Most people think of history as events that took place long ago and has no real relevance to their life today. However, once you start tracing your family tree you discover that history is more than a few dried lines of ink on a page and that those events long past lead to this moment in time to where you live and to your very existence.
The study of history is not just the study of those famous people who carved nations, and made life changing decisions for entire countries, it is also about the average person who may never get written up in a history book, or whose name may never be known outside your own family circle. But, the time these people lived in and the choices they made ended up affecting your own life in ways you might never imagine.
Comedian and talk show host Rosie O'Donnell learned that some of her ancestors spent time in and Irish work house during the potato famine and if it weren't for the events that took place during that long ago time she may never have lived outside Ireland, become famous, or perhaps even lived at all. The sufferings of her ancestors in Ireland lead them to leave their homeland to seek a better life and chance of survival and the decisions they made impact the woman Rosie was to become 100 years later.
To learn about your family tree is to learn about history through the lives of your own ancestors and not only does it make history seem more real, but it brings it to life in a way that is both interesting and exciting. So, if you find history boring try tracing your family tree. Once you start finding your ancestors and start discovering where they lived and what was going on in their lives and the country at the time they lived history will become far more exciting.
