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

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.

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.

Is it 2006 CE for everyone? No! Note the years on the following traditional calendars: Islam: 1427 China: 4704 Judaism: 5766

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

Nuclear Weapons…

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.

Iraqi war?

Sudanese genocide?

Burning of the rainforest?

Car pollution?

Election of President Clinton? George W. Bush?

China’s rapid modernization?

Three Gorges Dam?

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!