To history or not to history?

[S.]

I like to write fantasy and chose books to read based on how much they would contribute to my writing. Honestly, I would not bother reading if it was not for writing, but now it seems that reading has become a strong interest of mine. The question is simple. Do you think it is important for writers to read a lot of history? Why?

[Kyra]

I think that reading history can provide a lot of inspiration to writers, especially fantasy writers since we (fantasy writers) often write about events that are of historical significance in the worlds we invent, and also tend to invent cultures based on real historical cultures and societies. Understanding different kinds of societies and how they develop and how they work, and how different events influence each other can add a lot of believability to fiction.

And even if it isn't big historical events you read about, it can still be useful. I'm writing a fantasy series set in a world like the American Old West, and I just finished reading a fictionalized account of a cattle drive written by a man who was a real working cowboy in the 1880s. So now I have a much better understanding of how cattle drives worked (and, in particular, what can go wrong with them) than if I had just watched some movies or read fictional accounts not based on historical reality.

Great question!