05-20-2004, 02:40 PM | #61 |
Enting
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ancient Rome (is where me head is, anyway!)
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Another interesting question might be, would democracy have developed similarly (not exactly the same, but based on the same or similar values and ideas) had things turned out very differently in the US--had the world not had the example of the US?
I think it would. The point being then, yes, events that led to our constitution were important, but I don't necessarily think that the rest of the world would still be under the rule of aristocracy or monarchy. |
05-20-2004, 03:31 PM | #62 |
the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
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Following on from what you were saying Elvellon, I think it would also be important to study the foundations of modern thought and philosophy. So, all the ancient greeks (Aristotle, Plato, Pythagorus), and stuff, leading up to Kant. It's interesting to see how much influence these philosophers had on the fields of both maths and science, and so forth. Definitely a must for students.
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05-20-2004, 05:43 PM | #63 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Lindon
Posts: 637
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Indeed. The importance of philosophy and science cannot be stressed enough.
PS. Interesting avatar
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**************************************** "None are more hoplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Reality is just an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein The Caffeine Mantra It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Brazil that the thoughts aquire speed, The hands aquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion... Elvellon Erelion |
05-20-2004, 05:47 PM | #64 |
Enting
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Ancient Rome (is where me head is, anyway!)
Posts: 89
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Yes! Philosophy, science, literature, religion. . .I think all of these are very important for understanding history. (says the history major with a minor in both philosophy and religous studies and an interest in English. . .)
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05-20-2004, 06:42 PM | #65 |
Elf Lord
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Lindon
Posts: 637
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I can understand that; the “problem” with history is how we inevitably start branching into other sciences, philosophy, etc. Just to understand more of the main passion.
It’s the perfect excuse to learn more about most things.
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**************************************** "None are more hoplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Reality is just an illusion, albeit a very persistent one - Albert Einstein The Caffeine Mantra It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the juice of Brazil that the thoughts aquire speed, The hands aquire shaking, the shaking becomes a warning. It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion... Elvellon Erelion |
05-21-2004, 10:56 AM | #66 | |
Lady of Letters
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England
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Re: Re: The Teaching of History
Quote:
I think you have a good point - always start at the beginning and go on until you reach the end (as they say in Alice in Wonderland? ) Studying the history of civilisations in this way is also a study, as you said, of the history of ideas - providing context and background for how those ideas are used today, and their later incarnations in modern history. In my history education, excellent as it generally was, there was a tendency to focus in detail on modern history, while the earlier stuff - Romans, Egyptians etc. - was left to primary schools only. I don't even know what the Sumerian civilisation was so I don't know what influence they had on the development of the world at all. On the other hand, I have Hitler and Stalin knowledge coming out of my ears History teaching does not get enough priority in schools, in my opinion.
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And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool. Last edited by sun-star : 05-21-2004 at 11:13 AM. |
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05-21-2004, 01:14 PM | #67 | |||
Elven Warrior
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Free, happy, drunk and sincere
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Quote:
Quote:
Oh, and then you claim that Japan and Australia are Democracies. And when Radagast tells you (fine work again Radagast) that that is also completley wrong, you accuse HIM (???) of needing to learn more history??? Quote:
I see you are willing to admit mistakes And more importantly, its good to see your knowledge of history supercedes Radagast's and my own ...rolleyes:
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05-23-2004, 10:48 PM | #68 |
Alasailon
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: college
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I don't want to be the one to stir this up anymore or to deviate from the original question, but just a point of clarification on all ends . . .
The official CIA listing for the Australian government is "democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign". The CIA listing for Japan lists it as a "constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government". Here is the URL for further reference. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/...elds/2128.html The most interesting question to me regarding history (having something to do with the fact that I watched The Last Samurai three times in a day) is how can we as both nations and individuals preserve our cultural background and traditions while still being able to open ourselves to other influences and integrate them into our way of life? The hypothetical answer is easy, for me it would be to find a balance somewhere in the middle. But where should the lines go? It's a whole different debate for each piece.
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02-18-2006, 12:32 PM | #69 |
The Intermittent One
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: here and there
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mesopotamia/sumeria right up to the end of roman civilisation, indus valley civilisation, early chinese up to the tang dynasty and early mesoamerican civilisation should all be taught as they are the foundations of all civilisation on this planet
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02-20-2006, 08:38 PM | #70 |
An enigma in a conundrum
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,476
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LCOU, et. al. How the heck did we go 2 full years without a post in this???
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