How Much History Do You Know?

[Lon]

I love history, but the problem is, there is so much of it and it would take more than a lifetime to really cover it all. It bothers me to no end when interviewers stop people on the street and ask them simple questions like who is the current American Vice President, who was the first American President, what countries were involved in WW2, WW1. When was the American Civil War and who fought? Some of these basic questions can't be answered by many that are asked and young people seem to really flunk out. Doesn't speak well for our public school education does it, or people's interests.
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I consider myself pretty well up on American History and European History because I enjoy reading about it extensively. History does seem to repeat itself and there is much about todays happenings that can better be understood with a little knowledge of history. I would have loved to teach History on the university level assuming I was quqlified.

 

[hollydolly]

Well I wouldn't say I was an expert by any means but I hope I am aware of enough European and American History to be able to follow a historical debate with fairly clear understanding.. it's always embarrassing to watch those random street questions where the public give the most ridiculously stupid answers to basic Historic or Geographic questions .

 

[AZ Jim]

I always hate those interviews. I was told that most actually have the correct answers but the producers throw them out because they "are not funny".

 

[Ameriscot]

I enjoy learning about history, but my husband has been gobsmacked by how much I don't know about European history. I've picked up a lot since living here because I'm curious, as well as a lot more about world history, but there is a ton more to learn.

I love historical fiction that is well researched. Easier to absorb than academic history books. Love documentaries.

 

[Vivjen]

I love history...and do read a lot about it.
i love Geography too; and would have liked to study them further when I was young, but I couldn't do everything!

 

[Ameriscot]

I love history...and do read a lot about it.
i love Geography too; and would have liked to study them further when I was young, but I couldn't do everything!

I enjoy doing geography quizzes online. And I have a globe sitting next to my computer.

 

[Sunny]

I have never liked "history" much as a subject (though I could certainly answer most questions about current events). I've come to realize that what I don't like is the constant emphasis on wars, and facts about government. What I do find interesting is the details of everyday life in the past, and for that reason I do enjoy historical fiction.

 

[jujube]

To badly quote Santayana: I know that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. As for me, the time I made a D after receiving B's for the whole year was my only chance to "go down in history". I tried to explain it that way to my parents, but they weren't buying it.....

 

[Ameriscot]

I have never liked "history" much as a subject (though I could certainly answer most questions about current events). I've come to realize that what I don't like is the constant emphasis on wars, and facts about government. What I do find interesting is the details of everyday life in the past, and for that reason I do enjoy historical fiction.

I love learning about the cultures the most, with the history being a framework.

Which authors or time periods, Sunny?

 

[Ameriscot]

I had the MOST boring history teacher in high school - American history. And I had the same teacher for two years. Yawn. I was much older before I became interested in history.

Geography was 7th grade (age 12) and very boring. Also became interested later.

 

[Warrigal]

I pretty much avoided History and Geography at high school, taking three languages instead.
In a way I'm glad because I was not turned off and my husband is very interested in history.
Together we have read, visited places of historical interest and watched a lot of documentaries which have served to keep us interested and still learning.

I know a fair bit of the history of science, mathematics and technology because I taught in these areas and history is always part of the syllabus.

 

[Cookie]

I loved ancient history, like Egypt and Mesopotamia but I didn't like later world history. The teachers weren't very good and it seemed to be focused on dates and battles.

I'm more interested now, especially WWI and WWI but it is very very complicated and there is so much, that all I can do is have conversations with history buffs where I can ask questions and they can tell me what was going on.

 

[drifter]

I don't know enough.

 

[Butterfly]

I'm a history buff, especially the American Civil War and World War II. I had a wonderful history teacher in high school who made the Civil War come alive. His lectures were fascinating and I swear you got so sucked in you could smell the smoke and hear the guns.

I'm also, for some reason, fascinated by the sinking of the Titanic -- not so much the sinking itself, but the people who were on it.

 

[chic]

I love history and have loved it all my life. I read historical novels, watch PBS a lot, majored in art history in college and personally am a fan of anything to do with the American cival war.

If people don't know enough about history, teachers aren't making it interesting enough through visual media especially. A picture is worth a thousand words. Once a student is interested, they'll read more on the subject on their own.

 

[Ameriscot]

We had no choice in high school as American history was required for two years.

I am most interested in Celtic history as I enjoyed learning about my Irish roots. My bookshelves are filled with Celtic, Scottish and Irish history.

I'm also interested in the history of the American colonies and war of independence. My Scottish husband is interested in the American civil war. Thus, our Sept. trip to Gettysburg and New England. My sister is also interested in history in general so makes a good travel companion.

 

[Josiah]

Back in the 1950's Will and Ariel Durrant published an 11 volume series entitled The Story of Civilization which was an exceedingly readable history of everything. I got through two volumes and hoped to some day read it all, but I some how doubt that this item in my bucket list will ever be checked off.

 

[Ralphy1]

Unfortunately most of us concentrate on European and American history and this has allowed us to make the mistakes that we have made in the Middle East...

 

[Ameriscot]

Unfortunately most of us concentrate on European and American history and this has allowed us to make the mistakes that we have made in the Middle East...

Yes, too many are totally ignorant about their culture, their religion, their politics. Far too many presume that all are terrorists. Many call all of them Arabs when they are not - they like just one big, broad label. Many can't even define what an Arab is and won't even bother to just google it!