History

Greek historia — inquiry, knowledge obtained by inquiry. From histor — knowing, learned. Herodotus used it to describe his method — asking questions, gathering accounts. Originally a process, not a body of content.

'History is written by the winners' is the folk wisdom that captures the word's political dimension. Curriculum battles over what history gets taught are battles over national identity. 'We're on the right side of history' borrows the word's authority to claim future vindication.