Historical annoyances.

Oh... I think I mixed up readings

Originally posted by Cywr im not too sure what your saying but hitler refuse to shake Jessie Owen's hands after winning a couple gold medals when one of his advisers suggested he do so...hitler was reported to say "you expect me to shake hands with a negro?" No, Hitler only shook people's hands on the first day, after that, he just sat in the stand with the crowd, practicing his stiff wave. He did wave at Jessie, and smiled at him, but didn't specificly refuse to shake his hand, as he wasn't shaking anyone's hand that day. Upon returning to the US after the Olympics, he was however snubbed by Roosevelt. Jessie Owens' autobigraphy should be proof enough. Its one of those things that started as popular myth, but has began to seep into the classrooms of late. Hitler did refuse to shake hands with some non-Germans on the first day, but Jessie Owens was not amoungst them.

where did you get this information from? because i have read and listened from numerous sources that it was otherwise, and Hitler did refuse to shake hands with Owens after the 100m race and that he stormed out in frustration.

but im not disputing what you say Roosevelt said nor the first day hand shake bussiness.

Originally posted by Cywr That Athens was more of an oligarchy of the elite than a modern represenative democracy is hardly controversial. They did however, have a form of direct democracy in place, where by the voters (only males of a certain status) could vote directly on decisions, as opposed to just voting for suits, which makes them in that little niche, more democratic than many modern democracies. Still, the Swiss do it better.

I said the same thing in a history paper; the Dutch also did a pretty good job when it came to running a country without a king.  My impression is that other Europeans didn't want to follow the Swiss and Dutch examples because they noted that both countries have unusual geography, and figured that democracy wouldn't work elsewhere for that reason.  Instead they waited until England tried it, followed by the United States and France.

Originally posted by Zulufrog Wrageowrapper, what exactly did alexander the great do to be a real arse whole. i know that later on in his campaigns through persia he began to become more 'persian' by wearing their kind of gouns, and adopting their kind of culture whilst neglecting that of his own...also the ordering the raising of Persepolis to his soldiers when they went on looting and raping sprees...but is there more?

There certainly is.  Besides the destruction of Persepolis, a lot of people got killed everywhere he went, especially those close to him, like Cleitus and Parmenion.  And you may have heard how he crucified the physician who failed to cure his best friend, Hephaestion, when he drank himself to death.

Have you read "Carnage and Culture" by Victor Davis Hanson?  At the end of the chapter on Arbela/Gaugamela, he suggests that Alexander had a lot more in common with Adolf Hitler than we'd like to admit; the main difference between them is that Alexander never lost a battle.  If Alexander had been killed at the Granicus or Issus, or if Hitler had succeeded in destroying the Soviet Union at Stalingrad, wouldn't we look at both characters very differently today?

I've heard that book is a load of crap.

Originally posted by Cywr I've heard that book is a load of crap.

It depends on your point of view. It certainly does not pass unnoticed. One should remember that Hanson is a conservative and tends to make modern day projections of history. If you go past that, his books makes both an interesting read and a point of refference plus his theories are well founded.

I would suggest you to read it Cywr. It is certainly something that Classicists would approve and history-revisionists would burn.

 

Edited by Yiannis

Originally posted by Cywr   intentionaly ignores anything that  doesn't fit with his ideas.

That's common practice amongst most historians  They stick stubbornly to their opinions.

Seriously now, not that much as you may think. I'll insist on you reading the book and then comment...

and gypsies

well, Jesus IS (or rather was) white - if he ever existed that is...Semites are still Caucasian

[/quote]Washington had wooden teeth (they were hippopotamus ivory)[/quote]

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American soldiers during American Revolution had shiny blue clothes

George Washington was horseback with his good looking cloth during the entire revolution.