Why History Matters | Patrick Allitt | TEDxEmory

Most students find boredom in between the pages of a history textbook, but why is it so essential to learn? Hear this history professor explain how history is not as ancient as it feels, and why it is so relevant today. Patrick Allitt was born and raised in Derbyshire, England. He graduated from Oxford in 1977 and studied for the PhD in American History at the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a professor in the Emory History Department since 1988. He is the author of seven books, including I’m the Teacher, You’re the Student: A Semester in the University Classroom. He is also the presenter of ten video and audio lecture series with “The Great Courses.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at