History Adrift
History, according to Edward Said, is an being that “leaves its traces on all of us whether or not we recognize them”. Said’s suggestion within this statement is that we all, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, become historical subjects and are intertwined through the relationship of past and present moments. Examples of the unknown traces of existence that history can leave be behind are found in modern academia, art, and many other areas of life. However, due to various accounts of “cultural amnesia”, the historical contexts that underlie in our modern world are easily overlooked. Moreover, it should be noted that the events that occur in history are entirely singular, yet the effects of their occurrence do not fade away. …show more content…
Eurocentrism is an example that embodies the idea of omitting recognition. Eurocentrism “slights the history of the non-western world” and does not regard overlooked countries as centers of innovation or power (Lewis & Wigen, 112). Eurocentric ideals create cultural amnesia and can be fatal to historians in their journey to truth. (Kaiwar, 2016), People soon begin to believe the perception that some countries simply do not have a history. For instance, Hegel states that sub-Saharan Africa has no part in world history. Effectively, through this ideal many have concluded that Pharaonic Egypt was the highest form of African genius, and all other forms from the continent are not to be considered historically significant (Kaiwar, 2016). This ideal excludes other portions of Africa from all history of the Old World. Therefore, Europe is considered the only supreme contributor to the creation of modernity and our viewpoint of the world become misconstrued. We start to believe that there was never any collaboration between the East and West, thus creating the longstanding notion of a battling Eastern and Western world. Additionally, another important contribution that has been cast aside by Eurocentric and exclusive views, is that of the Native Americans and their regard for women in high positions. Within the Five Nations that are spoken about in The …show more content…
First, the occurrence of merging can be attributed to the Silk Road. During its height, the Silk Road was a hub for religious and economic trade. In Religions of the Silk Road (Foltz, 2010) we learn about the how cultural influences could easily travel from community to community and thus connect people on a deeper level. For instance, the influences that became prevalent in Jewish communities can also be found in Iranian societies. Another instance in which aspects of history merge is in the novel, People of the Book. Within Geraldine Brooks’s book we are introduced the Sarajevo Haggadah, an ancient Jewish book that survives through centuries of historical moments due to the mutual respect of its significance by diverse groups everywhere. The Haggadah is a book of celebration; it’s ‘telling’ of traditions has been spread across Jewish communities for centuries. However, the cultural merging and respect that accompanies the book spans across communities that are not of Jewish dissent. Furthermore, there are also many instances in which history disappears and later reappears. For example, in The Renaissance Bazaar (Brotton, 2002), the use of translators during the Spanish Conquest is something that was often omitted from official documentation. Additionally, the Spanish painted the Natives to be primitive creatures that
History, according to Edward Said, is an being that “leaves its traces on all of us whether or not we recognize them”. Said’s suggestion within this statement is that we all, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, become historical subjects and are intertwined through the relationship of past and present moments. Examples of the unknown traces of existence that history can leave be behind are found in modern academia, art, and many other areas of life. However, due to various accounts of “cultural amnesia”, the historical contexts that underlie in our modern world are easily overlooked. Moreover, it should be noted that the events that occur in history are entirely singular, yet the effects of their occurrence do not fade away. …show more content…
Eurocentrism is an example that embodies the idea of omitting recognition. Eurocentrism “slights the history of the non-western world” and does not regard overlooked countries as centers of innovation or power (Lewis & Wigen, 112). Eurocentric ideals create cultural amnesia and can be fatal to historians in their journey to truth. (Kaiwar, 2016), People soon begin to believe the perception that some countries simply do not have a history. For instance, Hegel states that sub-Saharan Africa has no part in world history. Effectively, through this ideal many have concluded that Pharaonic Egypt was the highest form of African genius, and all other forms from the continent are not to be considered historically significant (Kaiwar, 2016). This ideal excludes other portions of Africa from all history of the Old World. Therefore, Europe is considered the only supreme contributor to the creation of modernity and our viewpoint of the world become misconstrued. We start to believe that there was never any collaboration between the East and West, thus creating the longstanding notion of a battling Eastern and Western world. Additionally, another important contribution that has been cast aside by Eurocentric and exclusive views, is that of the Native Americans and their regard for women in high positions. Within the Five Nations that are spoken about in The …show more content…
First, the occurrence of merging can be attributed to the Silk Road. During its height, the Silk Road was a hub for religious and economic trade. In Religions of the Silk Road (Foltz, 2010) we learn about the how cultural influences could easily travel from community to community and thus connect people on a deeper level. For instance, the influences that became prevalent in Jewish communities can also be found in Iranian societies. Another instance in which aspects of history merge is in the novel, People of the Book. Within Geraldine Brooks’s book we are introduced the Sarajevo Haggadah, an ancient Jewish book that survives through centuries of historical moments due to the mutual respect of its significance by diverse groups everywhere. The Haggadah is a book of celebration; it’s ‘telling’ of traditions has been spread across Jewish communities for centuries. However, the cultural merging and respect that accompanies the book spans across communities that are not of Jewish dissent. Furthermore, there are also many instances in which history disappears and later reappears. For example, in The Renaissance Bazaar (Brotton, 2002), the use of translators during the Spanish Conquest is something that was often omitted from official documentation. Additionally, the Spanish painted the Natives to be primitive creatures that