What are ways I can put history of a fantasy world into the story without it sounding forced?

promptsforthestrugglingauthor:

There are definitely a few ways to include history in your own world! In fact, managing to do so seamlessly is a very important part of world building. Here’s some ways to include it without making it seem too obvious.

1) Include a scholarly character. If you have a character who’s studied a lot of history, they can be very useful in explaining historical events. As a history nerd myself, I have a tendency to explain battles/kings/cultures whenever it seems topically relevant (and even sometimes when it’s not). Including a character like this gives you the freedom to go into long-winded explanations that may otherwise seem out of place.

2) Pass by important landmarks. By having your characters pass by certain battlefields/buildings/pilgrimage sites/etc., it gives you the time to mention the historical or cultural importance of the place. The way the characters respond to the site can also be telling; the area can harbor memories, tales that they’ve heard, or bring back echoes of history lessons.

3) Make it cultural. Many historical events can leave lasting marks on the behaviors and prejudices of a society. (Note that not all of these have to be negative!) You can make a note of why these things occur by referencing the history. For example, perhaps no one has worn the color yellow since the tragically young death of a princess years before, or there has been an influx of people named after an iconic hero or leader who saved the kingdom from some threat.