Welcomes and Introductions

Hello, I'm Alexander. My historical interests vary. Based on Oriental cultural history studies long behind me, I view Western history a bt different than most books tell it. There's a greater dependance between East and West than most folks ever realize (the Kelts of 500 B.C. in Middle Europe had Chinese silk!). And much of what people praise Greek philosophers for was tackled the same time in Gandhara/Indian regions and in China, too. Other interest are historical power games and social and economic aspects, family history (well, used to, at least), Regional history.

European History from the first available information through archaeological finds through the Reformation is my interest historically, including the Kelts - the most underrated group of people due to bad press from the Roman writers who conquered them. I like to cover all aspects of this part of history - linguistics, clothing, culture, religion, agriculture, migration and settlement patterns, trade and so on.

And my main interests are 20th century history, as well as Jewish history, but I'd like to broaden my knowledge.

I am specially focused on mediterranean history in the first century B.C. but am very curious about alternative explanations of everything in this timeline...

Wow, that sounds really interesting. Great that you're with us, Gi!

Thanks (bow):-) BTW, by alternative I mean "not the usual thing in school books", not "paranormal".

Alternative explainations are the stuff of Graduate Student Archaeologist's dreams - and of ours. Some of the histories are reapeated often enough that they are accepted as the only interpretion. Not always true. The very fact that it is His Story makes it subject to personal prejudice, no matter how careful the writer.

Absolutely. All written history is an interpretation - that is precisely what makes it interesting and fresh. Without the author's personality moving through what he/she writes, history would be nothing but cold facts, rendered meaningless through lack of response.

True...and if Gi wants paranormal(she didn't but she did mention the word) take a look in the ParaSpring conference...lots of goodies in there!

Thanks, Marcia, I know there is such a conference but haven't felt the attraction yet ;-) Re: alternative explanations. I just started to read an historical Thriller by one Steven Saylor, who has a background in History (U of Texas). At one point in the Author's Note he writes: "I should also acknowledge Arthur D. Kahn's The Education of Julius Caesar (...); the very title of his chapter "The Conspiracy of Cicero and Catilina" challenged me to turn every interpretation I encounterd inside out." For those of you less familiar with this portion of history, what is usually termed The Catilina Conspiracy was a plot by Catilina and his followers to overthrow the established power of the conservatives in the Roman Republic in 62 B.C.E. (:-) Marcia)whether by "legal" means if he managed to be elected consul (=top magistrate) or illegal if he didn't secure the election. Cicero was the acting consul that year, ferociously oposed to Catilina. We mostly know about the turmoil from Cicero's own words in very famous speeches he later published. So it is difficult to be sure about Catilina's personality and real desires and ambitions, and the whole thing is still under discussion. I am curious to see what Saylor makes of it.

Hi, guys! I might stop in occasionally, as I majored in History (European, post-1500) ;-D

Hello Karen. Do drop in and see what we have gotten ourselves into and be sure to post on occasion. It is very good to see you! (Did you notice that Valmont and Shakespeare in Love were being shown back to back on The Movie Channel today?)

OK, Gi...sending me off on my own Conspiracy Theory hunt to see what I can discover, too. Let us Know of Saylor's conclusions.

Don't have TMC, so don't pay any attention. And more importantly, have both tapes. *hee hee*

Me too...*hee hee hee*

hi people! history was not my best subject, so enlighten me with your education please!

see history 2 and history 3 in which I have put something substantive...

Good to see you here Karen! (Karen)...have both tapes. *hee hee* (Marcia)Me too...*hee hee hee* I don't have either *bwah wah wah* ;-)

Too sad! We cannot even lend ours to you...formatting and all that. Have you checked at reel.com for Valmont in your configuration? That is where I got mine.