It is sometimes said that history is for the community what memory is for an individual. Good historical thinking is an integral part of managing change well and a tool for sustaining the life and growth of communities. Historians work with texts of all kinds (not only written materials but also oral evidence, art, buildings, artefacts) in order to understand change and continuity over time. Historians learn to pay attention to the silences and absences in how stories are told, to evaluate the dynamics of power and personalities in events, and to explore how ideas or decisions on the local scene shape or reflect broader trends and movements nationally and internationally. Historical skills enable people to innovate effectively and to set core traditions in a wide context.
