| Theodore Roosevelt once said, âI believe that the more you know about the past, the better you are prepared for the future.â At MIT, the study of History teaches different ways to think critically about the past, present and future of the world. Students develop a rich, empathetic understanding of the people, events, and circumstances that ultimately prepares them to be active members of their local communities and an increasingly global society today. Tailored to put the modern world in historical perspective, MIT History subjects explore the social, cultural, economic, and political transformations that shape the present. On OCW, you can browse lists of courses on 17 History subtopics: African History > Read the complete article | 