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The chief benefit of the study of history is to break down the illusion that people in one period of time are significantly different from people who lived at any other time in history

Although I concede with the statement that human nature is exempt from change, I also believe that political and economic diversity across different periods of time shape markedly different individuals in terms of cultural norms, customs, values and ideas. Furthermore, the purpose of studying history has far more benefits than realizing the stability of human beings.
Human nature is the unchangeable basis on which character is built, on which temperament and disposition is formed. A throughout study of human history reveals that the people who walked this earth in antiquity were moved by the same fundamental forces, swayed by the same passions, and had the same aspirations as the men and women of today. It is through this fundamental similarity that we have come to appreciate the value of history as a mentor providing guidance. For example, in an effort to combat pain, our ancestors had discovered the potent naturally-occurring anesthesia cocaine, which had serious adverse effects; future generations made chemical alternations and produced the clinically useful procaine. Now, medicinal chemists have learned to search for potential drugs in natural sources, yielding thousands of important drugs used today.
However, it is also beneficial to look past our similarities, and define the changes that occurred throughout history. Different periods of time encompass people with extensively different customs, manners, dress and habits, all of which serve as mirrors of the past. For example, dress codes for women throughout the centuries illustrate the progression of female rights and the increasing importance women have had on the society. Furthermore, through evaluating a society’s views on various topics such as animal rights, environmental protection,...