Ancient History vs Medieval History

[Estro Felino]

Well...I think that each nation values its own history, and for example, in the perspective of Italian or Greek people, the world "ancient" evokes a beautiful, glorious past, while the word medieval has a very negative connotation.
I still use the word medieval as synonym of backward, uncivilized...because after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire my country was restlessly invaded by foreign peoples, and Catholicism and the Papacy literally barbarized the city of Rome, by destroying temples, palaces, statues.


I understand that certain nations flourished and created their own identity during the Middle Ages...like Britain, Germany...so maybe they like all that is Medieval...the castles, the swords, the duels..and Game of Thrones...llol...

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Well...I think that each nation values its own history, and for example, in the perspective of Italian or Greek people, the world "ancient" evokes a beautiful, glorious past, while the world medieval has a very negative connotation.
I still use the word medieval as synonym of backward, uncivilized...because after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire my country was restlessly invaded by foreign peoples, and Catholicism and the Papacy literally barbarized the city of Rome, by destroying temples, palaces.

I understand that certain nations flourished and created their own identity during the Middle Ages...like Britain, Germany...so maybe they like all that is Medieval...the castles, the swords, the duels..and Game of Thrones...llol...

You might have a different view if you lived in the New World.
We commonly focus more effort on the history of other nations than our own.
Not to suggest that is necessarily bad, since I independently do exactly the same thing. But there it is.

 

[Estro Felino]

You might have a different view if you lived in the New World.
We commonly focus more effort on the history of other nations than our own.
Not to suggest that is necessarily bad, since I independently do exactly the same thing. But there it is.

Lol...in high school, students here are supposed to study Greek History and Roman History very thoroughly (meaning you have to know the Peloponnesian War in detail and all Roman emperors by heart)
I remember we didn't study almost anything about Middle Ages...I hardly know what Crusades really are

 

[Polymath257]

I tend to either ancient or modern era, although I do like the lead up to the scientific revolution after the translation movement in Europe.

I also notice your time scale is biased strongly to European history. Why else would the fall of Rome, Columbus and the French Revolution be demarcation lines?

 

[Stevicus]

Well...I think that each nation values its own history, and for example, in the perspective of Italian or Greek people, the world "ancient" evokes a beautiful, glorious past, while the world medieval has a very negative connotation.
I still use the word medieval as synonym of backward, uncivilized...because after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire my country was restlessly invaded by foreign peoples, and Catholicism and the Papacy literally barbarized the city of Rome, by destroying temples, palaces.

I understand that certain nations flourished and created their own identity during the Middle Ages...like Britain, Germany...so maybe they like all that is Medieval...the castles, the swords, the duels..and Game of Thrones...llol...

I suppose I've generally been more interested in the history from 1789 to the present - if these are the choices presented. However, I still like other periods in history, too.

I remember as a kid, we were generally taught the basics of American history first. Some of it was a bit of a whitewash, a bit more "old school" than how U.S. history might be taught nowadays. I actually believed the story about George Washington and the Cherry Tree. A lot of folklore and legend tends to get mixed in with historical facts.

I've studied bits and pieces of Roman history, although it's quite lengthy and complicated.

Medieval history can also be a bit daunting, at least in terms of trying to define it and characterize it. I don't know if I'd call it backward, but it was developing. Both the Western and Eastern Roman Empires were invaded.

I've found Russian history to be rather fascinating.

I think a lot of U.S. history has also been geared more from a military history point of view, or at least that's what many history buffs seem to take a keen interest in. Americans find something noble in the image of the Revolutionary War soldier, somewhat as knights with swords in medieval times.

There are still a lot of people who like to re-enact the famous Revolutionary War and Civil War battles. And they're pretty serious about their history. I remember reading about one guy who was in the middle of Pickett's Charge and answered his cellphone. The other re-enactors did not like that at all.

 

[Augustus]

I like Late Antiquity, which should appear on your timeline between ancient and medieval 3rd-8th C.

I also like ancient history, medieval, modern and contemporary history though

Not sure my likes easily fit into one of those eras, as I'll read about anything that seems interesting. Some of my favourites though:

5th-9thC in the 'Middle East', Roman Empire, religion in medieval Europe, the illiberal products of the Enlightenment (French Revolution to 20th C totalitarianisms), WW2.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Interesting that most have gone for the earliest period - for me it is where more is to be learnt about our past, but perhaps multiple votes should have been allowed since I am interested in all?

 

[Terese]

I picked all I did Modern and Ancient history at school.

 

[sayak83]

Well...I think that each nation values its own history, and for example, in the perspective of Italian or Greek people, the world "ancient" evokes a beautiful, glorious past, while the word medieval has a very negative connotation.
I still use the word medieval as synonym of backward, uncivilized...because after the Fall of the Western Roman Empire my country was restlessly invaded by foreign peoples, and Catholicism and the Papacy literally barbarized the city of Rome, by destroying temples, palaces, statues.


I understand that certain nations flourished and created their own identity during the Middle Ages...like Britain, Germany...so maybe they like all that is Medieval...the castles, the swords, the duels..and Game of Thrones...llol...

In India ancient history ends in 1200 CE with Islamic conquest of North India leading to large scale changes in Indian culture and society.
So for us,
Ancient 1000 BCE - 1200 CE
Medieval 1200 CE - 1800 CE (collapse of the Mughals and start of British colonial period)
Modern 1800 CE to present.

 

[Estro Felino]

In India ancient history ends in 1200 CE with Islamic conquest of North India leading to large scale changes in Indian culture and society.
So for us,
Ancient 1000 BCE - 1200 CE
Medieval 1200 CE - 1800 CE (collapse of the Mughals and start of British colonial period)
Modern 1800 CE to present.

India is so rich in history...that's interesting

 

[Twilight Hue]

I liked primitive history and tribal documentaries.

 

[Valjean]

I'm not particular. It's all fascinating

Currently auditing a CD course on the French revolution and Napoleonic Age.
Have three other courses lined up: High Middle Ages, Late Middle Ages and Ancient Greece.

Recommended: Online Courses & Lectures for Home Study and Lifelong Learning

 

[Augustus]

There are a few free history courses here

Courses | Open Yale Courses

 

[Estro Felino]

I also notice your time scale is biased strongly to European history. Why else would the fall of Rome, Columbus and the French Revolution be demarcation lines?

If you want to suggest an alternative periodization...that's what this thread is for