What events in history that had remarkable effects over its flow get ignored, and more importantly why?

@phoebusg “burning of the library of Alexandria”

Are there any surviving examples from the Library of Alexandria at all, or even ruins where the structure once stood? Its description, to me, is of near mythical proportions, like the Colossus of Rhodes or the Tower of Babel. It’s hard to say whether or not it deserves anything more than a mention in the history books if we don’t know what kinds of thing human civilization lost in the library’s destruction.

The invention of stirrups and spurs in the early Middle Ages and their spread frpom Arabia to Europe apparently changed travel, and particularly warfare greatly and partially enabled the Crusades.

Napoleons failed campaign in the Caribbean that led to the Louisiana Purchase and the continued expansion of the US.

Pope Alexander VI’s “demarcation” line that split the new world between Portugal and Spain, essentially “accidentally” giving Spain complete control of the New World.

At least here in the States, the Norman conquest of England that essentially made it what it is today.

@tedd “At least here in the States, the Norman conquest of England that essentially made it what it is today.”

And I suppose, the rest of the Western world as well.

@chocolatechip every piece of writing of that era had a copy in that library. Originals and other copies in temples and libraries throughout. What was saved was what was chosen to be saved. My estimate is that we lost over 80% according to what I’ve read so far – of all the written works available there and in other libraries.

Judging from what was saved, and its value and content. It makes me want to mourn the loss of that 80%.

It seems to me that ignoring this event, or its effects may be consistent with the interests of the then powers and later generations that took over the thrones so to say. Mainly due to the grounding of a few religions, based on writings and ideas commonly found therein. But that’s my guess.

The post-Pearl Harbor internment of Japanese-Americans.

It didn’t change the world, but it has certainly been overlooked as a significant event in history. It is an example of the USA’s tendency to racially profile in times of uncertainty and jeopardized security.

The Great White Fleet.

Japan was greatly inspired by the fleet to build their own powerful navy… the same Navy they used to attack the US forty years later.

The destruction of Native Americans and the usurpal of their lands.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir

Given that populations are constantly being displaced and destroyed throughout human history, it doesn’t seem all that significant to me in that context, to be honest.

Though on its own, significant in the sense that it did influence the development Western world as we know it.

@chocolatechip Well I suppose so but then nothing is significant. I believe my example had a significant impact on American history, at least.

@chocolatechip Not significant??

The USA would be much different today if not for the near destruction of the Native American population and the total destruction of their lifestyle. In this respect, it has clearly had remarkable effects over the flow of American history. Additionally, it is not always acknowledged as being as significant as it was. In fact, you support this claim in your lack of support for it.

The first Chinese person who tried inoculation for smallpox. The name we have today is Edward Jenner, but there were others well before him who attempted vaccinations.

@Simone_De_Beauvoir @jfos I don’t disagree it had an impact on (North) American history, but in destroying Native American culture, British colonists were simply preserving their own. If the Native Americans were never there in the first place, would the US be that different than it is today, considering that much of its development was in the absence of any significant aboriginal influences?

I wonder how many of us realize how greatly every new invention, from the tiniest to the most grandiose, has affected the course of history. In communications it was the radio and telephone and heaven knows the Internet. In transportation, it was the car and airplane. In weaponry , it was gun powder and repeating rifles and the A and H bombs. In manufacturing, it was the assembly line and automation. And then there’s the computer, which is key to the operation of virtually everything in our society. And on and on. Nowadays, new discoveries in technology happen so quickly that it’s easy to take them for granted. We shouldn’t.

The Philippine–American War. Our textbooks glossed over this war, reducing it to a handful of paragraphs. I took a U.S. History course as a freshman at university and was appalled at the details we learned. We have a strong Filipino community where I live and not knowing what their country went through made me feel guilty.

@muppetish why use the whisper? And thank you for the comment, never knew that :)

@chocolatechip in destroying Native American culture, British colonists were simply preserving their own. This statement shows a lack of comprehension of the actual history of the dealings with many of the Nations of the people who were living here when the Europeans arrived. As an example the so-called Five Civilized Nations

@phoebusg Also consider the complete destruction of the written history and art of the Aztec and the Inca civilizations.

The zipper.

@YARNLADY

It was an simplification clearly, but thank you.

@YARNLADY

Though is there anything in particular about American/North American development you think was heavily influenced by Natives? Obviously there was an exchange of knowledge and technology. What else?

@chocolatechip Sadly, most of the social, scientific and philosophical developments that are/were unique to the Americas were lost. The natural developments in food, art and commerce were still evident for many decades after the invasion, but gradually became homogenized.

@YARNLADY

That being the case, what would be different about the Americas today without the influence of aboriginals, given that much of their culture was lost anyway?

@chocolatechip I think a better question is: what would be different about the Americas today with the influence of ‘aboriginals’?

@jfos I wonder if we would have a greater respect for our natural environment than we seem to?

@janbb I hope so. We shouldn’t need that to respect our planet, though…

@jfos Agreed, but we seem to need something!

Much of the American political process was formed by the colonists’ adaptations of the Five Nations to their own governing bodies.

“The form of governments of the ancient Germans and the modern Indians; in both, the existence of the three divisions of power is marked with a precision that excludes all controversy. The democratical branch, especially, is so determined, that the real sovereignty resided in the body of the people, and was exercised in the assembly of king, nobles, and commons together.” ~ John Adams

“It would be a very strange thing, if six Nations of ignorant savages [sic] should be capable of forming a Scheme for such a Union … and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies.” ~ Ben Franklin

@aprilsimnel thanks for the quotes

@aprilsimnel

Why did you have to make them so small…