David Santos Martinez
Egypt was founded around 3150 B.C., Athens was created in the 8th Century B.C., The Roman Empire fell in 476 A.D., America was discovered much later in 1492 … Seen in this way, history may seem as a group of unconnected actions ordered chronologically. However, history is much more than a series of consecutive events.
History is probably one of the best “teachers” of human behavior. Analyzing it we can notice how different civilizations have reacted in a huge variety of situations, and, even more, we can see what was the result. So, in a certain mode, history should help us to avoid making the same mistakes that our ancestors committed, although, unfortunately, this is not so.
Despite mankind having evolved dramatically since the wheel was invented (which is considered by many historians as the beginning of a new era), people’s aims give the impression of having remained untouched. We still look upon power and superiority as some of the most important things, which must be achieved at all costs, even if it is at other people’s expense. This is why war hasn’t disappeared yet, and equality is, after all, one of the main issues all over the world. We might have completely different lifestyles, and our technological advances are deserving of being looked up to by past civilizations, but, at the end, in spite of thousands of years of evolution, we haven’t been able to get rid of the avarice and egotism which have characterized every human generation.
Consequently, my question is: if history is not a help to learn from our mistakes, then, what is its purpose? Should we forget history considering it as an irrelevant part of the past? Definitely not!
The fact that humans fall once and again into the same errors because they are still as stubborn as their antecessors, doesn’t mean that history is useless.
From my perspective, a good understanding of history brings much more experience than most people believe and it also broadens your mind, even though it “teaches” as well that not everything is written in books, and, quite often you have to go “out there” and find the answers by yourself.
To conclude, I have to say that each individual will make use of history in a very personal way. Some people will hate it, others will love it, while a third group will be indifferent, but, eventually, it doesn’t matter what your attitude is, because WE ALL MAKE HISTORY.
I agree with you. Humans always do the same mistakes. They are blinded by power and superiority. History is made from wars. But I'm not blaming it, that is sadly Human's personality. And even if war is one of the worst thing in the world, I'm fascinated by History, and how people have made the world as it looks like today.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, we needed fights sometimes to build a better world. All because off the Human stubborn thinking.
You are right. If it wasn't because of our stubborn way of thinking, we would never had been able to progress, just because we would have given up immediately after failing. Thanks to our persistence we have created a world full of commodities and benefits which were inconceivable centuries ago. An interesting example (and also very simple) is the one of Thomas Edison, who failed almost a thousand times before finally inventing a reliable bulb.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I cannot agree with the idea of wars helping to make a better world. It has been proved through historical research that the periods of biggest progress have taken place during war-time, but this doesn't mean that the progress contributed to make a better world. In fact, I support the idea of wars increasing hate between the cultures who participate on them (on the wars) , and thus helping to break relationships more than reinforcing them.
War can have positive aspects, but, from my point of view, creating a better world will never be one of them.
It's really important to understand the history not to repeat the tragic history, especially war. War is absolute evil, I think. Humankind will never bring it up.
ReplyDeleteWe must learn the history and at the same time, think about how we will change our evil mind which everyone surely has like as you said avarice or egotism.
David, You must consider your statement about wars. I do not defend WAR as a solution but think about IIWW, Spanish Independence War (1808) or even now Afghan war. War is a fail. Soldiers have to do what politicians and diplomatics were not able to solved, but sometimes changes happened and results are better than before.
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy of History is not the war itself, it is the lack of freedom or the injustice, and we have to fight against this