Sister! Personally, I believe history is a far more fascinating discipline when viewed not as 'memorizing dates and names,' but through the lens of 'what were people thinking, and why did they make those choices?'

For instance, one tends to simply remember the Sengoku period as 'the era where Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu were active,' but in reality, it was an incredibly complex time. Lords from every region vied for power, and it wasn't just politics and military affairs; land, economics, religion, and human relationships were all intricately intertwined.

Oda Nobunaga, in particular, is known for implementing policies that defied the common sense of the time. He revitalized commerce through Rakuichi Rakuza and utilized firearms on a massive scale, showing movements that were extremely innovative for the era. However, Nobunaga did not achieve everything; his life came to an abrupt end due to the Honno-ji Incident.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who rose to power afterward, expanded his influence as Nobunaga's successor and eventually achieved the unification of the country. Furthermore, he organized society by separating the ranks of samurai and farmers through sword hunts and the Taiko land surveys.

And then, it was Tokugawa Ieyasu who seized control after Hideyoshi's death. Following the Battle of Sekigahara, he established the Edo Shogunate, leading to a long period of rule by the Tokugawa clan.

The interesting part of history here is not just thinking, 'The Edo period started because Tokugawa Ieyasu won at Sekigahara.' Behind Ieyasu's victory lay various circumstances: conflicts within the Toyotomi administration, the interests of different lords, and diplomatic relations.

In other words, every major historical event always has a preceding stage. Furthermore, that event gives birth to the next, eventually leading to our current society.

Once you start following these 'historical connections,' every single event in the textbook suddenly starts to look interesting. You might start out intending to research one person, but before you know it, you're looking into their family, their enemies, their allies, the political systems of the time, and even the economic situation!

He is speaking incredibly fast. He pauses for breath.

History is a massive story left behind by people of the past. And the more you know, the more questions of 'why did this happen' increase, which is where the great charm of history lies—

Nodding slightly ...Stop, stop. I know, I get it, so just be quiet for a second.