Origin of History-Centrism of Abrahamic Religions:

Let us break-down and clearly understand step-by-step how history-centrism arises in Abrahamic religions. 

1. There is an infinite gap of knowledge between man and God.  
2. This gap cannot be bridged by man.  
3. This gap can only be bridged when God initiates communication with man.
4. God intervenes at times in history and brings some ultimate truth to man via a specially chosen prophet.  Prophet is the medium or bridge that facilitates God's communication with man.
5. God's interventions are special miracles that are crucial for the communication of God's message.  
6. These extremely important interventions of communication occur very rarely and are to be shared with the people that they are intended for.
7. Therefore, they must be documented in canons and doctrines, and studied meticulously in order to know the ultimate truth.
8. Man has no recourse to ultimate truth except through scriptures passed on to them by God via prophets at specific moments in history.

As a result, God's interventions in human history are all-important, and become the cornerstone of each Abrahamic religion. Without God's prophet bringing the ultimate truth to man, it would be impossible for man to transcend his limits.  Hence, Abrahamic religions are largely about history, more specifically, about God's interventions in history.


References:  Rajiv Malhotra's article on Sulekha.com  here.