It is true that the most significant events and trends in history were made possible by groups of people, but it doesn't follow that the study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. History is created not only by the ordinary people but also by the famous few.
On one hand, it is obvious that history is pushed forward by groups of people as their wills. A very famous example can be the end of the Civil War. The United States used to separate in two parts, the northern part and the southern part, which hold different opinions to slavery. The northern part intended to abolish slavery, while the rich, also slave owners, in the south stuck to it. It was a hard and long lasting war, which lasted 60 years. The final victory of the north was apparently not only the effort of the famous few, such as the generals or the political leaders, but also achieved by tens of thousands of nameless soldiers and other ordinary people who against slavery! Without their strong wills and reward less sacrifices, there wouldn't exist the United States whose principles are freedom, equality, and democracy. So, groups of people are sources of power that push history forward.
On the other hand, although groups of people can determine the history trend to a great extend, history still can be alternated accidentally by some individuals. We all remember that painful history of the Second World War. Although that was a time without game rules, the happening of that war was not what most people wanted. The war happened mostly related to very few crazy person who were powerful, such as Aldof Hitler. See? That is a good example shows how greatly individuals can influence the events and trends in history. By the same token, can we say we have pay too much emphasis on the famous few such as Mao Tse-tung? Apparently, the answer is no !
From what has been discussed above, we may easily draw a conclusion that even though the most significant events and trends in history were made by groups of people, we still can't pay too much emphasis on individuals. Only when we have pay enough attention to both of them, can we better analyze the past and cast our nets forward.
[ Last edited by Chloroplast923 on 2005-7-18 at 18:35 ]作者: 逗逗 时间: 2005-7-18 19:33:57