Write two to three sentences describing how the author readers connect to the people and events of the past.

The best and the most effective way authors help readers connect with the people and events of the past is narrating a story of his own based on his personal experience. 

Once you narrate your own story, readers would try to imagine what happened (connects to people).
The moment you write that narration and experience what you write does not happen all at once. You experience it first before you write it out. 
Therefore, that experience happened in the past (connects to the events of the past). 

Example: 
    I have never been lonely until my dog died. He's been my companion and my best friend for long years. And all of a sudden, he died without even saying goodbye. It hurts! I don't know how long would I suffer from this loss.  

Thinking it would be escaped

Love  because it leads to a deeper understanding of a story.