Similarity and Difference (Diversity)

why is diversity / Similarity and difference so important to consider?

One thing we history teaches really dislike are generalisations about the past. They usually go something like this...

Back in the day, people didn't know about wars going on in other countries.

These types of generalisations miss how complex and diverse peoples' lives are. Many people would not have received up to date information about ongoing conflicts in other countries, but some did! It's also interesting to consider what types of people would have heard about these wars, and what types of people wouldn't. This is why historians like to ask questions about diversity.

One fascinating 'Diversity Enquiry Question' to ask therefore is Why did not all Suffrage campaigners celebrate the 1918 Representation of the People Act so vigorously?

And we do this in Year 8.

What phrases, sentence starters and words can I use to explain diversity (similarities and differences) in the past?