What is Genealogy?
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Marlon Christian
Dec 28, 2009, 3:50:58 AM12/28/09
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Genealogy, generally defined, is the study of one's ancestry. However,
in actuality, genealogy is much more involved and interesting than its
general definition lets on.
When you begin studying genealogy, you realize just how much
interesting information your family history can reveal. Genealogy can
shed light on where your ancestors came from, where they lived, what
they did for a living, who they married and what property they owned.
Almost everyone, whether they realize it or not, has participated in
some form of genealogy activity. In grade school, did you ever make a
family tree? That's genealogy! Genealogy can be as simple as making a
record of your family tree from you to your great grandparents or as
complex as tracing your entire lineage back to ancient times.
The history of genealogy dates back to the Old Testament of The Bible.
In the very first book, the Book of Genesis, we see a family's
bloodline narrated and the importance of genealogy. The New Testament
would later also reflect the importance of genealogy in religion and
society. Both the Books of Matthew and Luke outline the genealogy of
Jesus of Nazareth.
But The Bible is not the only written record that lends credence to
the importance of genealogy. Throughout history we find records of
disputes, murders and even wars where genealogy played a part in the
story. Ties to royalty, rights to inheritances and eligibility for
rulership are all tied to a person's heritage, and genealogy provides
the map that illustrates who has right to what claims.
There are a number of instances throughout history in which genealogy
played an important role as certain dramas unfolded before humanity.
From something as significant as the lineage of Jesus of Nazareth to
something as modernly-trivial as the true father of Anna Nicole
Smith's daughter, genealogy has oftentimes been at the forefront as
history played itself out.
Genealogy also played a large role in England's historical claim to
the throne of France. King Edward III was a Norman-French descendant.
When his uncle, Charles IV of France, passed away Edward tried to lay
claim to the French throne.
He tried convincing the powers that be that even though his mother
could not lay claim to the throne because she was a woman, she could
pass on the bloodline's right to the throne, making him the rightful
ruler of France. Of course, the descendants of the male side of the
bloodline didn't agree and the argument eventually led to the Hundred
Year's War.
England and France aren't the only countries to have disputes over who
would be the rightful heir of a throne because of genealogy. Rowena's,
Byzantium, Portugal, and even ancient Egypt all have histories that
are rich in bloodline disputes.
Genealogy finds aren't all ancient history. Modern genealogy issues
have hit the media recently. Al Sharpton's recent discovery is proof
of the ironies that genealogy may uncover. Mr. Sharpton, who earlier
this year stated that he might run for president in 2008, recently
discovered through genealogy research that his great-grandfather was a
slave owned by none other than Senator Strom Thurman's great-great-
grandfather. In fact, the two may be related by blood.
Then, of course, there are the less-significant genealogy disputes
that don't have nearly as much importance as some of these historical
and political events, but they get enough media coverage to make them
world famous. The true family tree of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter is
just one instance. Perhaps this dispute over lineage wasn't
historically significant, but it appears that many found it to be a
topic of intense interest.
There are a number of reasons why people pursue genealogy. From
something as simple as a mild interest in one's family history to
something as significant as trying to find the parts of a broken
family and piece them back together, the reasons for studying
genealogy are numerous.
Genealogy can help a person get in touch with who they really are. You
can find out who your ancestors were, what they did, where they lived,
and more. By tracing your roots, you not only learn about those in
your bloodline who have gone before you, but you can research and gain
an understanding of these members of your family that you never had
the chance to meet.
While genealogy doesn't always dig up buried treasure, it is indeed a
possibility. Did you have a rich great uncle who died without any
heirs? One you never knew about? If you did, genealogy could help you
uncover the details that would help you claim what was rightfully
yours.
There have been times throughout history when extreme circumstances
split families apart. World War II, for instance, tore brother from
sister and mother from child. Genealogy is a tool that can help piece
broken families back together and thousands of people have done just
that.
Sometimes genealogy is just plain fun. Wouldn't it be exciting to find
out you were a distant cousin of a famous celebrity, or that your
great-great-great-great grandfather was a king? Many times genealogy
can uncover interesting and exciting facts about a person's family
tree.
Genealogy, while always important, didn't experience such a widespread
explosion in popularity until the advent of the Internet. Gone are the
days when researching your family tree meant running from one public
records facility to the next, hoping you could find missing pieces to
the puzzle by mailing away for information that might never arrive.
With more and more public records being made available online,
priceless genealogy information is just a mouse click away and easier
than ever to create a fluid family tree. Its no wonder millions of
Internet users have started tracing their family lines on the Web.
What used to take years to accomplish can now be done in a matter of
days or weeks.
With genealogy becoming more and more popular and advanced genealogy
tools now so readily available, there really hasn't been a better time
to get involved. Whether you only want to trace your family history
back a few generations or you want to see just how far back you can
climb up your family tree, the genealogy tools now available will make
the process faster, more efficient and much more enjoyable.
in actuality, genealogy is much more involved and interesting than its
general definition lets on.
When you begin studying genealogy, you realize just how much
interesting information your family history can reveal. Genealogy can
shed light on where your ancestors came from, where they lived, what
they did for a living, who they married and what property they owned.
Almost everyone, whether they realize it or not, has participated in
some form of genealogy activity. In grade school, did you ever make a
family tree? That's genealogy! Genealogy can be as simple as making a
record of your family tree from you to your great grandparents or as
complex as tracing your entire lineage back to ancient times.
The history of genealogy dates back to the Old Testament of The Bible.
In the very first book, the Book of Genesis, we see a family's
bloodline narrated and the importance of genealogy. The New Testament
would later also reflect the importance of genealogy in religion and
society. Both the Books of Matthew and Luke outline the genealogy of
Jesus of Nazareth.
But The Bible is not the only written record that lends credence to
the importance of genealogy. Throughout history we find records of
disputes, murders and even wars where genealogy played a part in the
story. Ties to royalty, rights to inheritances and eligibility for
rulership are all tied to a person's heritage, and genealogy provides
the map that illustrates who has right to what claims.
There are a number of instances throughout history in which genealogy
played an important role as certain dramas unfolded before humanity.
From something as significant as the lineage of Jesus of Nazareth to
something as modernly-trivial as the true father of Anna Nicole
Smith's daughter, genealogy has oftentimes been at the forefront as
history played itself out.
Genealogy also played a large role in England's historical claim to
the throne of France. King Edward III was a Norman-French descendant.
When his uncle, Charles IV of France, passed away Edward tried to lay
claim to the French throne.
He tried convincing the powers that be that even though his mother
could not lay claim to the throne because she was a woman, she could
pass on the bloodline's right to the throne, making him the rightful
ruler of France. Of course, the descendants of the male side of the
bloodline didn't agree and the argument eventually led to the Hundred
Year's War.
England and France aren't the only countries to have disputes over who
would be the rightful heir of a throne because of genealogy. Rowena's,
Byzantium, Portugal, and even ancient Egypt all have histories that
are rich in bloodline disputes.
Genealogy finds aren't all ancient history. Modern genealogy issues
have hit the media recently. Al Sharpton's recent discovery is proof
of the ironies that genealogy may uncover. Mr. Sharpton, who earlier
this year stated that he might run for president in 2008, recently
discovered through genealogy research that his great-grandfather was a
slave owned by none other than Senator Strom Thurman's great-great-
grandfather. In fact, the two may be related by blood.
Then, of course, there are the less-significant genealogy disputes
that don't have nearly as much importance as some of these historical
and political events, but they get enough media coverage to make them
world famous. The true family tree of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter is
just one instance. Perhaps this dispute over lineage wasn't
historically significant, but it appears that many found it to be a
topic of intense interest.
There are a number of reasons why people pursue genealogy. From
something as simple as a mild interest in one's family history to
something as significant as trying to find the parts of a broken
family and piece them back together, the reasons for studying
genealogy are numerous.
Genealogy can help a person get in touch with who they really are. You
can find out who your ancestors were, what they did, where they lived,
and more. By tracing your roots, you not only learn about those in
your bloodline who have gone before you, but you can research and gain
an understanding of these members of your family that you never had
the chance to meet.
While genealogy doesn't always dig up buried treasure, it is indeed a
possibility. Did you have a rich great uncle who died without any
heirs? One you never knew about? If you did, genealogy could help you
uncover the details that would help you claim what was rightfully
yours.
There have been times throughout history when extreme circumstances
split families apart. World War II, for instance, tore brother from
sister and mother from child. Genealogy is a tool that can help piece
broken families back together and thousands of people have done just
that.
Sometimes genealogy is just plain fun. Wouldn't it be exciting to find
out you were a distant cousin of a famous celebrity, or that your
great-great-great-great grandfather was a king? Many times genealogy
can uncover interesting and exciting facts about a person's family
tree.
Genealogy, while always important, didn't experience such a widespread
explosion in popularity until the advent of the Internet. Gone are the
days when researching your family tree meant running from one public
records facility to the next, hoping you could find missing pieces to
the puzzle by mailing away for information that might never arrive.
With more and more public records being made available online,
priceless genealogy information is just a mouse click away and easier
than ever to create a fluid family tree. Its no wonder millions of
Internet users have started tracing their family lines on the Web.
What used to take years to accomplish can now be done in a matter of
days or weeks.
With genealogy becoming more and more popular and advanced genealogy
tools now so readily available, there really hasn't been a better time
to get involved. Whether you only want to trace your family history
back a few generations or you want to see just how far back you can
climb up your family tree, the genealogy tools now available will make
the process faster, more efficient and much more enjoyable.
Search Millions of Public Records: http://www.pubrecs.tk/
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