort of smug self-righteousness when he or she uses it. It’s as if they are on the inside or even worse, the “right” side and you are just some sort of dimwitted ignorant Cretan. Please. Throughout history what? Are you really suggesting that you can claim anything beyond the most surface level about the entirety of the human experience? You’ve got to be kidding me.

Trust me, even if you could say some single thing about everything, the most cursory look at the execution of said everything would reveal without question that similar events take on innumerable variations across time and place. Take the competition for resources, for example. I suppose one might say that “throughout history” human beings have competed for resources. But how, why, under what circumstances, and by whose authority? All of this adds layers of depth and would be strikingly different depending on what society, group, civilization, etc, etc, you happened to study.

And….here’s another little wrinkle to consider. Most of the historical record is unknowable - either no one wrote it down it in the first place, or someone destroyed it (intentionally or otherwise), and now it is lost for all time. So how can we possibly make such an all-encompassing statement like “throughout history” when we can’t possibly know almost all of it?

Annnnd if you are a history student (or teacher) and you want to read about this and lots of other things that will improve your writing and analytical skills, you should check out my latest book, Mastering the Past: Unlocking Excellence in High School History.

With compliments,

Keith