ABSTRACT
All theories of the past rely implicitly upon some concept of human nature: why humans behave the way we do, and how our behaviour relates to our social and physical environment. In culture historical views, for example, humans act primarily to reproduce their particular cultural traditions; in functionalist views humans act in response to environmental conditions to maximise their chances of survival. Such a concept is a necessary, though often unstated, bridge to understanding the past, as it allows us to interpret social relations and change in relation to cultural traditions, environmental changes, and so on.
