8"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."
Should we pay more attention to the chief historical individual than the groups of people? Is it a reasonable way to study the history? Of course, the groups of people are the main strength which pushes the history to develop forward, and the chief individual is the light on the road, leading the main strength to achieve the goal, for which we should study both of them and definitely draw more attention on individuals.
Necessary through discovering the folk in the specific history period, can we have a general view of that era. After all, the people of the relevant event embodied the specific feature of that society because daily life of groups people can reflect the characteristic of the culture and trends of the society as well as the policy. The all factors of the back ground that through the study of traditional people can tell today’s people that what composed the particular stage for the history's development. For instance, the great navigations and the ages which is in the late 15th century and the early 16th century, caused by the back ground of navigation exploration. Without the technology’s development especially the improvement of the navigate technology and the popular tends of the exploring about the mysterious east, there would not exist this special age in the history and, no doubt, the discovery of the new continent which would even affect the whole advance direction of the history.
But if we draw too much attention to groups of people which led to ignoring some other factors of the developmental path of the history, it will probable cause the study stuck in some questions. Although the study of people is indispensable, we cannot just stare at those. Because during the study of a long term history, you will amazedly find that there are so many period that has the similar, if not the same, background but the result of the event is totally different. What is the reason caused that? We can't explain it only with method above and what we should do is to extend our sight.
Not only through the study of groups of people, but also through the analysis of the main character in the particular era can we have a clearly realization history. Since individuals had the special personal character and ability as well as the charisma which is the unique symbol used to distinguish them from the folk and the reason why it is he or she who can affect the history, with their leadership and the ability of motivating others, they can lead groups of people, the main strength, and light up the way forward and, finally, achieve their goal. For example, the 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was a central figure of the 20th century during the time of the worldwide economy crisis and the Word War II, just achieved his goal with his special advantage and capability. Without his iron will, he could not struggle with the illness and finally triumph over the disease and return to the political stage. Without his indomitable optimism and the excellent speech ability, he could not lead the American individuals to regain their confidence and get through the difficult. That is importance of the chief individual whose character and capability can affect the history.
Without the study of groups of people, the main strength, which reflects the background of that special era, we cannot understand the history since the history wasn't written by few individuals. Without a detailed awareness of the few individuals, the study seems useless because what the few individual to the development of the history is just like what the rudder to the ship. It is necessary to emphasis the importance of the few individuals and drawing more attention on them.
发表于 2009-7-20 11:27:54
签到领寄托币
GO
转发
