A Brief Look At History
History has a way of making things seem much more complicated than they actually are. Whether it is the seemingly endless conflict and violence of history, or the seemingly never-ending quest for knowledge, history often forces us to think and act in certain ways. While it is difficult to avoid the influence of history upon us, the good news is that history is not permanent. With a little interest and effort you can learn about history, and use it to your advantage.
One of the most fascinating aspects of history is that it is often written in a language that we cannot read or understand. This is especially true of world history, which is often written in ancient languages that are unknown to us today. The work of such writers as Livy and Tacitus is invaluable, as are ancient Greek works like the Iliad and the Odyssey. Learning ancient history is an entertaining and fascinating way of seeing the past unfold before your eyes.
Ancient history is also one of the most turbulent periods in recorded history. For example, Alexander the Great’s conquering of the known world is marked by religious turmoil as his campaigns shatter the cities he conquers. Alexander’s collapse at the hands of the Persian leader Cyrus in 365 BC is marked by civil war and turmoil throughout the Mediterranean. For historians, these events are important points in the development of Western civilization, as they show how rulers and their military forces struggled against each other to gain control of their territories.
Not all history is negative. In the case of the Greeks and Romans, their massive volcanic eruptions are sometimes considered a miracle, causing their rise to greatness. The eruption of Mt. erupting into the Sea of Galilee is considered the largest disaster to befall mankind since the great super eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 1712.
Other periods of significant historical significance are those that are written in stone. Marble chess sets and Egyptian funerary pyramids are just two examples of objects created from stone. These structures from the Old Testament era depict a time that was marked by war and destruction, but also by peace and prosperity. They provide insight into the lives of people at this time. They can teach readers about the ways of the ancient world, how God’s people dealt with Egypt’s rulers, and how the Israelites came to occupy the Promised Land after suffering a series of defeats at the hands of neighboring nations.
History is not always pleasant. As we all must be aware, history is not always black and white, good and evil. This is especially true in history’s most tragic times. The only way to know for sure what happened in a particular time is to seek out written accounts or to make a personal voyage of exploration to learn about the world from the perspective of the past.