What is History?
History is the study of what really happened in the past. It tells us about people, places and events that were true, not made-up stories. When we learn history, we find out how people lived long ago.
The Malay word sejarah comes from the Arabic word syajaratun, which means "tree". Just as a tree has roots and branches that keep growing, history shows how events grow and connect over time.
Facts, Not Fairy Tales
History must be true and based on evidence. A person who studies the past is called a historian. A historian looks for facts before saying that something really happened.
Key idea
History = the true story of the past, arranged in the order of time and built from real facts.
Why Learn History?
We study history to know where we come from, to feel proud of our country, and to learn lessons from the past so we can make better choices today.
Remember
- History studies the true past, not the future.
- Sejarah comes from syajaratun = "tree".
- A historian studies history using facts.