History is Hard...
History is not an easy subject to learn. In most classes, instructors expect you to memorize names, dates, places, and facts. Or, you are asked to analyze the cause and effect relationships that bind nearly all of the sequences of events in our timelines. Sometimes you are asked to look for patterns in the continuity and change in history; because, as we all know, "history repeats itself." All under a due date for a paper or deadline for a test. This makes it a daunting task to keep your head above water in any AP or college level class. But it gets worse...
With all of the facts and information compiled in massive textbooks, you cannot forget the influence of the biases or skewed perspectives that the keepers of our history might hold. Take the world map for example. Who is at the top of the world map right smack dab in the middle as if perched on a throne? Europe of course. They did make most of the maps after all. Years of European dominance in exploration and map making during the 15th 16th and 17th centuries solidify the European grip on what is up and what is down; Who is a centerpiece and who is on the fringe. Our spatial organization of the world is no doubt European.
But the Eurocentric view is not the only way to spatialize our world. What about the poor Aussies? Why do they have to be the land "down under?" What if they were the land "up over?" Would the Koala bears still be cute? I doubt it... Through the magic of photoshop, we can see "The World Down Under," a map representing the world with Australia as its center-piece. This map is a little tougher for our westernized eyes to understand. New York is now a west coast city, South Africa is now, well, North...
But by far the most difficult part about learning history is our inability to fully realize the importance of cultural relativism. Cultural relativism means that if we are to fully understand someone or something, we have to view it within the context of the culture from which it comes. We cannot look at history with American eyes. If we do, everything will seem so strange, so foreign.
Mayan bloodletting is a great example of why it is important to view history from a native perspective. Bloodletting was a practice in which the Mayan elite cut themselves (usually on the tongue, genitalia, or fingers) with an obsidian blade in order to let their blood spill out onto a ritual alter. This, in addition to human sacrifice, placed a cloud of intrigue around the culture and caused many observers to apply the label savage or insane to the Mayans. To the Mayans, this ceremony kept harmony in the universe, it brought rain to end droughts, it kept the natural order of their society. When the Spaniards arrived they called it barbaric.
Information overload, perspective, and bias all make history hard. But there is more out there that stops people from understanding and loving history.
What is it that you find to be most difficult about learning history?
What is it that makes it hard for you to like history?
Or, what is it about history that you love to learn about?
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| The World Down Under |
But by far the most difficult part about learning history is our inability to fully realize the importance of cultural relativism. Cultural relativism means that if we are to fully understand someone or something, we have to view it within the context of the culture from which it comes. We cannot look at history with American eyes. If we do, everything will seem so strange, so foreign.
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| Mayan Bloodletting |
Information overload, perspective, and bias all make history hard. But there is more out there that stops people from understanding and loving history.
What is it that you find to be most difficult about learning history?
What is it that makes it hard for you to like history?
Or, what is it about history that you love to learn about?
I find trying to piece together different parts of history to be the most difficult. While learning about a specific culture in a time period it becomes easy to forget about another group of people living at the same time. For example if the Europeans are being discussed its easy to forget about people in Asia. It makes these different groups of people to seem like they're not connected even though they are all living and advancing society at the same time. Once all the pieces are put together, it allows you to see history for what it really is.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that is one of the most common issues I have seen with AP World History students; trying to connect the dots. One of the coolest timelines I have is called a "Histomap." This timeline puts all of the civilizations of the world on one, vertical timeline, pretty amazing. Click Here to see the map.
DeleteThere are a couple of problems with it. Number one, it is old. It ends in 1950, but given the extent of time, 50 years is relatively small. And two, it is VERY Euro-centric (as we discuss in this post) and the influence of Asia, specifically China, is EXTREMELY understated. Hope this helps!
Thanks Andrew!
I find history to be fascinating, although some say history do repeat itself. I love learning about how a war came upon and how it change todays view. Take WWII for example, Adolf Hitler was a impact of WWII, but not so much in WWI he was just a soldier fighting for what's right. Most people didn't even know who he was until he had an impact in WWII. But I find hard to learn about other history topics, I just can't seem to be into it.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see how one man completely changed the course of history! His rise to power is fascinating by itself.
DeleteHistory is such a diverse subject, but within it are topics i find appealing. There is one thing above all else that keeps me attracted to history; the struggles of the people. Humans have always faced hardships whether it is human vs human or human vs nature. The problems people face encompass war, famine, genocide, slavery, empires, and much more. Although these things may repeat at a point in history, the events are never the same. Slavery between African Americans and the Jews are similar, but the way means of freedom were very different. The Armenian and Cambodian Genocides, though genocides came about for different reasons. History relays the struggles of the people, but also the success and triumphs of the citizens. Though faced with similar problems, the scenarios always play out differently, and that is way i like history.
ReplyDeleteVery true, it is also interesting to see what history textbook authors decide is important when looking at these repeating events. Genocide for example, we have all heard of and learned about the Holocaust, and rightly so, it was a terrible event. But very few people know about other genocides that have occurred like the ones you mentioned.
DeleteHonestly, I have always found history to be my least favorite subject. I am the kind of person that would rather spend hours doing algebra or learning about the human body, not reading a history book. With that being said, I have never found history all that challenging. I have always enjoyed memorizing random information, and putting the pieces together. History started getting difficult around the time I took AP US. That class dealt with endless information, and the reading was extensive, but I got through it. I feel that I can make it through this class because I enjoy world history much more than US history. I guess I like that World history involves many different groups of people and cultures, not just the US.
ReplyDeleteYes, the multi-cultural perspective is a unique part of AP World History. It is a lot of fun to teach/learn about asian history, something you don't get in other classes in high school.
DeleteI personally enjoy learning and studying history, especially ancient history with the Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, etc. I am very fond of knowing and understanding how certain civilizations came to be and how they affected the world and our lives today. Certain cultures, and especially the conflicts between nations also interest me, it makes me think of what people had to go through and how they handled those various situations and what if they had done things differently.
ReplyDeleteI have always found learning about history to be intriguing. I think it is important to know the past to be able to know about the present and even the future. One of my favorite things to do is connect events from the past to todays hostility between different cultures and countries. Learning about smaller events that had an impact on larger events happening at the same time is so interesting to me because it shows how decisions can change the course of life for future generations.
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome, if you can connect the old to the new, you will do awesome in AP World. So much of the world as we know it is rooted deep in history. I love that stuff too. Thanks Becca!
ReplyDeleteHistory used to be my favorite subject. You know until it got hard, haha! The reason i loved history so much was almost because it was like a story. When you have never left the country, and you typically see/learn things through foreign eyes, it is hard to understand anything that isn't American. History shows me there is more out there on Earth, and really shows how minuscule our lifetime is compared to how long humans have been on this earth. History is also important to me because i do see the trends of history repeating itself, and i like to make conclusions sometimes on what i think may happen in the future based on the history of this world.
ReplyDeleteLearning about human history is something I've always enjoyed. I used to read a book series called History Mysteries, and I love watching movies that are centered around true events. It's interesting and inspiring to see how humans have developed over the course of time by their own accord, and how cause and effect, or mere coincidence and happenstance can change the way we live. Simply stumbling upon the wonder of fire, or a stroke of genius to invent the light bulb; these occurrences have built upon each other over time.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about the "strokes of genius." I mean it is funny to think about how in the world we came across the foods we eat for example. What kind of person ran up to a chicken thousands of years ago and thought, "Hmm, I think I am going to steal that egg that chicken is sitting on, then heat it over fire and eat it!" Or, "Gee, milk tastes really good, I bet if we leave it out for months and let it mold it would taste great on a sandwich..." But somewhere, somehow, someone stumbled across our unique pieces of culture and most of them will never get credit for their discoveries.
DeleteLearning about history has always fascinated me. I always find myself driving somewhere while looking at my GPS and wondering how people before GPS even functioned in everyday life. I also love reading about early civilizations and the creative discoveries they made that shaped the world into what it is today. Like someone at sometime started rubbing two sticks together and discovered sparks, and then soon fire struck. It was a mere accident to get fire at the time and now look at what we do with fire today! The smallest details in history have impacted society in some way and that is why I find history so amusing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I have always loved history and always found it fascinating. I find it so cool to see how some things were created just by mere accident and sometimes it makes me wonder if I could create something life changing and make millions of dollars off of it. I love to see how nations have developed and how inventions have completely altered the way we live. I love to learn about how small events can spark nationwide change and how ordinary people can change the course of a nation just by simply standing up for what they believe is right.
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest part of history for me anyways is all the memorization of all the different dates, cities, names of historical figures, and that kind of stuff. But to be honest i have always been drawn to history and not american history or wars but ancient history. Since i was kid i've always wanted to be either a paleontologist, archeologist, or geologist. But more or less archeology has always excited me. I find it fascinating how people survived that long ago and things that people have discovered is amazing. Everything we have become today is based on a few small actions then. History just really intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteI'm not good at memorizing dates and specific events in history. It's a lot of information to keep up with. I love history especially looking from another cultures perspective. It helps you see anthers view point and how they felt compared to what we "Americans" already feel and know. I gain a new appreciation for society when I learn about history. I love my teacher so that makes things more fun. Having good discussions and maybe even arguments over different cultures makes things so interesting.
ReplyDelete