What Is the Meaning of History?

For ancient greeks and christians, history was determined by divine power. But that began to change during the enlightenment when thinkers like voltaire and kant gave a starring role to human reason. The purpose of history became less about preparing humanity for paradise in heaven and more about achieving progress here on earth. After all, what is democracy if not the idea that citizens can collectively determine their society's future? Democracy takes the power of history away from the fates and gives it to the ballot boxbut a new god has risen up, planting doubt once again among citizens that they are truly in control of their destiny. We sometimes call it the invisible hand.