Monday, September 6, 2010
Welcome to West Indian History
Hello students and welcome to the most important class you have ever registered for. I hope you find the experience rewarding and revealing. This blog is specifically designed to facilitate an ongoing discussion on history and its relevance to you. Each week a post will be made and you are to respond to that post by Friday 12 noon of the same week. After that time you will be able to comment but that comment will not be used for grading purposes. You MUST comment since this exercise is compulsory. Your comments should be no more than 150 words. Well let's get started and I know you will enjoy the journey.
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History has never been of much interest to me but i am looking froward to learning more about our ancestors an gaining any other knowledge of the past.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I really looked into history is while a took a course overseas called World History. I think the study of history is quite interesting and I am curious to see/hear and gain more knowledge from this class.
ReplyDeleteI generally don't like history and only really am doing it as requirement, but so far in this class it has been interesting and I am looking forward to learning more.
ReplyDeletePrecious Williams
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts concerning the first quote by M. Trevelyan.
History has no relation with science, it is not a body of information base on theories and laws, but information base on a study. History only purpose is to educate human beings about events which occurred in the past. If history stays within the historians who have the information of what occurred in the past, their knowledge and information will be meaningless because they alone would be the ones with the knowledge. When these historians pass on who will pass on the knowledge, clearly history will be vanished.
My thoughts concerning the first quote by Peter Stearns.
Being a historian is not like being a policeman, Doctor or a construction worker. Its functionality is difficult to define in society. It is not what society sees as an acceptable discipline but it has its place and does serve a purpose by giving insight as to what happened in the past.
I totally agree with both of the quotes.
ReplyDelete''...then all their historical learning is valueless except in so far as it indicates themselves". As i read this one word jumps out and slaps me; subjective. Its obvious to me that G.M. Trevelyan never did a history course. My classmates history is important for it is said hewho controls the past controls the future.
ReplyDeleteDavis Crabtree, an acclaimed author, states that our view of history shapes the way we view the present, and therefore it dictates what answerswe offer for existing problems. A case of this can be seen when one go to the doctors office for the first time. The doctor never met you before so therefore he requires past info to get a better idea of your present situation. Therefore whenever you return the doctor would only have to visit your file to have a beter idea of your health. This is one of mant examples which helps to emplain hte importance of history.
G.M Trevelyan has a very compelling point. Histroy and every other area of research has very little importance without someone achieving some form of benifits and understanding from it. At the same time I do believe that it is necessary to give histroy it's needed recognition. Let's be logical, in order to develop we must look back in history to both learn from our mistakes and improve on our lifestyles. History is a learing process which allow a person to both enhace oneself and also understand the culture and upbringing of a country.
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