It means that one needs to have perspective (which is allowed by the passage of time...) in order to perceive the connection between the events. For example, a drought this year may cause a famine next year, but viewed separately, they are just isolated, unrelated events. I hope this helps you! Best of luck! J.

After some period of time, (distance from both) we are able to understand how the present (by the way, it will be the past by that time) fits into the history that is forming. It will make sense more after that time (distance) and we will see the connections (relationships) between what happened in the past and the more distant past. It is harder to see the relationships while it is actually happening (in the present.)

"we have some distance from both" refers to need to spend time to understand or connect the present with the past.,