On Timelines

[lhynard]

The reason I always hated history growing up was largely due to how it was taught. (Now, I love history, having taught much of it to myself, beginning in high school.) History was cut up and categorized. One learned about State History, then World History, then US History. And one was constantly told to memorize dates. Well, not all people can

Comments

[dogs_n_rodents]

I have always hated Greek and Roman mythology.

*Dies* You don't like Greek or Roman mythology?! Granted, I wasn't an addict of the subject matter like some of my Latin/Greek-inclined colleagues in high school and college, but I always found the topic fascinating. Personally, when I was still doing a large amount of translations work, I was interested in drawing parallels between Roman and Greek mythology and other religious traditions we see both in Eastern and Western cultures. Not to mention, I found doing translations of myths much more bearable (and fun) than that of political writings (which usually brought me to tears in terms of boredom).

Personally, I don't like how Troy didn't keep to Homer's original script, but I did like the character portrayal -- esp. with Brad Pitt playing a cocky Achilles.

I wish that history were not taught in such a fragmented mannerBut I think you've got a good suggestion here. I think that part of the fragmented nature of how history is taught to students relates to how "fragmented" the world

[izaaksmom]

My project in Latin 3 or 4 (I can't remember now) was to make a family tree of the Roman gods. I ended up having to use different colored thread representing relationships (ie child, marriage, rape, etc--yes I had a special color designated for god-rape) so that I could connect the different generations in a non-traditional manner (as there was some serious problematic familial relationships...) It ended up looking like a colored spider web. It was extremely time consuming, but ultimately one of the greatest teaching tools I've ever experienced (and yes, it was my own idea for the project). I might have a pic of it somewhere; I'll have to post it if I ever find it.

[dogs_n_rodents]

For my Latin 2 class project, we had to recreate the city of Rome on our classroom ceiling, making sure to have the shape of the hills correct and all other components (e.g., the Tiber River) present. Then each student was assigned an important building to create and write a 1 page paper on, explaining it's significance and function during the Roman Empire. After we presented on our building, we'd put it up on the ceiling to make a complete city-scape of Rome. It was extremely fun (esp for somebody like me who likes to make more artistic odds and ends) and very informative at the same time.

I'll also say that my Western Civ. I (Pre-Greek empire to the time of Charlemagne) professor usually kept my attention to by talking about the personal details about different historical figures, like how most of the Greeks were homosexuals, etc.. The amusement kept my attention.

[lhynard]

Those are the kinds of projects from which I would have really learned.

[ubersecret]

Since shortly after taking this job, I've had an idea in the back of my mind for a totally cool piece of software that would let you build timelines from a database. You should ask me about it sometime.

[lhynard]

Maybe this weekend!

[la_vita_nuova]

Great post - I have a hard time memorizing numbers and I share your frustration that history is taught so piecemeal.

[shadewright]

I'm totally with you on the history thing.

But, while I'm not a huge fan of the mythology, here is the historically significant thing: If you include the gods, you have lots of pseudo-deities doing nasty things and no real justice. If you leave them out, you have a man, on his mother's advice, trading in his chance to be a good man and a great king, in order to gain fame and false immortality. How is that better?

And before we say that it's probably more accurate to what happened, let's remember how long the war happened before the telling (so whoe knows?), and that we have cut out Homer's *point* in the whole thing--the helpless, stoic worldview of people at the mercy of inscrutable gods.

Making heroism out of doing the best you can in a world where the gods are unknowable and even malicious is not terribly far from what we see around us in our own "religious" country. The battle of troy shows it for what it is.

[thefaeway]

Hello, there!

I hope you do not mind that I am commenting here. I just figured with such similar thoughts in the discussion in our mutual friends LJ, I might see what more there is here. I do not actually get into drawn out intellectual topics overmuch, but once in awhile I'll spend a day or two reading/researching a particular topic.

I actually love history, so this first post I get to see was pretty cool. I understand what you mean and fully agree, though I sometimes can parallel things in my head. That timeline you speak of would be fab to have!

I'd like to add you as a friend and vice versa, as I do at times have more particular topics that you may find of interest. Especially with school coming up in January, I'll be in World History and two English classes. Plus I'm learning two languages (one in school, one on the side) and have a handful of Hindu religious texts I'm getting ready to study.

My friends list is pretty barren, and only essius would be able to keep up if I went on a tangent, but only on topics he's familiar

[lhynard]

great

I actually added you already last night.

Kya ap Hindi bolte ha?

Oddly enough, I also have in interest in Hindu religious texts. I have not got to them yet, but I know a little Hindi. Which texts?

Namaste!

[thefaeway]

I noticed after I wrote the comment that you'd added me.

...and I know what Kya, Hindi and Namaste are, and possibly ha. :D My little program for actually learning the language is behind me on a shelf, I'm still English only - with dabbles in languages. That's gonna change tho. :D I actually picked up a handful of words from watching the movies a lot.

Thus I unfortunately can't read the sanskrit original, but what I have at present: The Upanishads, The Dhammapada and The Bhagavad Gita.

[lhynard]

"Kya ap Hindi bolte ha?" is, I hope, "Do you speak Hindi?"

And you would say, "Ji nahi."

very cool

What made you want to start reading them?