What Does History Teach? Two Edinburgh Lectures

"What Does History Teach?" by John Stuart Blackie is a set of thought-provoking talks that look closely at what we can learn by studying the past. It considers humanity and society, especially how governments and religious groups are organized. Blackie looks at how human communities have changed and grown. The first part of the book says that humans are different from animals because we can create new things and improve. History shows that people aim for high goals, build communities like families, and change through their interactions. He talks about early societies—prehistoric, pastoral, and agricultural—and how these stages have reshaped how we organize ourselves. He points out that authority, particularly within families, is critical, paving the way for political systems. These initial observations set the stage for a larger discussion about the relationships between government and religion that appears later in the book.