History vs. Literature — What's the Difference?

The study of past events, particularly in human affairs.

Written works considered of superior or lasting value.

A continuous, typically chronological, record of significant events.

Material printed or written for distribution.

Past events relating to a particular subject or place.

Written works, especially those with artistic value.

A person's past experiences or background.

Books and writings on a particular subject.

History (from Greek ἱστορία, historia, meaning "inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation") is the study of the past. Events before the invention of writing systems are considered prehistory.

The profession or art of a writer.

A chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events

Literature broadly is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include oral literature, much of which has been transcribed.

A formal written account of related natural phenomena

Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit

A record of a patient's general medical background

The body of written works of a language, period, or culture.

An established condition or pattern of behavior

Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized artistic value

The branch of knowledge that records and analyzes past events

The art or occupation of a literary writer.

The past events relating to a particular thing

The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field

The aggregate of past events or human affairs

Printed material

An interesting past

(Music) All the compositions of a certain kind or for a specific instrument or ensemble

Something that belongs to the past

The body of all written works.

(Slang) One that is no longer worth consideration

The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture.

A drama based on historical events

(usually preceded by the) All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject.

The aggregate of past events.

Written fiction of a high standard.

The branch of knowledge that studies the past; the assessment of notable events.

Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.

The portion of the past that is known and recorded by this field of study, as opposed to all earlier and unknown times that preceded it (prehistory).

The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also, the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as, the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry.

(countable) A set of events involving an entity.

The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles-lettres.

(countable) A record or narrative description of past events.

The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work.

A list of past and continuing medical conditions of an individual or family.

Creative writing of recognized artistic value

A record of previous user events, especially of visited web pages in a browser.

The humanistic study of a body of literature;

(informal) Something that no longer exists or is no longer relevant.

Published writings in a particular style on a particular subject;

(uncountable) Shared experience or interaction.

The profession or art of a writer;

(obsolete) To narrate or record.

A learning or knowing by inquiry; the knowledge of facts and events, so obtained; hence, a formal statement of such information; a narrative; a description; a written record; as, the history of a patient's case; the history of a legislative bill.

A systematic, written account of events, particularly of those affecting a nation, institution, science, or art, and usually connected with a philosophical explanation of their causes; a true story, as distinguished from a romance; - distinguished also from annals, which relate simply the facts and events of each year, in strict chronological order; from biography, which is the record of an individual's life; and from memoir, which is history composed from personal experience, observation, and memory.

To narrate or record.

The aggregate of past events;

The continuum of events occurring in succession leading from the past to the present and even into the future;

A record or narrative description of past events;

The discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings;

All that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; a body of knowledge;

The development of a phenomenon over a period.

Yes, literature can provide insights into the cultural and societal contexts of an era.

Literature provides personal, emotional, and cultural dimensions to historical events and eras.

Absolutely, historical events often shape literary works and movements.

While history aims for objectivity, interpretations and perspectives can vary.

Yes, even fictional works can reflect the beliefs, values, and concerns of their time.

Blending allows authors to delve deep into historical contexts while also employing creative freedom.

Yes, many historians use narrative techniques to make their accounts more engaging.

Not all; some cultures rely on oral traditions for both history and storytelling.

They can be both; autobiographies offer personal histories and can also be valued for their literary qualities.