1. The were the Ancient inhabitants of Lebanon. The Phoenicians were probably the most commercially astute people of the Ancient World.
2. They developed a purple dye which was a big hit for monarchs around the Mediterranean who needed the colour for their tunics.
3. Carthage in North Africa was a Phoenician colony. It was the same Carthage that battled Rome for supremacy in the Middle East.
4. They had a few kings called Hiram. One of whom helped supply the cedar trees for King Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem.
5. Their Main cities were Sidon and Tyre. Both of which still exist in Lebanon today.
6. They developed an early alphabet that influenced the Greeks. Not bad for a people who were more known for their sea trading exploits than anything else.
7. They were not a major power but did set up colonies in Spain, North Africa and Cyprus that enhanced their reach.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Ancient Hebrew Quiz
1. Who led the rebellion against the Syrian-Greeks that eventually drove the latter from the country?
2. What group of Jews did this person come from?
3. What two individuals were responsible for building the Second Temple?
4. Who was the Persian King Ahauseus’s chief wife before Esther?
5. Who was Esther’s uncle?
6. What was the name of Ahaseurus’s Chief Minister who was hanged at the gallows for trying to commit genocide against the Jews?
7. Who were Moses’ brother and sister?
8. What was Abraham’s name before it was changed?
9. What was the name of the Jewish high court?
10. Who was the Father of Tamar?
11. Which group of People destroyed the Second Temple?
12. Who was Jochanin Ben Zakai?
13. What are the two chief theories concerning the Origin of the Ethiopian Jews?
14. Which book contains the Sayings of Solomon?
15. On what Jewish holiday is the Book of Lamentations read?
Answers to Ancient Hebrew Quiz
1. Mathias the Maccabi and his sons of which Judah were the most renowned.
2. Hasmoneans
3. Ezra and Nehemiah.
4. Vashti
5. Mordechai
6. Haman
7. Aaron and Miriam.
8. Avram or Abram.
9. Sanhedrin
10. David
11. The Romans.
12. Leader of the Zealot Group that fought against the Romans.
13. The first claims they were the lost tribe of Dan, the second argues they were descendants of the offspring of Solomon with the Queen of Sheba.
14. Proverbs
15. Tisha B’Av.
2. What group of Jews did this person come from?
3. What two individuals were responsible for building the Second Temple?
4. Who was the Persian King Ahauseus’s chief wife before Esther?
5. Who was Esther’s uncle?
6. What was the name of Ahaseurus’s Chief Minister who was hanged at the gallows for trying to commit genocide against the Jews?
7. Who were Moses’ brother and sister?
8. What was Abraham’s name before it was changed?
9. What was the name of the Jewish high court?
10. Who was the Father of Tamar?
11. Which group of People destroyed the Second Temple?
12. Who was Jochanin Ben Zakai?
13. What are the two chief theories concerning the Origin of the Ethiopian Jews?
14. Which book contains the Sayings of Solomon?
15. On what Jewish holiday is the Book of Lamentations read?
Answers to Ancient Hebrew Quiz
1. Mathias the Maccabi and his sons of which Judah were the most renowned.
2. Hasmoneans
3. Ezra and Nehemiah.
4. Vashti
5. Mordechai
6. Haman
7. Aaron and Miriam.
8. Avram or Abram.
9. Sanhedrin
10. David
11. The Romans.
12. Leader of the Zealot Group that fought against the Romans.
13. The first claims they were the lost tribe of Dan, the second argues they were descendants of the offspring of Solomon with the Queen of Sheba.
14. Proverbs
15. Tisha B’Av.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
14 Facts about Tamerlane
1. Tamerlane was born in 1336. His real name was Timur Leng or ‘Timur the Lame’.
2. He was not a Mongol as is popularly believed but a Muslim Turk who spread his conservative brand of Islam across a large swath of Asia before his death in 1405.
3.He nevertheless borrowed many of the military techniques employed by Genghis Khan. Foremost amongst these were brutality, discipline and guile.
4. His base of operation was the White Horde (Chagtai Khanate) one of the survivor regions from the old Mongolian Empire.
5. In 1387 he pushed the Persian forces to the Euphrates River. This feat was accomplished very soon after Tamerlane had consolidated his hold over the White horde.
6. One of Tamerlane’s great rivals was Toktamish the Mongol Leader of the Golden Horde.
7. The Two butted heads between 1382 and 1395. Toktamish almost defeated Tamerlane at the Battle of the Steppes in 1391 but Tamerlane’s reserve troops saved the day.
8. The knockout blow for Tamerlane was his victory over Toktamish in 1395 at the Battle of Terek River. This defeat eliminated Toktamish as a power in Asia.
9. In 1399 Tamerlane defeated the Lithuanian forces of Witold at the Battle of Vorskla River. Tamerlane’s conquests extended to Poland.
10. Tamerlane planned an invasion of China but died before his ambition was realized.
11. He did however reach India (this guy really got around). In 1398 his troops attacked Delhi, burning the city and stealing much wealth. The city of Lahore was also laid waste. Much of the riches taken from the conquered city were used to build Tamerlane’s capital at Samarkand.
12. Tamerlane’s grandson Babur was the founder of India’s influential Mogul dynasty.
Tamerlane could have taken Moscow in 1395. His troops stopped short took the City of Yelets and then went on to subdue Persia instead.
13. Tamerlane was not tolerant of non-Muslims as a whole. His army often massacred non-Muslim populations in their advance to the next conquest.
14. His greatest victory is often thought to have occurred at the Battle of Angora in 1402 where Tamerlane defeated the forces of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I.
2. He was not a Mongol as is popularly believed but a Muslim Turk who spread his conservative brand of Islam across a large swath of Asia before his death in 1405.
3.He nevertheless borrowed many of the military techniques employed by Genghis Khan. Foremost amongst these were brutality, discipline and guile.
4. His base of operation was the White Horde (Chagtai Khanate) one of the survivor regions from the old Mongolian Empire.
5. In 1387 he pushed the Persian forces to the Euphrates River. This feat was accomplished very soon after Tamerlane had consolidated his hold over the White horde.
6. One of Tamerlane’s great rivals was Toktamish the Mongol Leader of the Golden Horde.
7. The Two butted heads between 1382 and 1395. Toktamish almost defeated Tamerlane at the Battle of the Steppes in 1391 but Tamerlane’s reserve troops saved the day.
8. The knockout blow for Tamerlane was his victory over Toktamish in 1395 at the Battle of Terek River. This defeat eliminated Toktamish as a power in Asia.
9. In 1399 Tamerlane defeated the Lithuanian forces of Witold at the Battle of Vorskla River. Tamerlane’s conquests extended to Poland.
10. Tamerlane planned an invasion of China but died before his ambition was realized.
11. He did however reach India (this guy really got around). In 1398 his troops attacked Delhi, burning the city and stealing much wealth. The city of Lahore was also laid waste. Much of the riches taken from the conquered city were used to build Tamerlane’s capital at Samarkand.
12. Tamerlane’s grandson Babur was the founder of India’s influential Mogul dynasty.
Tamerlane could have taken Moscow in 1395. His troops stopped short took the City of Yelets and then went on to subdue Persia instead.
13. Tamerlane was not tolerant of non-Muslims as a whole. His army often massacred non-Muslim populations in their advance to the next conquest.
14. His greatest victory is often thought to have occurred at the Battle of Angora in 1402 where Tamerlane defeated the forces of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I.
History of the Far East Quiz
1. This Dynasty ruled China from the 16th to the 11th Century BC. Which Dynasty was this?
2. This 4000 mile network connected the Far East to Europe between 500 BC and 1500 AD. Which Network was this?
3. Put these three dynasties in order (earliest to latest): Ch’in, Zhou and Han?
4. This Emperor built the Great Wall of China. Who was he?
5. How many Kingdoms dominated China from AD 220-280?
6. This religion reached China in 50 AD. Which Religion was this?
7. What did Cai Lun invent in 150 AD?
8. Rebellions by this sect weakened the Chinese Empire between the 2nd and 3rd Ventury AD. What was this sect called?
9. Along which axis did China begin to divide politically between the 4th and 6th Century AD?
10. Wen di reunited China in the 580s, over which Dynasty was he the First Emperor?
11. Political and social reform known as Taika took place in this Country between 646-700 AD. Which Country was this?
12. The Angkorian Dynasty ruled over this Country from 802. Which Country was this?
13. This City became Capital of Japan in 794 AD. Which City was this?
14. This Clan would start to win control of the Japanese Emperors around 858 AD. Which Clan was this?
15. It sounds like a fruit drink and it collapsed around 907 AD. What is being described?
Answers to the History of the Far East
1. The Shang Dynasty.
2. The Silk Road/Route.
3. Zhou (1066 BC to 771 BC), Ch’in (771 BC to 206BC), Han (206 BC to 26 AD).
4. Shi Huangdi. The wall is 5,000km long.
5. Three. The Wei, Shu and Wu – during the early part of the Period of Disunity.
6. Buddhism. It would be banned in China in 845 AD.
7. Paper
8. The Yellow Turban Sect.
9. The North-South Axis.
10. The Sui Dynasty.
11. Japan
12. Cambodia or Khmer – founder was Jayawarman II.
13. Kyoto (aka Heian-kyo), marked the beginning of Heian period in Japanese history that lasted until 1185. Japan gained more independence from China during this period.
14. The Fujiwara.
15. The Tang Dynasty.
2. This 4000 mile network connected the Far East to Europe between 500 BC and 1500 AD. Which Network was this?
3. Put these three dynasties in order (earliest to latest): Ch’in, Zhou and Han?
4. This Emperor built the Great Wall of China. Who was he?
5. How many Kingdoms dominated China from AD 220-280?
6. This religion reached China in 50 AD. Which Religion was this?
7. What did Cai Lun invent in 150 AD?
8. Rebellions by this sect weakened the Chinese Empire between the 2nd and 3rd Ventury AD. What was this sect called?
9. Along which axis did China begin to divide politically between the 4th and 6th Century AD?
10. Wen di reunited China in the 580s, over which Dynasty was he the First Emperor?
11. Political and social reform known as Taika took place in this Country between 646-700 AD. Which Country was this?
12. The Angkorian Dynasty ruled over this Country from 802. Which Country was this?
13. This City became Capital of Japan in 794 AD. Which City was this?
14. This Clan would start to win control of the Japanese Emperors around 858 AD. Which Clan was this?
15. It sounds like a fruit drink and it collapsed around 907 AD. What is being described?
Answers to the History of the Far East
1. The Shang Dynasty.
2. The Silk Road/Route.
3. Zhou (1066 BC to 771 BC), Ch’in (771 BC to 206BC), Han (206 BC to 26 AD).
4. Shi Huangdi. The wall is 5,000km long.
5. Three. The Wei, Shu and Wu – during the early part of the Period of Disunity.
6. Buddhism. It would be banned in China in 845 AD.
7. Paper
8. The Yellow Turban Sect.
9. The North-South Axis.
10. The Sui Dynasty.
11. Japan
12. Cambodia or Khmer – founder was Jayawarman II.
13. Kyoto (aka Heian-kyo), marked the beginning of Heian period in Japanese history that lasted until 1185. Japan gained more independence from China during this period.
14. The Fujiwara.
15. The Tang Dynasty.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Genocides
The following is a list of the worst genocides that have occured in the 20th century.
Its important to note that Atheist based ideologies have had more than their fair share of genocide related crime - an obvious phenomenon downplayed by Richard Dawkins and the 'God Delusion' groupie crowd.
Those in Red have been driven by Marxist related ideological regimes (Atheist Focused).
Those in Blue have been driven by Fascist related ideological regimes (Atheist Focused).
Those in Green have been inspired carried out by Muslim Leaders against predominantly Muslim Populations.
Those in purple have been carried out by Muslim leaders against predominantly non-Muslim populations.
Those in grey have been carried out by Muslim leaders against mainly Muslim but also non-Muslim populations.
Those in light blue have been carried out by Western Governments.
Those in Black were carried out within by African dictatorships or during the course of African Civil Wars.
Other attrocities are shown in this brownish-colour mixture.
Mao Ze-Dong (China, 1958-61 and 1966-69)
49,000,000 ("great leap forward" and "cultural revolution")
Jozef Stalin (USSR, 1934-39)
13,000,000 (the purges)
Adolf Hitler (Germany, 1939-1945)
12,000,000 (concentration camps and civilians WWII)
Hideki Tojo (Japan, 1941-44)
5,000,000 (civilians WWII)
Pol Pot (Cambodia, 1975-79)
1,700,000
Kim Il Sung (North Korea, 1948-94)
1.6 million (purges and concentration camps)
Menghistu (Ethiopia, 1975-78)
1,500,000
Ismail Enver (Turkey, 1915)
1,200,000 Armenians
Yakubu Gowon (Biafra, 1967-1970)
1,000,000
Leonid Brezhnev (Afghanistan, 1979-1982)
900,000
Jean Kambanda (Rwanda, 1994)
800,000
Suharto (East Timor, West Papua, Communists, 1966-98)
800,000
Saddam Hussein (Iran 1980-1990 and Kurdistan 1987-88)
600,000
Yahya Khan (Pakistan, 1971) vs Bangladesh
500,000
Fumimaro Konoe (Japan, 1937-39)
500,000? (Chinese civilians)
Savimbi (Angola, 1975-2002)
400,000
Mullah Omar - Taliban (Afghanistan, 1986-2001)
400,000
Idi Amin (Uganda, 1969-1979)
300,000
Yahya Khan (Bangladesh, 1970-1971)
300,000
Benito Mussolini (Ethiopia, 1936; Yugoslavia, WWII)
300,000
Mobutu Sese Seko (Zaire, 1965-97)
?
Charles Taylor (Liberia, 1989-1996)
220,000
Foday Sankoh (Sierra Leone, 1991-2000)
200,000
Slobodan Milosevic (Yugoslavia, 1992-96)
180,000
Michel Micombero (Burundi, 1972)
150,000
Hassan Turabi (Sudan, 1989-1999)
100,000
Jean-Bedel Bokassa (Centrafrica, 1966-79)
?
Richard Nixon (Vietnam, 1969-1974)
70,000 (vietnamese civilians)
Efrain Rios Montt (Guatemala, 1982-83)
70,000
Papa Doc Duvalier (Haiti, 1957-71)
60,000
Hissene Habre (Chad, 1982-1990)
40,000 (Although Hissene was a Muslim leader and killed many Muslims this was felt to be the most appropriate category for him).
Chiang Kai-shek (Taiwan, 1947)
30,000 (popular uprising)
Vladimir Ilich Lenin (USSR, 1917-20)
30,000 (dissidents executed)
Francisco Franco (Spain)
30,000 (dissidents executed after the civil war)
Fidel Castro (Cuba, 1959-1999)
30,000
Lyndon Johnson (Vietnam, 1963-1968)
30,000
Hafez Al-Assad (Syria, 1980-2000)
25,000
Khomeini (Iran, 1979-89)
20,000
Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe, 1982-87, Ndebele minority)
20,000
Rafael Videla (Argentina, 1976-83)
13,000
Guy Mollet (France, 1956-1957)
10,000 (war in Algeria)
Paul Koroma (Sierra Leone, 1997)
6,000
Osama Bin Laden (worldwide, 1993-2001)
3,500
Augusto Pinochet (Chile, 1973)
3,000
Al Zarqawi (Iraq, 2004-06)
2,000
Source: For all the numbers and stats visit: http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/dictat.html
Its important to note that Atheist based ideologies have had more than their fair share of genocide related crime - an obvious phenomenon downplayed by Richard Dawkins and the 'God Delusion' groupie crowd.
Those in Red have been driven by Marxist related ideological regimes (Atheist Focused).
Those in Blue have been driven by Fascist related ideological regimes (Atheist Focused).
Those in Green have been inspired carried out by Muslim Leaders against predominantly Muslim Populations.
Those in purple have been carried out by Muslim leaders against predominantly non-Muslim populations.
Those in grey have been carried out by Muslim leaders against mainly Muslim but also non-Muslim populations.
Those in light blue have been carried out by Western Governments.
Those in Black were carried out within by African dictatorships or during the course of African Civil Wars.
Other attrocities are shown in this brownish-colour mixture.
Mao Ze-Dong (China, 1958-61 and 1966-69)
49,000,000 ("great leap forward" and "cultural revolution")
Jozef Stalin (USSR, 1934-39)
13,000,000 (the purges)
Adolf Hitler (Germany, 1939-1945)
12,000,000 (concentration camps and civilians WWII)
Hideki Tojo (Japan, 1941-44)
5,000,000 (civilians WWII)
Pol Pot (Cambodia, 1975-79)
1,700,000
Kim Il Sung (North Korea, 1948-94)
1.6 million (purges and concentration camps)
Menghistu (Ethiopia, 1975-78)
1,500,000
Ismail Enver (Turkey, 1915)
1,200,000 Armenians
Yakubu Gowon (Biafra, 1967-1970)
1,000,000
Leonid Brezhnev (Afghanistan, 1979-1982)
900,000
Jean Kambanda (Rwanda, 1994)
800,000
Suharto (East Timor, West Papua, Communists, 1966-98)
800,000
Saddam Hussein (Iran 1980-1990 and Kurdistan 1987-88)
600,000
Yahya Khan (Pakistan, 1971) vs Bangladesh
500,000
Fumimaro Konoe (Japan, 1937-39)
500,000? (Chinese civilians)
Savimbi (Angola, 1975-2002)
400,000
Mullah Omar - Taliban (Afghanistan, 1986-2001)
400,000
Idi Amin (Uganda, 1969-1979)
300,000
Yahya Khan (Bangladesh, 1970-1971)
300,000
Benito Mussolini (Ethiopia, 1936; Yugoslavia, WWII)
300,000
Mobutu Sese Seko (Zaire, 1965-97)
?
Charles Taylor (Liberia, 1989-1996)
220,000
Foday Sankoh (Sierra Leone, 1991-2000)
200,000
Slobodan Milosevic (Yugoslavia, 1992-96)
180,000
Michel Micombero (Burundi, 1972)
150,000
Hassan Turabi (Sudan, 1989-1999)
100,000
Jean-Bedel Bokassa (Centrafrica, 1966-79)
?
Richard Nixon (Vietnam, 1969-1974)
70,000 (vietnamese civilians)
Efrain Rios Montt (Guatemala, 1982-83)
70,000
Papa Doc Duvalier (Haiti, 1957-71)
60,000
Hissene Habre (Chad, 1982-1990)
40,000 (Although Hissene was a Muslim leader and killed many Muslims this was felt to be the most appropriate category for him).
Chiang Kai-shek (Taiwan, 1947)
30,000 (popular uprising)
Vladimir Ilich Lenin (USSR, 1917-20)
30,000 (dissidents executed)
Francisco Franco (Spain)
30,000 (dissidents executed after the civil war)
Fidel Castro (Cuba, 1959-1999)
30,000
Lyndon Johnson (Vietnam, 1963-1968)
30,000
Hafez Al-Assad (Syria, 1980-2000)
25,000
Khomeini (Iran, 1979-89)
20,000
Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe, 1982-87, Ndebele minority)
20,000
Rafael Videla (Argentina, 1976-83)
13,000
Guy Mollet (France, 1956-1957)
10,000 (war in Algeria)
Paul Koroma (Sierra Leone, 1997)
6,000
Osama Bin Laden (worldwide, 1993-2001)
3,500
Augusto Pinochet (Chile, 1973)
3,000
Al Zarqawi (Iraq, 2004-06)
2,000
Source: For all the numbers and stats visit: http://www.scaruffi.com/politics/dictat.html
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Thomas Jefferson Quiz
Thomas Jefferson
1. Which university in the South did Thomas Jefferson found, design and build?
2. Jefferson wrote a book rejecting the divinity of this man. Name the individual?
3. What type of system did Jefferson suggest for the US currency?
4. Thomas Jefferson was one of two presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence. Who was the other?
5. Which state’s capital is named after Jefferson?
6. Of 10, 15, 20 and 25. What % of the US population was comprised of slaves at the time of Jefferson’s inauguration?
7. What political party did Jefferson represent?
8. What was his nickname?
9. What day of the year did Thomas Jefferson die?
10. What was the name of Jefferson’s mountaintop home?
11. Jefferson is alleged to have had an affair with this slave woman who bore him a son. Who was she?
12. In which country did Jefferson live between 1784 and 1789?
Answers to Thomas Jefferson
1. The University of Virginia
2. Jesus Christ. The book was entitled ‘The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth’.
3. The decimal system.
4. John Adams.
5. Missouri. Capital is Jefferson City.
6. 20%. Jefferson owned 200 slaves himself.
7. Democratic-Republican Party
8. Red Fox
9. 4th of July 1826. The same day and year as John Adams. Pretty eerie..
10. Monticello.
11. Sally Hemmings.
12. France. He was the US Ambassador. Saw first hand the events leading to the French Revolution.
1. Which university in the South did Thomas Jefferson found, design and build?
2. Jefferson wrote a book rejecting the divinity of this man. Name the individual?
3. What type of system did Jefferson suggest for the US currency?
4. Thomas Jefferson was one of two presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence. Who was the other?
5. Which state’s capital is named after Jefferson?
6. Of 10, 15, 20 and 25. What % of the US population was comprised of slaves at the time of Jefferson’s inauguration?
7. What political party did Jefferson represent?
8. What was his nickname?
9. What day of the year did Thomas Jefferson die?
10. What was the name of Jefferson’s mountaintop home?
11. Jefferson is alleged to have had an affair with this slave woman who bore him a son. Who was she?
12. In which country did Jefferson live between 1784 and 1789?
Answers to Thomas Jefferson
1. The University of Virginia
2. Jesus Christ. The book was entitled ‘The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth’.
3. The decimal system.
4. John Adams.
5. Missouri. Capital is Jefferson City.
6. 20%. Jefferson owned 200 slaves himself.
7. Democratic-Republican Party
8. Red Fox
9. 4th of July 1826. The same day and year as John Adams. Pretty eerie..
10. Monticello.
11. Sally Hemmings.
12. France. He was the US Ambassador. Saw first hand the events leading to the French Revolution.
Four Questions to begin a History Course
What is history?
History is more than just the study of our past. It is the study of human nature responding to different but recurring problems. From history we learn about the limitations of our species, its shortfalls as well as its successes and triumphs. I have often viewed history as the matrix through which all knowledge flows. In shirt is the collective librarian keeping track of our progress providing us with possible solutions for both the present and the future.
What factors drive history?
The factors are numerous but these are the most important ones in my opinion -
· Geographical Position – location is critical. Countries sandwiched between two expansionist powers are likely to have a turbulent history – look at Poland that lies between Germany and Russia. Coastal civilizations will rely more on sea power – England, Portugal and the Netherlands. Landlocked countries will develop strong standing Armies – The Mongols and the Austrians
· The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Famine. Plague, Pestilence and War all exert pressure on a population that in turn lead to certain responses. It can be argued that history is the story of a population’s response to adverse conditions.
· Influential Personalities. Modern historians tend to downplay the role of the ‘Great Man’ in history but there is no doubt that the personalities of such individuals as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Napoleon influenced the course of events of their respective times.
· Economic Cycles. There is still much debate as to what causes economic cycles of booms and busts. Everything from sunspot theory, to the whims of human nature have been considered in an attempt to elucidate the trends that influence economic growth.
· Ideology and Philosophy – Communism, fascism, capitalism have all been motivators for a change to the status quo as has been the need for liberalism, nationalism and democracy.
Perhaps one day some genius of untold ability will replicate all these drivers in a mathematical model that accurately mimics our story until then its best to look at these factors through qualitative eyes. Besides which its much more fun.
What is Historical Revisionism?
Historical revision can be either positive or negative. Positive revision involves the updating of the historical record and its interpretation based on new evidence that has become available. This type of revision is not ideologically motivated and is true to the academic spirit. Negative revision is a reinterpretation of the historical record for political and ideological purpose. Very often fact distortion and negation are used to twist the facts to suit the purpose of the writer. This is not only morally corrupt but a crime against history itself with future historians being left with the arduous task of correcting the tainted records for the benefit of all.
What is the role of the historian?
The role of the historian is to uncover, decipher and interpret the record of our past to uncover as true a picture of our legacy as is possible. Since history is filed with information gaps, conflicting observations and missing records the historians task is often daunting and in a sense never complete. However without a history our society lacks much in its collective soul while on a practical level we risk repeating the often costly errors of the past. Historians occupy positions in such fields as academia, journalism, teaching and publishing.
History is more than just the study of our past. It is the study of human nature responding to different but recurring problems. From history we learn about the limitations of our species, its shortfalls as well as its successes and triumphs. I have often viewed history as the matrix through which all knowledge flows. In shirt is the collective librarian keeping track of our progress providing us with possible solutions for both the present and the future.
What factors drive history?
The factors are numerous but these are the most important ones in my opinion -
· Geographical Position – location is critical. Countries sandwiched between two expansionist powers are likely to have a turbulent history – look at Poland that lies between Germany and Russia. Coastal civilizations will rely more on sea power – England, Portugal and the Netherlands. Landlocked countries will develop strong standing Armies – The Mongols and the Austrians
· The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – Famine. Plague, Pestilence and War all exert pressure on a population that in turn lead to certain responses. It can be argued that history is the story of a population’s response to adverse conditions.
· Influential Personalities. Modern historians tend to downplay the role of the ‘Great Man’ in history but there is no doubt that the personalities of such individuals as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Napoleon influenced the course of events of their respective times.
· Economic Cycles. There is still much debate as to what causes economic cycles of booms and busts. Everything from sunspot theory, to the whims of human nature have been considered in an attempt to elucidate the trends that influence economic growth.
· Ideology and Philosophy – Communism, fascism, capitalism have all been motivators for a change to the status quo as has been the need for liberalism, nationalism and democracy.
Perhaps one day some genius of untold ability will replicate all these drivers in a mathematical model that accurately mimics our story until then its best to look at these factors through qualitative eyes. Besides which its much more fun.
What is Historical Revisionism?
Historical revision can be either positive or negative. Positive revision involves the updating of the historical record and its interpretation based on new evidence that has become available. This type of revision is not ideologically motivated and is true to the academic spirit. Negative revision is a reinterpretation of the historical record for political and ideological purpose. Very often fact distortion and negation are used to twist the facts to suit the purpose of the writer. This is not only morally corrupt but a crime against history itself with future historians being left with the arduous task of correcting the tainted records for the benefit of all.
What is the role of the historian?
The role of the historian is to uncover, decipher and interpret the record of our past to uncover as true a picture of our legacy as is possible. Since history is filed with information gaps, conflicting observations and missing records the historians task is often daunting and in a sense never complete. However without a history our society lacks much in its collective soul while on a practical level we risk repeating the often costly errors of the past. Historians occupy positions in such fields as academia, journalism, teaching and publishing.
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