The term for the shared evolutionary history of a species is called phylogeny. Phylogeny explores the evolutionary relationships and lineage of organisms through time, often represented in a phylogenetic tree. This visual representation illustrates how different species are related based on common ancestors and evolutionary adaptations. Understanding phylogenetic relationships is essential for studying biodiversity and ecology, as it helps in tracing the development and divergence of species over time. It also plays a crucial role in conservation biology and evolutionary research.