Zinn, Truth of Columbus

Danraj Singh

Late Roman 4:00- 5:15

August 28, 2013

Zinn

1. Based on my research, I was able to grasp the meaning of historiography. Historiography is the study of more of the study of what actually happened with factual information, information with backed sources, and no bias considering who won or pre-claimed notations, based on much scholar research. I believe it is a mind-blowing effect, when you study a certain topic and understand the different scholarly insight, resulting in you get a stronger understanding of the subject. The scholarly insight brings a better sense of point in view with the information, not only giving you all the details but gives you both sides of the story.

My opinion on whether history is an objection collection of “facts” is false. I believe that through scholar research information, history can be a collection of facts, but in many instances, the facts can but false and pulled a certain way in order to convey the “bigger picture”. As I read from “Columbus, The Indians, And Human Progress” I understand how research and history has its different views and different depictions of how an event in the past occurred. For example, from my prior knowledge of Columbus’s trip of finding “the Americas”, through my studies and understanding he was shown as a hero and has many dedicated a national holidays in a couple of the Americas countries. Recently I have found out the same information, but the details of him being a selfish, greedy, mass murderer were never given. As a result, history is the quest of being the objection collection of “facts”, but are truly not, as patriotic scholars may express their information differently. (271)

2. In Henry Kissinger words “History is the memory of states”. When he says this, his meaning is, for the events that occur in a nation-state, no matter what happened in the event (war, famine, debt, hunger) the end result is what really forms a nation-state, the memory that is left. Kissinger feels...