Any History Majors out there?

[andrewlterry]

If so, what is your time period of most interest? I'm fascinated by many time periods. One of my favorite though is during THE Reformation (Luther, Calvin, etc.)

[selftitled85]

If so, what is your time period of most interest? I'm fascinated by many time periods. One of my favorite though is during THE Reformation (Luther, Calvin, etc.)

im a history buff but international relations major. my main focus was european and american history from the american rev through the civil war. so much craziness.

[richter915]

man, European history is laaaaaaame. I hate how it dominates american curricula but what do you expect ya know? But from what I hear, Asian history (either India or east Asia) is absolutely crazy even with the periods of isolation. Wish I knew more about it but eh.

I guess I know a decent amount of info on the Bakumatsu in Japan (I think it's also known as the Meiji Restoration)...but that's mainly due to my interest in an Anime and the movie The Last Samurai.

[andrewlterry]

In America, we're definitely Euro-centric when it comes to history. We don't give nearly enough credit to eastern cultures. It seems we thought of them as being un-technoligical, and not modern at all. And the only reason we say they were isolationists is because we weren't involved in their economy, foreign affairs, and what not. It wasn't until the Europeans "bought" their way into asian trade with silver they had taken from america (and began wars in India and other countries for a place in the spice trade, etc.) that they considered asians significant, at least on a global scale. I mean, the european industrial revolution was probably the biggest event to occur in the global economy, but I agree that asian history is far too overlooked when we study world history.

[andrewlterry]

I guess I know a decent amount of info on the Bakumatsu in Japan (I think it's also known as the Meiji Restoration)...but that's mainly due to my interest in an Anime and the movie The Last Samurai.

The diminishing of the samurai and their role in Japan is very interesting. It was a big battle of the old ways vs new forms of government coming into Japan. The Last Samurai isn't a perfect portrayal of the time, but it did however do a pretty good job representing it.

[richter915]

wow I agree with you 100%. Even when we do hear of Eastern cultures, it's from a Western standpoint. I read this essay about this Hawaiian woman who realized that her culture and history was completely tarnished by Western interpretation. So even if you wanted to look into Asia, you can't do it unless you really go there and embrace it cause you'll get a very biased view here in the states.

Another example (tying in the other post) is with the Meiji Restoration. We learned that Commodore Perry was like, this amazing man who opened up Japan to the world and made it better. Only after doing my own research did I find that one...there was a civil war as a result...and two...the purpose of opening Japan was for our own greed, period. I mean, many refer to the boats Perry came on as the "Black Ships"...The Last Samurai was good at introducing the idea of like, the destruction of the samurai and feudal system as a result of Westernization...there's much more to it and it's really worth exploring.

[Ratherbedead22]

man, European history is laaaaaaame. I hate how it dominates american curricula but what do you expect ya know? But from what I hear, Asian history (either India or east Asia) is absolutely crazy even with the periods of isolation. Wish I knew more about it but eh.

I guess I know a decent amount of info on the Bakumatsu in Japan (I think it's also known as the Meiji Restoration)...but that's mainly due to my interest in an Anime and the movie The Last Samurai.

eastern history is my main focus. i just took this sweet ass class on disease politics in south asia. i never thought it wouldve been as interesting as it was. i loved the idea that state medicine was an arm of british colonialism.

and i personally hate the reformation years. sooooo boring.

[richter915]

eastern history is my main focus. i just took this sweet ass class on disease politics in south asia. i never thought it wouldve been as interesting as it was. i loved the idea that state medicine was an arm of british colonialism.

and i personally hate the reformation years. sooooo boring.
the reformation stuff didn't get interesting until the king of England (forget which one) decided to adopt it and abandon Catholicism...it really started to show the corruption that existed in the faith.

[ghostyouare]

the reformation stuff didn't get interesting until the king of England (forget which one) decided to adopt it and abandon Catholicism...it really started to show the corruption that existed in the faith.
I think it should more of the corruption that existed in the papacy, not really the faith.

[Alex Huffman]

I am a PoliSci Major, but I am a history minor. I am more into Middle Eastern History from Ancient Times to the fall of the Ottoman. Russian History is cool too. Next year I get to take History of the Ottoman Empire I & II.

I think, on the topic of Eurocentrism, there are more subtle reasons why it is so dominant.
1) Due to the large number of cultures/languages/empires/significant events in respective aforementioned entities, there is more content available to cover.
2) More material is available, especially in scholarly translated verse.
3) Until about 60 years ago, most of the world kinda "belonged" to Europe.
4) Most advances in technology and industry that influence our modern American way of life were European. While there are notable exceptions (algebra, gunpowder, shipbuilding), the majority of advances are European.
5) Artists, philosophers, writers, etc. of European descent seem somehow more applicable to our Western world.

These aren't based in ethnocentrism, but I mean, come on, most Americans speak Indo-European languages, follow Levantine religions, and are of European descent. Do you think they teach much American history in China? Latin American history in Australia? No.

[Ratherbedead22]

I think it should more of the corruption that existed in the papacy, not really the faith.

goood point.

[richter915]

I think it should more of the corruption that existed in the papacy, not really the faith.
well if the top becomes corrupt, I feel that it has a sort of trickle-down effect.

[richter915]

I am a PoliSci Major, but I am a history minor. I am more into Middle Eastern History from Ancient Times to the fall of the Ottoman. Russian History is cool too. Next year I get to take History of the Ottoman Empire I & II.

I think, on the topic of Eurocentrism, there are more subtle reasons why it is so dominant.
1) Due to the large number of cultures/languages/empires/significant events in respective aforementioned entities, there is more content available to cover.
2) More material is available, especially in scholarly translated verse.
3) Until about 60 years ago, most of the world kinda "belonged" to Europe.
4) Most advances in technology and industry that influence our modern American way of life were European. While there are notable exceptions (algebra, gunpowder, shipbuilding), the majority of advances are European.
5) Artists, philosophers, writers, etc. of European descent seem somehow more applicable to our Western world.

These aren't based in ethnocentrism, but I mean, come on, most Americans speak Indo-European languages, follow Levantine religions, and are of European descent. Do you think they teach much American history in China? Latin American history in Australia? No.I agree with all that you're saying and you're right on every point. The thing is, is that right in terms of fairness...should we claim that we support fair education of all kinds but only give one side of the story? Yes those countries don't care about us but it's not like China is saying they're gonna bring freedom to the world like the US. I think if the US were established by East Asians, it'd be the total opposite. We would acknowledge different people for different things.

[Alex Huffman]

Well, another thing is, especially in primary and secondary education, there is only so much history you can fit in. During the primary years, most of it is specific knowledge: 1492, state capitals, etc.

In high school, at least in Kentucky, you take World Geography, World Civilizations (70% European) and US History. However, I think at the college level, there is an appropriate amount of non-Western history available. I go to the University of Louisville, and half of our upper-level history courses are non-Western.

[richter915]

Well, another thing is, especially in primary and secondary education, there is only so much history you can fit in. During the primary years, most of it is specific knowledge: 1492, state capitals, etc.

In high school, at least in Kentucky, you take World Geography, World Civilizations (70% European) and US History. However, I think at the college level, there is an appropriate amount of non-Western history available. I go to the University of Louisville, and half of our upper-level history courses are non-Western.
I think that's pretty much how it is here in NY too. in JR high we do US history (7-8 grade) then freshman year we did World History prior to I guess the French revolution and ya that's mostly european. Then sophomore u can either take AP world history (again predominantly European with very simple and vague topics in regards to the East...and that is from the European pov)...or you can take rest of world history from the French rev. onwards. Junior year you take US history (either AP or regents)...and then senior year...well that's it you take like, US gov't and shit.

and ya in college those courses are available and are required by many majors. The thing is, why should one have to wait that long to get an actual, unbiased view. As this country is accepting more and more immigrants, kids need to learn about their histories and school is the right place to teach it but kids really can't. I can't blame the education system because it's trying to adhere to all parts of the spectrum fairly...my problem is more in how the text books and written...how it almost seems to glorify European cultures for "civilizing" various parts of the world (africa, SE asia, etc)...I think I'm one of very few people to realize that these nations are just the West's modern day playground...and our education systems keep us blind from that injustice.

[StartingLine182]

Im a history major with a minor in education. I love American history but I dont mind talking about anything else.

[Cal Smith]

wow I agree with you 100%. Even when we do hear of Eastern cultures, it's from a Western standpoint. I read this essay about this Hawaiian woman who realized that her culture and history was completely tarnished by Western interpretation. So even if you wanted to look into Asia, you can't do it unless you really go there and embrace it cause you'll get a very biased view here in the states.

Another example (tying in the other post) is with the Meiji Restoration. We learned that Commodore Perry was like, this amazing man who opened up Japan to the world and made it better. Only after doing my own research did I find that one...there was a civil war as a result...and two...the purpose of opening Japan was for our own greed, period. I mean, many refer to the boats Perry came on as the "Black Ships"...The Last Samurai was good at introducing the idea of like, the destruction of the samurai and feudal system as a result of Westernization...there's much more to it and it's really worth exploring.

that's what i was taught. maybe if you're looking at a rough, overview of history you get the waterdown version but if you're studying a specific region or event you usually (from my experience) get the full facts western taught or not.

[richter915]

that's what i was taught. maybe if you're looking at a rough, overview of history you get the waterdown version but if you're studying a specific region or event you usually (from my experience) get the full facts western taught or not.
when were you taught this? What I'm saying is based on HS education and AP classes. Not until college did I see other points of view.