The horizons of history are comprehensive. Today History is not just a record of events but it is an independent branch of study which deals with arts, religion, architecture, traditions, aesthetics, etc. It helps in factual understanding of the things. It increases knowledge, understanding .It creates awareness of time and space, society and culture. It promotes values, it makes us respect the opinions of our fellow beings. It gives us courage to handle notorious issues with complete sympathy. It inculcates loyalty to the nation. In short, history becomes useful for shaping the personality of balanced future citizens. Hence it is a comprehensive and all encompassing subject.
History narrates the past-which is seen in all its resources too. As Logilos and Sinbos say,’ No documents no history.’ It enlarges human experience. It makes him understand the co-relation between a series of events. Prof. Alton in his book ‘The Practice of History’ states, ’Historical knowledge gives solidity to the understanding of the present and may suggest guiding lines for the future’.
Moreover, history gives rational attitude and increases reasoning power. R.G. Colling Wood in his book, ‘Idea of History’ speaks of the scope of history in the following words. ‘History has a values, its teachings are useful for human life, simply because the rhythm of its change is likely to repeat itself .Similar antecedents leading to similar consequents,’ the history of notable events is worth remembering in order to serve as a basis for prognostic, judgments not demonstrable but probable laying down not what will happen, but what is likely to happen, indicating the paints of danger in rhythms now going on.
The scope of History is vast it is the story of man in relation to totality of his behavior. The scope of history means breaths comprehensiveness, variety and extent of learning experiences, provided by the study. History which was only limited to local saga has during the course of century become Universal history of mankind, social, cultural, scientific, technological, religious and artistic etc. and at various levels local regional, national and international. It starts with past, makes present it’s sheet anchor and points to the future. Event like wars, revolutions, rise and fall of empires fortunes and misfortunes of great empire builders as well as the masses in general are all subject matter of history. History is a comprehensive subject and includes – history of geography, history of art, History of culture, history of literature, history of civilization, History of religion, History of mathematics, History of Physic, History of Chemistry, History of education, History of Biology, History of atom, History of Philosophy and every social, physical and natural science we are interested in history today has become an Our – embracing, Comprehensive subject with almost limited extent.