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For example, when I was at school (which was not yesterday), the "history" lessons I received followed this schedule:-

1) Romans in Britain which covered the successful invasion of Britannia (England and Wales).

With absolutely no mention of the fact that there were no less than three unsuccesful invasions of Caledonia (Scotland) – the last by Septimus Severus.

2) The Norman Conquest - which never reached Scotland - Normans did but they were invited by King David and they came peacefully, not as conquerors.

3) Bannockburn - one of the few battles the English lost (Yes, that's how it was presented!). No mention of the the territorial ambitions of Edward Longshanks, the Rape of Berwick, the theft of the Stone of Destiny, the First War of Independence, the murder of Wallace, the Second War of Independence, the Treaty of Northampton, etcetera

4) Wars of the Roses – which had very little to do with Scotland...........

5) The Glorious Revolution - which was neither – it was nothing more than a corporate take-over by another power-hungry clique (Orange-Nassau instead of Stuart)

6) Culloden - where those rebellious Scots were exterminated. No discussion of the reasons behind any of the Jacobite Risings.

7) Trafalgar and Waterloo - NOT the Peninsular War - just those two battles and very little actual detail.

Indian Mutiny – just that it occurred, with due mention given to a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.

Relief of Mafeking – nothing about the background to any of the South African wars.

According to this schedule, history ended around 1900, neither the Stone Age or any other age happened, neither Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon or Australiopithecus existed. Greeks were an urban legend, and Keltoi never existed.

It's getting better, slowly, but it's getting better. Not before bloody time.

The American version :wah:

As I remember in high school, they jumped in with the Civil War and carried on from there, mostly hit and miss. I don't recall learning anything about other countries except for Germany and the Hitler mess. They also tried to teach us Arizona History by way of the Seven Cities of Cibola. We are smackdab full of Indians/Native Americans here and yet learned very little about them. I'd have to say the history I was taught left much to be desired.

So badly that I learnt no history whatsoever at school - I'm fascinated by the subject now in terms of cause and effect but learning dated and happenings had no meaning for me.

When I realised that sheep had more effect on British history than any army I found an interest that school had killed years before.

Chookie;822194 wrote: 1) Romans in BritainBloody hell - and Mary Whitehouse didn't scream blue murder?

spot;822335 wrote: Bloody hell - and Mary Whitehouse didn't scream blue murder?


Is she that old?

Chookie;822339 wrote: Is she that old?


She's a sprig compared to thee and me.

Here, this is from my Geography textbook. Not my Highers, you understand.

Attached files

spot;822369 wrote:

Here, this is from my Geography textbook. Not my Highers, you understand.


Yikes!

That is so resolutely and utterly...wrong!

Meanwhile, here in Canada, a Toronto city councillor has been vilified and forced to publicly apologise for referring to Asians as "Orientals", and for praising their work ethic by saying "they work like dogs".

Times have certainly changed.

How is history taught where you live?

After that horrible bit of bother south of the border in 1776, the good people fled to the panacea of British North America. (I can count my maternal ancestors amongst them.)

When those unruly Yankee upstarts came to raise hell in 1812, we sent 'em packing, and burned the domicile of their President for good measure.