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In your notes: A clear definition of history and three reasons why YOU think it is important.
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Why Study History?
First, What is History?
What is your definition of history? An account or version of the past based on
the historical (or written) record Different accounts or versions often conflict
The Centuries:Think of a number line
• BC/AD• Before Christ / Anno
Domini• 1 AD = Birth of
Christ• Calendar system
developed by Catholic monk roughly 300 years after death of Christ
• BCE/CE• Before Common Era /
Common Era• Secular (non-religious)
way to denote year• Either system equally
appropriate (personal preference)
• To express century, add 1 to beginning of year (2006 = 21st c.)
• 1500 BCE = 16th c.
Vs.
Is it 2006 CE for everyone?
No! Note the years on the following traditional calendars:
• Islam: 1427• China: 4704• Judaism: 5766
So, then: why do we study history?
Because it’s fascinating…
How were the Pyramids built?
How did the Sphinx lose his nose?
How many people did it take to build the Great Wall of China?
What were the Crusades like?
It’s fun to transport oneself back into history…
What will our impact be on the future?
Because it tells us the story of real people…
Ancient EgyptianHieroglyphs
Roman Baths…
Food
Types of Housing
Writing
What we are doing this century…
Traffic and Pollution in Cairo
Past heroes can be today’s role
models…
Because problem solving of the past provides insight for
today…
Because the spread of democracy requires informed citizens…
Because the past has an impact on us
today…
Would our country have been founded by Muslims not Christians?
What would modern cities look like without the invention of skyscrapers?
How would we get around?
Would we be interacting on a global scale?
History is impacted by religion…
Because we learn from
our past mistakes…
Wars…
Genocide
What will history say are the mistakes of today?
• Iraqi war?• Sudanese genocide?• Burning of the rainforest?• Car pollution?• Election of President Clinton?
George W. Bush?• China’s rapid modernization?• Three Gorges Dam?
Only time will answer these questions.
Because we interact with people around the
world…
The Olympics
Bedouin on a cell phone...
UN General Assembly
Arab League
G-8 Summit
We are a world of diversity…
And, this is where our journey begins!
