Not so much knowledge in history

[AlexanderSextus]

Not at all. I bet you there is nothing my friends know more about than me. Seriously, from Roman history to classic rock to internet slang to mathematics to geography to gourmet to philosophy to brittish comedy to apartheid to demographics to tele marketing to window polishing to top scorers in the Serie A to Swedish politics in the 50´s to bicycle maintanance to photoshop editing to CounterStrike gaming to American jazz to Russian folkdance to pencil factories to penny eating to guitarr playing to the firing of firearms to US Marine slang to nailbiting to sex positions to just about everything, I know just as much or more than my friends.
But then again, I am amazing.

Theres one thing i will always know more about than you appo.


Hip-Hop.

[General Appo]

Oh really? Well, can you name all tracks on The Best Of Sugarhill Gang: Rapper's Delight from memory?
Or maybe from which country Kid Creole´s mother hailed? Our on which song from Eminem´s Slim Shady LP Zoe Winkler featured as a guest musician?
Or on what nightclub Dr. Dre performed after dropping out of Chester Adult School in Compton? Or maybe what 3 groups O'Shea Jackson´s cousin has been part of? Or perhaps on which track Vicki Miles featured on Chi Ali Griffith´s Sure Shot Redemption album?

I thought not. Obviously, I am - as always - superior.

[Ibrahim]

hmm. this thread will get me going about history allright...I could go on and on about a prticular mod i saw, and its handling of a certain war, but out of good manners, I won't. needless to say, I'm scarred, my boss is pissed, and had he actually seen it, he would have had a heart attack.

alternatively, I really like the histories section in AOK from ensembles studio...absolute garbage when it came to the "dark ages".

I can always go on about how practically every one I met so far has no clue where Kuwait, arabia, or even hebron (khaleel to all arabs) is. hell, most around here don't know where the hell Israel Is, or the palestinian territories, in which hebron is located (that's when I'm asked my origions). and whats with the whole idea of the "oil shiekh" idea? it seems everyone thinks everybody in Kuwait is rich, even though 60% of that state makes under 60,000$ a year, and aren't even kuwaiti. girls run away, thinking I'lll cage them, or whip them or something. idiots...you should see what they think about the crusades. bunch of hicks. most arabs in kuwait actually know more states in the US than most of the locals know, and can find all sorts of places. some can een find bhutan (interesting place...). see if a local can find monaco. (or bhutan)

most cannot even tell me a history of this state (Texas). i know more about Texas history, and I haven't even been taught about texas, than the average texan. I was the only one in highschool govt. (in Texas), who could name every state in the US (I could have named the neighbouring canadian provinces as a bonus (british columbia, Alberta, saskatchwan(sorry If I misspelled), manitoba, ontario, quebec, newfoundland..etc. I even passed a credit exam-ridiculously easy (long though).. found out most can't make a 90% if they're lives depended on it. that was the passing grade mind ye (I made a 98 in both credit exams for history, a 94 and a 93 for 2 geography exams)

and why does everyone here pronunce Iraq as I-rack? sounds like something you say when you want to torture someone...

so ends my diatribe...you are all lucky I haven't discussed dinosaurs...

EDIT: VERY LUCKY!

[Aemilius Paulus]

An American asked me if the Germans won WWI (8th grade - still somewhat forgivable, considering that many schools do not teach World History until high school).

It's not history, but it is social studies, particularly geography: another American (adult) asked me how long it took to drive from Florida to Russia.

A 10th grader inquired whether humans still lived in caves and were essentially in a Stone Age in 500 BC. What one has to take into account is that I go to a special (no, I am not a retard!) school that admits only students with outstanding academic and disciplinary record.

[General Appo]

girls run away, thinking I'lll cage them, or whip them or something.

I don´t think that has anything with your heritage to do.....

no, I am not a retard!

Objection!

[Tellos Athenaios]

I don't know anyone who can tell me when the first world war took place (the closest anyone has gotten was 1915-1919, only one year off). No one could name a general other than Pershing in that war.

Well, as far as diplomacy goes... that is damn spot on.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Questions for you: the negotiations started 48 years (to the day) after which important proclamation, incidentally made in the same p(a)lace where the Peace between Germany and the Allied Powers was signed? And: what had happend 5 years (to the day) *before* that particular peace treaty was signed?

[Tristuskhan]

Proclamation of the Second Reich, Versailles, Sarajevo's murder 1914. Maybe I'm wrong though, I did not check before answering.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Well thechnically, it was Franz Ferdinand who got murdered; not Sarejevo. Otherwise: 100% correct.

[Tristuskhan]

Well thechnically, it was Franz Ferdinand who got murdered; not Sarejevo. Otherwise: 100% correct.

Benefit of being french over 30, probably: history lessons were rather serious when I was a schoolboy.

Standarts went down fast since then.

[HunGeneral]

Well reading all this gave me many Ideas about what my me and friends used to think but I don't we were that horrible..

I think "knowledge" itself can also be influenced by the culture and Country or even Area you come from. I don't mean to say that peoples intellect is fully determined by the place they live in or were born. (there are more and less Intelligent people all over the World)

Like one of the teachers I know used to say: a given society has it's own values and information it considers important - like Middle or East- Europeans hold Geography and History as something one must know about (it helps them determine who they are and what there Origin is).

While others hold other kind of Information for important. He recalled that one of his Students from the USA wasn't sure in wich century the Reformation began - but that does not make him a retard. It's just that in the States not all people hold History as an overall important subject. (I don't mean to insult anyone from the US since I know there are many among them as well who are very interrested in History - as far as I know they mostly learn only there own History after the Discovery of America - sorry again if I'm wrong).

[Ibrahim]

[QUOTE=General Appo;2025554]I don´t think that has anything with your heritage to do.....

really? then why the heck does their attitude change when i tell them i'm of Ara heritage, palestinian too? bear in mind, I do ok with those who do not know.

I'm telling you, poeple here are racist to arabs.

[Onehandstan]

I have to say that before I downloaded EB (about 5 months ago now) I knew nearly nothing of the celts, the Greeks or the near east but EB has sparked an interest that I have never experienced for anything before. Thank you EB team( have a balloon). Anyway back on topic I discovered that my Dad had never heard of Arche Seleukia until I pointed it out to him in Encyclopedia Brittanica but then he still wouldn't believe me about most of the stuff I told him.

[General Appo]

Anyway back on topic I discovered that my Dad had never heard of Arche Seleukia until I pointed it out to him in Encyclopedia Brittanica but then he still wouldn't believe me about most of the stuff I told him.

I do not believe I have meet a single person who knows of the Arche Seleukeia in my entire life. Well, possible some history teacher, but I must admit I a doubtful of it.

[HunGeneral]

I do not believe I have meet a single person who knows of the Arche Seleukeia in my entire life. Well, possible some history teacher, but I must admit I a doubtful of it.

I can say (almost) the same. True some people I know remembered the name (as Seleucid Empire) from their History Studies were it was mentioned as a Successor state. But I'm sure they heard more of some Cleopatra than Ptolemaios or Seleucus. One of my History Teachers also knew alot about them - I could thank him alot since he was the one who started my interrest for Ancient History

[Zradha Pahlavan]

Most people don't know anything about the Persians other than that they lost a battle to the Spartans.
Most people don't know anything about the Egyptians other than that they had pharaohs and mummies.
Most people don't know where the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" comes from.
Most people don't know that the Chinese used primitive rockets in warfare during the middle ages.
And many people don't know that Russia was an ally of the United States in World War 2.

[General Appo]

And many people don't know that Russia was an ally of the United States in World War 2.

Now that is just upsettingly retarded and disturbingly ignorant.

[tls5669]

Most people don't know anything about the Persians other than that they lost a battle to the Spartans.
Most people don't know anything about the Egyptians other than that they had pharaohs and mummies.
Most people don't know where the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" comes from.
Most people don't know that the Chinese used primitive rockets in warfare during the middle ages.
And many people don't know that Russia was an ally of the United States in World War 2.

And many people don't know that Russia was an ally of the United States in World War 2.

World War 1 also.


And something Ive thought a lot about. There were a lot of early American civilizations, Mayans, Aztecs, Incans, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Olmecs, and Anastazi to name a few. They never really came out of the stone age, but they were as old as "Western" civilizations.


Ive always wondered why? When the Spaniards Invaded S. America and Mexico, what if those civs were in the bronze or iron age? Even in N. America in the 15th century, they were still in the stone age, 4500 years or so after the Sumerians came out of the stone age.

[Rodrico Stak]

I do not believe I have meet a single person who knows of the Arche Seleukeia in my entire life. Well, possible some history teacher, but I must admit I a doubtful of it.

Same here. When I was looking for a book on the Seleucid Empire (which I didn't find except online - not even my local community college library had one, and certainly my high school library doesn't), I eventually had to explain what exactly I was looking for, which then lead me to have to explain what the Arche Seleukia was, and nobody understood - few even knew that there was any history between Alexander the Great and Rome.

[Cullhwch]

World War 1 also.

That's.... complicated. Suffice it to say, the US was not allied with the Tsarist regime, and Kerensky's offensive petered out way too quickly for the Russians to be a major contributor to the Allies after the initial revolution. The United States severed diplomatic ties after the Bolsheviks took over. So the US was allied with Russia for about half a year.

[tls5669]

That's.... complicated. Suffice it to say, the US was not allied with the Tsarist regime, and Kerensky's offensive petered out way too quickly for the Russians to be a major contributor to the Allies after the initial revolution. The United States severed diplomatic ties after the Bolsheviks took over. So the US was allied with Russia for about half a year.

Russia was an "Ally" for all intense and purposes as in.


Allies

U.S
U.K
France
Russia
Italy
Japan
And associated empires



Central Powers

Germany
Austria-Hungary
Ottoman Empire
And associated empires

[||Lz3||]

Ive always wondered why? When the Spaniards Invaded S. America and Mexico, what if those civs were in the bronze or iron age? Even in N. America in the 15th century, they were still in the stone age, 4500 years or so after the Sumerians came out of the stone age.

But exceptional civilizations (tenochtitlan [Aztec capital] for example... the biggest city in the world with a population of 250'000, and with a fully operative aqueduct. If they had had somewhat less antiquated warfare tactics and if all the other towns and villages around them had not hated them so much… the Spaniards would have gotten their asses kicked. Iron weapons were important… but not the ONLY factor that caused the fall of the Aztec empire.

[Cbvani]

But exceptional civilizations (tenochtitlan [Aztec capital] for example... the biggest city in the world with a population of 250'000, and with a fully operative aqueduct. If they had had somewhat less antiquated warfare tactics and if all the other towns and villages around them had not hated them so much… the Spaniards would have gotten their asses kicked. Iron weapons were important… but not the ONLY factor that caused the fall of the Aztec empire.

Germs. Smallpox. Those killed native americans on both continents far more than a sword or bullet.

[Cullhwch]

Yeah, but the Spaniards' apparent invincibility (their armor was damn near impervious to anything short of bullets) WAS a major factor in their perceived godhood. If the Spaniards had been less well-armored, the initial battles against their future allies would have been disastrous. Had they been killed, the catalyst for the anti-Aztec revolt would have been extinguished.

[APX]

I have had a girl in history class claim that the Mayans could not have had slaves because there were no blacks in South America...

[penguinking]

I have had a girl in history class claim that the Mayans could not have had slaves because there were no blacks in South America...

How awful.

[keravnos]

I have had a girl in history class claim that the Mayans could not have had slaves because there were no blacks in South America...

Show her this, then.
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/collec..._art/55.14.php

[HunGeneral]

But exceptional civilizations (tenochtitlan [Aztec capital] for example... the biggest city in the world with a population of 250'000, and with a fully operative aqueduct. If they had had somewhat less antiquated warfare tactics and if all the other towns and villages around them had not hated them so much… the Spaniards would have gotten their asses kicked. Iron weapons were important… but not the ONLY factor that caused the fall of the Aztec empire.

Thats true. Like sad earlier by Cbvani germs and Smalpox surely decimetad the native Amercans.

About why they didn't make Iron weapons I heard of theories that clam it also had Geograpical reasons - since the american continent is somewhat divided by different climatical zones use of Animals and technologies could only spread at a slower rate if at all.(use of metals agriculture, keeping livestock and other Animals and writing didn't form in Europe but rather in the Middle east and later spread in Eurasia where it was perfected) Beside they believed obsidian to be effective enough so they didn't look for new Materials.

Tha fact that the natives weren't united against the "conquerers" also had an inpact - some sorcues mention that by the Time the Incas rebelled every Conquiztador was protected by 2-3 warriors from Native tribes allied to them.

[Dutchhoplite]

And i thought the Dutch educational system was abysmal ;)

Well, it's abysmal! I can only shake my head when i hear that would-be teachers are not able to spell or read properly

I always get the impression that historical education is purposefully neglected in Holland. The reason?? I actually don't know but i have the impression (again!) that a lot of Dutch politicians think that historical awareness could lead to unwanted nationalism.

[Zeibek]

Tha fact that the natives weren't united against the "conquerers" also had an inpact - some sorcues mention that by the Time the Incas rebelled every Conquiztador was protected by 2-3 warriors from Native tribes allied to them.

Not only that, but in the case of the Spanish conquest of Mexico Cortez and his men where by no means alone; the auxiliary troops they were able to muster from local Aztec vassal states (most notably Tlaxcalteca, which was allowed to remain independent so that they could be used in the flower wars) numbered in the thousands at first, and later on in their tens of thousands. Superior weaponry and protection did help the Spaniards, but the army of dissenting natives shouldn't be forgotten either.

As regarding to whether or not the Aztecs regarded Cortez and his lot divine has been questioned, or at least whether or not Montecuhzoma and his court bought it. I remember reading somewhere that an expedition of Spaniards in the Yucatan peninsula was told to go away because the Maya calendaer prophesized their arrival to be years later (this statement seems quite extraordinary so I'll try to source it). At least in the case of the Maya the Spaniards were seen as a tool for native political machinations rather than Gods.

[tls5669]

Thats true. Like sad earlier by Cbvani germs and Smalpox surely decimetad the native Amercans.

About why they didn't make Iron weapons I heard of theories that clam it also had Geograpical reasons - since the american continent is somewhat divided by different climatical zones use of Animals and technologies could only spread at a slower rate if at all.(use of metals agriculture, keeping livestock and other Animals and writing didn't form in Europe but rather in the Middle east and later spread in Eurasia where it was perfected) Beside they believed obsidian to be effective enough so they didn't look for new Materials.

Tha fact that the natives weren't united against the "conquerers" also had an inpact - some sorcues mention that by the Time the Incas rebelled every Conquiztador was protected by 2-3 warriors from Native tribes allied to them.

Men have always looked for ways to better their technologies, thats why we went from the stone age, to bronze age, to iron age, etc. I believe the downfall of some of those civs is human sacrifice, as in the POWs were sacrificed, it turned a lot of subjugated people against them.

And it still doesnt explain the "American" cultures, there were no great cities there (there were probably about 300,000 in mixed tribes), but yet they never advanced, past the stone age. I do believe the bow was a superior weapon to early firearms, it could fire faster and farther, but the arrowheads were still stone.

Their primary melee weapon was the tomahawk with a stone head, if they had just advanced to the bronze age, things would have been different.