History.

History is an academic discipline that examines the past. As an applied critical approach or for public policy development, it traces present conditions in human society and outlines future alternatives—considering likely societal and technological changes. The most popular historic theme for centuries was war and related issues of military conquest and governance, and many European authors, typically writing from a Eurocentric perspective, disproportionately focused on ancient history, particularly Greece and Rome. The discipline evolved slowly in Europe as the continent saw increasing literacy, education, exploration, and travel. In a trend that grew rapidly during the twentieth century, the study of history expanded its focus to include deeper examinations of civilizations and societal issues. Sociology, demography, geography, political science, economics, anthropology, and many other fields contributed to the growing breadth of the discipline.