History is the study of human experience through time. History is one important way by which we can come to understand and better appreciate what it is to be human through a look at the accumulated record of the past. Through the study of history, we can discover both our common humanity with others as well as our differences that comprise the complexity of the human experience. It is also a road to self-knowledge, for it shows us the forces over time that have made our civilization and culture, enabling us to understand ourselves better as products of and participants in those forces. History also puts us in touch with various ways people have lived their lives, and the feelings, ideals, and experiences by which they have made them meaningful, drawing us to the creation of our own ideals, values, and vision.