CHAPTER 5
Cultural History:
Precursor to the Present
and Future
A people without the knowledge of past history, origin, and culture is like a tree
without roots.
MARCUS GARVEYOur view of history shapes the way we view the present, and therefore it dictates
what answers we offer for existing problems.
DAVID CRABTREEWe use history to understand ourselves, and we ought to use it to understand
others.
MARGARET MACMILLANHistory’s Influence
So what does history have to do with the study of culture and communication?
A short answer to that question is provided by the quotes offered above. However, a
reach back into antiquity will provide additional insight as to the role of history in
your lives. Herodotus, the ancient Greek famously known as the“Father of History,”
wrote that the importance of history was“so that the actions of people will not fade
with time.”The Roman statesman and orator Cicero wrote,“History is the witness
that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides
guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.”The importance of history
to the study of culture and communication is clearly illustrated by Cicero’s proclama-
tion and takes on greater significance when you realize that the wordculturecan eas-
ily be substituted for the wordhistory. Contemporary historians have also offered
compelling statements attesting to the role history plays in understanding human soci-
ety. For instance, Stearns writes,“The past causes the present and so the future.”^1
For any study of culture, an awareness of your historical heritage helps to explain
the current values, traditions, and institutions that guide your daily life. As you
probably learned as early as primary school, the majority of early immigrants to the
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