In general, I think that we as a people do not learn much from our history. We make the same mistakes over and over again. We should learn from our history, but there are still wars, corruption, etc. etc.
But for a person, it is certainly fun (useful?) To learn more about the history of your family. It makes you a link in a chain and it is good to know where you came from. If it is to know where we are going, I am afraid that I have my doubts about that. But it is warm, charming and fun to know your family in the past.