Kevin's Watch

History, there is so much of it to cover. I find myself captivated by many periods in time; and rather jaded when it comes to other periods. Personally I find ancient Egyptian, the American Civil War, British Empire and 20th century politics and wars give me an infinite amount of interest.

The Egyptians interest me because their culture, and beliefs are undeniably intriguing. I am studying the American Civil War at the moment in history; some revelations regarding the entire black civil rights movement and Abraham Lincoln gave the order to his high general to form a “Scorch earth policy” on the confederates. The British Empire for many reasons; I find it amazing that a small Island can form the largest empire this world has ever seen. The 20th century because more, I think, has happened to transform the world in these years than any other period of time; both politically and technologically.

So what are your favourite periods in time, and why? How have you gone about exercising your interest in that period?

European: I am a Rennaisance man myself. Also I am very enamored with the Old Celtic period.

As far as American history, I very intrigued by the pre-depression era of the 20's, as well as the early cold war (late 50's early 60's) era. Had I a time machine, I'd be hangin' out in Roswell with a camera!

I'm quite insterested in the Romans and greeks, i find them quite interesting to read about, the wars, the political intrigues (sp ) all good stuff.

I remember being very fond of the Vikings when i was younger aswell.

Warmark wrote:I'm quite insterested in the Romans and greeks, i find them quite interesting to read about, the wars, the political intrigues (sp ) all good stuff.

I remember being very fond of the Vikings when i was younger aswell.

Yopu wouldn't want to mess with the Vikings, dude. I saw something on the dark ages the other night, and the Vikings were frickin' ruthless. Don't get near 'em!

Paul: 1600 to 1604 in Prague...

Ancient near east. Mesopotamia from Sumeria through to Chaldaea, and later. Though I'm specifically interested in the mythology of those nations, the way the legends developed and altered and influenced later religions (Deluge being one of the best examples of this). So mythology in a historical/anthropological context, rather than history in the strict sense.

October 26, 1881.

The gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

The Islamic High Caliphate and the Pax Romana are in my opinion among the pinnacles of human civilization. I also like early American history (the age of the Founding Fathers up to Jackson) and our Civil War. My favorite, perhaps, is the Axial Age, wherein Socrates and Plato, Confucius, the Buddha, Zarathustra, and various Jewish prophets lived as rough contemporaries.

Roman, If you like Roman history read I Cluadius br Robert Graves.

SothuTheUnfetterdOne,

That is one of my favorite novels. It's fantastic.

have you read Claudius the god?

My favorite period is the same as Murrin stated above, along with Akhenaten's rule and the suprisingly advanced Indus Valley civilizations at Hanurrapa and Mohenjo Dara. Spain and Portugal in the 20th Century was another specialty of mine in college. I'll probably start a Spainish Civil War topic soon...

SothuTheUnfetterdOne,

I have. Almost as good.

I'm interested in most any period of history really.

In terms of early civilisations, I'm most interested in mythological/religious and social aspects.

Militarily, the Greeks and Romans, and later the British Empire's armies of the 1800's and the peninsular wars.

Always had a soft spot for the American civil war as well, and medieval Europe and North Africa.

--A

American Civil War
WWII

dlbpharmd wrote:American Civil War
WWII

More than any other periods in American history, these two absolutely fascinate me. I could easily see myself running to volunteer to fight in either war.

The War Between the States, to me, was the turning point in American history that led to the nanny government we have now. WWII was the last time we were truly united as a nation.

I think that the nature of society has changed drastically since then. Largely for the better I might add.

--A

dlbpharmd wrote:American Civil War
WWII

Agreed. And while not looking at any particular time period but Maritime history in general fascinates me. I think I must have been a sailor in a former life!

Cail wrote:

dlbpharmd wrote:American Civil War
WWII

More than any other periods in American history, these two absolutely fascinate me. I could easily see myself running to volunteer to fight in either war.

The War Between the States, to me, was the turning point in American history that led to the nanny government we have now. WWII was the last time we were truly united as a nation.

I always liked to play a "what if" game with the civil war. Say the South prevailed and won its "independence". given their lack of industrial infrastructure (iron, factories, etc.) and that the basis of their economy would be agricutural (cotton, foodstuffs)...eventually, they would have to find trading partners and establish long term commitments with such.

Would the N & S then be friendly to one another or would there always be some sort of animosity?

Would the S and the N be on the same side in WWI and WWII? Would the Communists get hold of the south as the southern economy would be weaker and perhaps more prone to the ideas of communism?

It is a fascinating thought.

I personally think that some sort of reintegration would have had ot have occurred. The South lacked infrastructure to maintian a robust economy, when compared to the North...which is why they lost in the first place really. You gotta have access to iron and the plants to produce it to win wars!

Menolly wrote:Paul: 1600 to 1604 in Prague...

Paul is here with me today. To expand:

Paul: Prague at the time was the only real cosmopolitan center in Europe. Under Emperor Rudolf II, Prague experienced an almost unparalleled explosion of artistic, literary, and philosophical fertility. At the same time, a temporary uneasy truce obtained among the various religious factions.

Into this atmosphere stepped my favorite historical figure, Johannes Kepler. During this four year period the young polymath would make use of the riches in his intellectual and social context to make more significant breakthroughs in the exact sciences than any man since Archimedes. In a brief Prague Spring, one of the greatest minds of the 17th century laid the foundations of optics and astrophysics, and dramatically furthered studies of the calendar, geometry, music, astrology, and pure mathematics.

It is difficult to say what would have happened had Rudolf's madness and extravagance not bankrupted the Imperial treasury at the same time as Turkish and Catholic forces began a new period of militarism, bringing down the curtain on the most marvelous spectacle in central Europe at the time. Nonetheless, this was the stage on which the birth of modern science took place.

(By the way, this viewpoint is terribly old fashioned, oversimplified, and hyperbolic by today's standards, for a practicing historian.)