World History: the true story
As many of you know, I'm working on my history minor. I love history. I love literature. I love looking at the different ways that people have viewed the periods in which they have worked, and which they have studied. The problem with this is "who is correct?" much of history, at least here in the western world, is taught through the eyes of western religion, and Christianity in particular. The world before modern religions is treated much the same way as the myths from those periods. the ideas aren't given much credit, and it is all very very stylized. the world since the advent of modern religion is taught through the eyes of those religions. moves are made, and wars are waged to save the world from heretical views. events happen and people believed the way the church has recorded things. Again, how much of this is true? how many rulers have really ruled by their faith? how many have used the faith of the populous as a means to an end?
"Constantine converted to Christianity in 326ad because he had a vision from God that led him to the true faith" this is what we are told... well... ? lets take a look at this... Constantine comes to power over an empire that is quickly falling apart he moves his capital to be more centrally located and to be closer to the people with whom he has a closer cultural connection. he finds himself surrounded by disparate peoples that can barely agree on the color of the sky, much less what and who to fight for. he needs an army, and he needs the backing of his people to use it. well lets treat everyone better, that will make them happy. ....religious tolerance
um... well the Christians are still pissed off.... what if I use their symbol on my standards and shields? how can I get them to let me do that and to follow me... oh, I know I'll have a "vision"too bad they can't agree either... they should set down some ground rules... Council of Nicea
wouldn't it be great if they could get along with Sol Invictus, the cult of Apollo, Cult of Isis, the jews, Mithraism, and everyone else? what if we they had some of the same holidays? OH and the sun disc is kinda cool too, they can use that! ... Halo and many Christian holidays set...
oh wow, I don't' feel so hot, I may even be dying... *coma*
~enter Christians~ wow he's done so much for our cause, he should be baptized... hey lets make him a saint too... he was such a good Christian... *Constantine dies*
yeah... that's a bit closer I think... now what about European history? were all these wars really fought over religious solidarity and reclamation of holy sites... or could it have been because of over population, money, sex, land, and control over as many of the others as possible? hmmm.... which makes more real sense?now how do we get the peasants to go along with it.... OH, dude! I've got an idea *scribble scribble scribble*"God says take back the holy land"or "they're heretics because they don't believe the same things we tell you in church!"
~populous~ *gasp* The bastards! they must all die!
~rulers~ hehehe, idiots, now we can sit back and watch THEM die, and WE still get what we want...
Kinda makes ya wonder huh? what REALLY happened?
"Constantine converted to Christianity in 326ad because he had a vision from God that led him to the true faith" this is what we are told... well... ? lets take a look at this... Constantine comes to power over an empire that is quickly falling apart he moves his capital to be more centrally located and to be closer to the people with whom he has a closer cultural connection. he finds himself surrounded by disparate peoples that can barely agree on the color of the sky, much less what and who to fight for. he needs an army, and he needs the backing of his people to use it. well lets treat everyone better, that will make them happy. ....religious tolerance
um... well the Christians are still pissed off.... what if I use their symbol on my standards and shields? how can I get them to let me do that and to follow me... oh, I know I'll have a "vision"too bad they can't agree either... they should set down some ground rules... Council of Nicea
wouldn't it be great if they could get along with Sol Invictus, the cult of Apollo, Cult of Isis, the jews, Mithraism, and everyone else? what if we they had some of the same holidays? OH and the sun disc is kinda cool too, they can use that! ... Halo and many Christian holidays set...
oh wow, I don't' feel so hot, I may even be dying... *coma*
~enter Christians~ wow he's done so much for our cause, he should be baptized... hey lets make him a saint too... he was such a good Christian... *Constantine dies*
yeah... that's a bit closer I think... now what about European history? were all these wars really fought over religious solidarity and reclamation of holy sites... or could it have been because of over population, money, sex, land, and control over as many of the others as possible? hmmm.... which makes more real sense?now how do we get the peasants to go along with it.... OH, dude! I've got an idea *scribble scribble scribble*"God says take back the holy land"or "they're heretics because they don't believe the same things we tell you in church!"
~populous~ *gasp* The bastards! they must all die!
~rulers~ hehehe, idiots, now we can sit back and watch THEM die, and WE still get what we want...
Kinda makes ya wonder huh? what REALLY happened?