history - Describing Historical Events


When we describe historical events, like events related to the Roman empires, Persian empires, etc., what is the best way to describe peoples' thought with a connection to the present?



People might have thought the same back in those days, but you know it's not always correct.


People had thought the same back in those days, but you know it's not always correct.


People thought the same back in those days, but you know it's not always correct.




Answer



People had thought . . . would not be used in this context because that construction describes an event that occurred before some other event in the past. People thought . . . conveys certainty. People might have thought . . . suggests doubt.


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