Thinking like a historian

This is a thoughtful answer, and you're absolutely right that historians focus on uncovering the past by carefully studying notes, speeches, and other sources to understand what life was like during different periods. Historians are like detectives, piecing together evidence to find 'hidden stories' that might not be immediately obvious. I also appreciate your point about the difference between politics and history. While history can certainly inform political ideas, the role of the historian is to analyze and interpret the facts as they are, rather than to push a specific political agenda. This objective approach is key to gaining a fuller, more accurate understanding of the past. Well done on drawing that distinction!