World History

oldironside

(1,248 posts)

16. History is more than just kings and battles.

Tue Feb 12, 2013, 04:16 PM

Feb 2013

I agree that statesmen are important, but any student of history who limits him or herself to the study of policy and politicians is missing so much. How did our ancestors live? How did they see the world? Why did they accept the political instutions of the time and not fight for what we would call democracy? Why did they fight for leaders who had no interest in the lives and futures of the little people? What made my countrymen (the English) travel over the whole globe and risk dying of malaria and dysentry, just to found an empire? One cannot understand the past without answers to these questions, and these answer will certainly colour one's view of the present.

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Everyday Life in the Middle Ages [View all] mgc1961 Jul 2012 OP

My library has it pscot Jul 2012 #1

That book looks fascinating! RevStPatrick Jul 2012 #2

Yes, indeed. Though the subject matter is somewhat later... mgc1961 Jul 2012 #3

Great article. UnrepentantLiberal Jul 2012 #4

Can't wait HIlton Brackett Jul 2012 #5

Sounds totally fascinating. Curmudgeoness Jul 2012 #6

That's really neat. I'll have to check that out n/t RZM Jul 2012 #7

"How do you know he's the King?" FailureToCommunicate Jul 2012 #8

Interesting perhaps, but how significant? dmallind Jul 2012 #9

History is more than just kings and battles. oldironside Feb 2013 #16

I have the book, a fun read. Odin2005 Sep 2012 #10

Just finished it and found it very interesting... Rowdyboy Oct 2012 #11

sounds like an interesting book bodem1955_om Oct 2012 #12

Googled it left-of-center2012 Oct 2012 #13

Another great book on this subject, A DISTANT MIRROR by Barbara Tuchman. raccoon Dec 2012 #14

One of my favorite books. a la izquierda Dec 2012 #15