clair055

We would like to think that history is static meaning that it never changes.  We would like to think the history we learn in school will be the same history our children learn, but it can't be.   History does change. Time marches on creating new history and existing history changes over time as well.   Each new generation analyzes past events based on their context - what they are currently experiencing.  The further we get away from a particular event points of view change, new variables come into play shaping the events, and attitudes shift over time.  New resources such as journals, letters, etc. come to light all the time to give new interpretations.  New  archaeological  evidence is discovered that can change historical events dramatically. Last year an interesting discovery was written regarding Africans and the Western Hemisphere.  It seems 49 skeletal remains were found by  archaeologist  working at the colony of La Isabela...

This post first ran in January, 2006 on my seventh day of blogging. I guess I thought it very important to establish early on just why history is so important. Enjoy! One reason why history is important it that the past has value to our society. Thousands of people throughout history have gone to great lengths to record history through newspapers, diaries, journals, saved letters, family Bibles, and oral traditions. It is believed that Aborigines of Australia actually managed to hang onto their history for 40,000 years by word of mouth. History is the narrative of mankind . It provides answers as to how people lived as well as provide for us the roots to certain ideas concerning laws, customs, and political ideas. Have you ever wondered where the rude gesture of pointing your middle finger at people you are annoyed at came from? One origin story states it reportedly began at the Battle of Agincourt where the French demanded the surrender of the English longbow men. The French demand ...

History is jam packed with moments…..moments great and small. For someone like me they are all equally intriguing….all equally important though some actually get a little more play in the classroom than others. If I had to ask you about your top ten list for events in American History more than likely we would all have varying lists with a little overlap. I’m sure that most of you would include events from the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, the Boston Massacre, or even Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. My events would be a little more obscure (for some)….Shay’s Rebellion, the inception of The Manhattan Project, the Election of 1800, the March on Washington Movement (1941-1947), or the Battle of Fallen Timbers. I could go on and on and on with my list…… The folks over at Online School recently alerted me regarding their post titled One Hundred Great Moments in American History You Can Catch on YouTube . Their list includes moments involving war, presidential inaugurations, assass...