eurocentric history

Eurocentric HistoryThe point of AP World History

The Theft of HistoryEurocentric history = the study of history from a

European perspectiveExamples: democracy, capitalism, freedom,

individualism, love (romantic love), urban family DID NOT appear first in 12th century Europe

The point: Bronze Age civilizations in Asia and Europe run along in roughly parallel lines, yet most of history teaches us that Europe is some how ahead of other groups.

Whose got the time?Problem one: colonial conquest

Expansion requires time-keeping and mapsLiteracy (first in Europe)Time is arbitrary (Europe = sidereal, Islam and

Buddhist = lunar)Length of week (China, Africa, US)Religion and timeClocks (tick tocks (clockwork) vs sundials, water

clocks, etc)

SpaceEvery one maps out their spaceReligion isn’t as strong as Time (Except Israel)Latitude and Longitude – one ancient, one made

upIslam – the center of the world? (map makers

prejudice)

PeriodizationDream time to modern dayEskimaux are one of the few societies that think

the world has always been as it is today.Christ vs Muhammad = exampleBC = Before Christ, AD= Anno Domini – In the

year of our lord

LanguageHistory was created with Europe in mindAntiquity and feudalism

ProgressWestern History = history is stages, each

pushing the next higherProgress = the values of our cultureProgress = growth in sciences, economics,

civilization, and human rights.Environmental?Spiritual?

Questions to PonderCan History only be viewed through stages? What are some other ways we can describe

history?What can we do about the problem of

Eurocentric History? (alternatively, CAN we do anything?)

SourcesThe Theft of History by Jack Goody provided

many of the ideas of this lecture. I highly recommend the book.