Ah yes, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." (Edmund Burke) But we have also heard the saying, "history repeats itself," and Martin Armstrong has compiled thousands of year of economic data which supports this theory. But how does this relate to the individual you or me? Are we to educate ourselves as to our history only to succumb to the predictable.
Mary Baker Eddy cuts through all the human theories with this inspired proclamation:
The true theory of the universe, including man, is not in material history but in spiritual development.
Inspired thought relinquishes a material, sensual, and mortal theory of the universe, and adopts the spiritual and immortal. (S&H)
In practice, if we ever do review the past, it is for one purpose only, spiritual development - to learn how we can better listen to and obey our Maker.
Recalling the past to learn more of ourselves (the infatuation of geneology) can only serve to enslave us, to tie us more firmly to flesh and blood, "which lusteth against the spirit."
This makes practical the following from Romans 8:
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;