Issue48 【四人行小组】第10次作业 小白

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The study of history is destined to be full of controversy. For instance, it is widely discussed that how much emphasis should be placed on groups of people and individuals in history study. In my point of view, not only groups of people but also famous individuals created the most significant events and trends in history. However, with the limitation of records and materials, it is reasonable for historians to study more about individuals.

The history is so complicated that no one could decide its trend and events on his own. In most cases, it seems that the big shots determine the global affairs while it is actually the mass that is the real motivation and innovation power of the history. 表达得真好 我想了半天也没确切表达出来The Storming of the Bastille in Paris in July, 14th 1789 changed the direction of history of France. It is the countless workers who created the history. The American Revolution ended the history of America as a colony and founded the United States of America. It is the numerous American people who resisted the British Empire, not only George Washington. The victory of The World War Two in the whole world created a new order in the earth and stopped the cruel killing of innocent people. It is every soldier who provided his braveness and perseverance to save the world from the Fascism. Their identities have long been forgotten by ordinary people but their contribution has not been forgotten by the history and will last forever. In summary, the history cannot proceed without the groups of people who actually join to move the world history.

On the other hand, however, the famous individuals can play a much more important role in the history of the world than the ordinary people thus their decision or behavior changes the history in many cases. Had the Napoleon not decided to invade the Russia, his empire would dominate the Europe for a longer time and the history book of the whole world should be rewritten. Had the Princip not assassinated the Archduke Franz-Ferdinand of Austria in the June, 1914, the World War One should not occur and millions of people would not lose their lives. Had the Franklin Roosevelt not conduct the New Deal to save the American economy, the people in the USA, even in the world, would suffered from the unemployment and lack of food for a longer time. All stories above indicate that the big shots or famous individuals can change the world in a more unexpected way therefore they are also responsible for the most significant events and trends in history, just like the groups of people.（似乎有点前后不一致，到底是一样还是更重要）

Since the impressive moments and trends are created by both the famous individuals and groups of people, it seems that the history should pay the same attention on the both. However, it is impossible. I believe that today the study of history places more, but not excessive, emphasis on study（individuals ）,but it has its reasons. The study of history is most based on the records in the past and materials left by ancient people; therefore it is almost impossible to write down every identity or name of the people in groups while the big shots' impressive minds and decisions are more likely to be memorized. Hence, the records available are limited and the historians are coerced to put more emphasis on individuals but not the groups of people in order to find out the process of history. In sum, it is reasonable that the study of history cares more about the individuals and, as a result, sets up outstanding role models for today's people to learn from.

The history is like a coin which is composed of the famous individuals and groups of people as its two sides. Overlooking either, the coin is not a coin again. However, with the limitation of records and materials which are written more about big shots, the study of history has to places more emphasis on famous individuals rather than groups of people.