History
The major symbol of Emerson's “History” is, of course, the concept/study of history. History to Emerson though is a far more complicated concept than stories from a history book. Emerson's history is the organic, divine development of human life and civilization. All of nature participates in Emerson's History. It is the all-inclusive concept of humanity's developing identity through growth. All of it reaches towards the divine purpose of intellectual fulfillment.
Foreshadowing
“History” often allude to how what will occur in the future is always foreshadowed by an earlier event. The existence of the acorn shows that the forest will one day come, the development of the Cathedral was foreshadowed by the natural spires of the forest, and the development of Democracy was foreshadowed by the innocence of the maiden. All the figures and events of history flow from the shared past. This is what can best be learned from studying history.
Nature
One of Emerson's favored symbols/motifs is nature. Many of Emerson's other essays are concerned with nature (as an abstract concept) just as “History” is. The history of nature and humanity is intertwined. Knowledge comes from nature, religion was developed in the forests, and painter learns art from the trees. All of nature then foreshadows the entire history of humanity. As Emerson states: "...in the fact that life is intertwined with the whole chain of organic and inorganic being." This is the animal magnetism Emerson speaks of that unites humanity and nature.
Napoleon
Emerson sees Napoleon Bonaparte as one of the most important historical figures. To Emerson, Napoleon represents the pinnacle of historical development. Out of all of the figures Emerson mentions Napoleon is the one (beside Shakespeare) who did the most to define history. All of humanity should struggle to attain the level of Napoleon. Since all action in history is divine, Napoleon was the one who drove it to its greatest peak. Napoleon was one of the few who was able to turn history around himself.
Religion
Emerson sees all the religions of Zoroaster, Moses, and Socrates as being linked in a direct chain of development. All of these religions are fulfilled in the transcendent God of Jesus or Emerson's “Godhead”. Both these conceptual evolutions of God bring humanity's concept of religion back to its divine origin in nature. Humanity's understanding of God parallels their own historical development. This is the divine purpose to the study of history in Emerson's “History”.
Architecture
In the structure of forests, temples, and churches, Emerson believes human history is best expressed. The “Doric” column of antiquity reaches towards heaven just as the spire of the cathedral of Christianity does. As with religion, Emerson believes each evolution in this order compounds upon the last. Human architecture is the expression of humanity's divine desires. It is the eternal reach towards a higher level of thought and being.
