Stupid Americans ?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

mainly Maths but also earlier science and for a year West African History .

Would that go back as far as the Ghanaian, the Songhaian, the Kanem, and the Malian Empires? Or possibly even as far back as the Nok Cultures? Or is it more contemporary history?

Not enough of that in schools in Britain. Education is far too mainstream in most subjects, especially in History. It's all about World War II, Henry VIII and fleetingly the great ancient civilisations, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Unfortunately the Meso-American cultures - the Incas, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs - aren't even on syllabuses any more. But what gets me most is that nowadays in British schools, you don't even learn about British history. Its all intermittent - for example you might learn about the Roman occupation Britain and then suddenly jump forward 1500 years to the Wars of the Roses and then the Tudor Dynasty, and then skip another four centuries and learn about the travesty that people call World War I, where suspicious European powers all "slithered into war" as the great David Lloyd-George once said. How 90% of people don't even know who fought in the Great Wars, let alone what caused them, still baffles me.

Sorry, I went on a moral crusade there. I get uptight about the way History is taught because its essentially one of the biggest things in my life. I'm studying it at university for four years and I'm going to go into archaeology, so its pretty darned important if you ask me!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Not enough of that in schools in Britain. Education is far too mainstream in most subjects, especially in History. It's all about World War II, Henry VIII and fleetingly the great ancient civilisations, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Unfortunately the Meso-American cultures - the Incas, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs - aren't even on syllabuses any more. But what gets me most is that nowadays in British schools, you don't even learn about British history. Its all intermittent - for example you might learn about the Roman occupation Britain and then suddenly jump forward 1500 years to the Wars of the Roses and then the Tudor Dynasty, and then skip another four centuries and learn about the travesty that people call World War I, where suspicious European powers all "slithered into war" as the great David Lloyd-George once said. How 90% of people don't even know who fought in the Great Wars, let alone what caused them, still baffles me.

Sorry, I went on a moral crusade there. I get uptight about the way History is taught because its essentially one of the biggest things in my life. I'm studying it at university for four years and I'm going to go into archaeology, so its pretty darned important if you ask me!

I agree with this so much. I do history and love it, but it's so constrained to Bitish, American, Roman & Greek. Lost civilisations are becoming even more lost because they're not being taught, in 10years (or perhaps less) no-one will even remember the Aztecs of Toltecs.

A lot of ignorance about the subject too. If I had a penny for every time someone said "how can you find History interesting?" I'd be a millionaire. History is one the most fascinating subjects you can study.

[Madmax 9,219]

I always loved history in school. It was by far and wide my favourite subject. Truly fascinating.

[eldo 868]

Ancient Greece and Rome are much more important than Aztecs and . . .

[zolayes 14,489]

Would that go back as far as the Ghanaian, the Songhaian, the Kanem, and the Malian Empires? Or possibly even as far back as the Nok Cultures? Or is it more contemporary history?

Not enough of that in schools in Britain. Education is far too mainstream in most subjects, especially in History. It's all about World War II, Henry VIII and fleetingly the great ancient civilisations, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Unfortunately the Meso-American cultures - the Incas, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs - aren't even on syllabuses any more. But what gets me most is that nowadays in British schools, you don't even learn about British history. Its all intermittent - for example you might learn about the Roman occupation Britain and then suddenly jump forward 1500 years to the Wars of the Roses and then the Tudor Dynasty, and then skip another four centuries and learn about the travesty that people call World War I, where suspicious European powers all "slithered into war" as the great David Lloyd-George once said. How 90% of people don't even know who fought in the Great Wars, let alone what caused them, still baffles me.

Sorry, I went on a moral crusade there. I get uptight about the way History is taught because its essentially one of the biggest things in my life. I'm studying it at university for four years and I'm going to go into archaeology, so its pretty darned important if you ask me!

it was pre 20C...by training Im a Scientist and Mathematician but like you have a great love of history ...sadly African history isnt well documented pre colonisation ..

but I also spent 5 years In France and that is wonderful for studying medieval history .. Lived in Languedoc so became fascinated by the Cathars ,,,pity it ended so tragically

[Badboy 1,526]

mainly Maths but also earlier science and for a year West African History .

Cool western African history must of been interesting, did you tech your students about Timbuktu ?. Also if there is one trick to unlocking the endless muddle of maths what would it be in your view ?.

[Badboy 1,526]

Sorry zolayes you kind of answered the Timbuktu question i just did not see it.

[zolayes 14,489]

Cool western African history must of been interesting, did you tech your students about Timbuktu ?. Also if there is one trick to unlocking the endless muddle of maths what would it be in your view ?.

fall in love with numbers and the rest follows.

there were many great civilizations in West Africa ,,the most notable Benin and Mali but Timbukutu was a great centre of trade

[BlueLion. 21,491]

A lot of ignorance about the subject too. If I had a penny for every time someone said "how can you find History interesting?" I'd be a millionaire. History is one the most fascinating subjects you can study.

So, so true. Quite sad that so many people ask that question. To me, History is a cultural science - it is very much like Chemistry and Physics in the way in can explain why the past occurred, as well as how and when. Few other subjects can do the same.

Ancient Greece and Rome are much more important than Aztecs and . . .

Only from a Western European perspective. British culture is moreorless stemmed from the various nations to have invaded the country, and a large percentage of the British way of life comes from Italy. In turn, the Greeks inspired the Romans, and you'll find a lot of mutual ground between the ancient European civilisations and modern-day Britain, Spain, Portugal etc. But you look at the Meso-American cultures - the Incas, Toltecs, Mayans and Aztecs. Their influence is so long-lasting in Latin America, but are forgotten civilisations because of the European settlers bringing Christianity and Western European values to the Americas. In Pre-Columbus America, you'll have seen the Meso cultures were so incredibly dominant in the natives' way of life.

[Blue Rain 2]

^^ However, those who effectively "run" the world, view things from a western perspective.

[Madmax 9,219]

Too many people believe the world begins and ends with the West. Well, it doesn't :\