In British schools, why do we just learn about european history and not asian or middle eastern history?

Question

It's always the Holocaust but not the Palestine-Israel conflict or the Bangladesh Liberation War!

Answer 1

It's probably the same with other countries but a wider view of world history is always useful..
You are right about the Middle East. If people new the truth about the creation of modern Israel they would be more sympathetic to the Palestinians.

Answer 2

What could be more relevant than your own history? You must know about your own history before you can make an informed choice about how to react to what are commonly called current events. For history on the Palestine-Israel conflict just read the Bible. As for the Bangladesh Liberation War I don't want to know their history, just stop the killing.

Answer 3

Every nation has it's own bias, not least here in UK.

The history of the British people is one of conflict over many centuries.

In the 20th century we fought two major world wars in Europe and also in Asia.

There are some 200 battlefield sites here in England.

Go back a couple of hundred years to the beginning of the latter part of the 18th century and you'll find that Britain was engaged in a major war, not just against France, but the whole of Europe.

From the middle of the 18th century on, Britain was involved in war, first in the Americas, including the American Colonies, then in Canada to oust the French. Then out attention was turned to a major war in Europe - the Napoleonic wars.

There is one very famous Briton who understood the Arab world and who spoke many version of Arabic and Middle Eastern dialects and languages. Who? Lawrence, who else.

When Winston Churchill went to visit Lawrence at his house in Cairo in 1922 - when Lawrence came out into the street, all the Egyptians lay down on the ground before him. Winston said he had never seen anything like it ever. Not even a king is held in such honour by the people.


TE Lawrence - Lawrence of Arabia
Combined contents page for the Lawrence of Arabia Factfile, TE Lawrence Studies, and TE Lawrence Society websites, with links to other sites.
http://www.telawrence.info

There was a time in our history here in England when we were very much associated with the world of Islam. It is common knowledge among the coastal folk of England, that many of their ancestors went to live in Morocco. If you go there, you will come across many descendants of the English, with their blond hair and blue eyes.

Wm. Shakespeare and the Elizabethans knew a great deal about the Arab world and did much trade with it.

There is a Flemish word. blackamoor, introduced into English during the Elizabethan period. It tells you everything you want to know.

Sir Francis Drake spent his winter months on the Barbary Coast. The English and Arab plus Turkish fleets, destroyed the Spanish Armada in the Western Approaches.

Answer 4

Probably because Britain has considered itself head of the known world for many years. It may not have considered the importance of studying about other cultures on your level.

I'm sure later in school you will study other countries, and areas.

There are only so many days in the school curriculum, and so much social studies to study, they have to limit it somewhere.

I noticed you did not mention American History.

When you get to choose electives or projects maybe you should choose a topic like the Bangladesh Liberation War, if you really want to learn more about it. (Be careful to locate balanced sources.)

Answer 5

I live in America, obviously not in Europe and we don't really learn about Israel and other countries like that. Most of the things I know are because I constantly watch the History channel instead of reality TV. Most of the time we learn about things that happened in America or things like The French Revolution, The Silk Road, or the World Wars. I think its because most of the people of the world are ignorant when it comes to the history of other countries, or events unless they are international. I like history though, I think you have to like history to learn more. The average person doesn't know enough about events in other countries.

Answer 6

Because there is too much history to reach it all in any depth. So people get taught the history of the country they live in with branches out to other countries as it affects the main stream. For the British Indian history post partition and Palestinian history post occupation are less part of our history than their history in earlier times.

Answer 7

It's a good question, with a multi-ethnic society this question is far more relevent than ever. I suppose it has more to do with a relvancy to the locality, I can't see a Japanese school having a eurocentric history curriculum. However, I agree a broader base would be better. (Being Welsh, the entire Saxon, Viking and Norman history featured in the school curriculum just doesn't apply to our national history.)

Answer 8

European History has had a huge influence over the world as we know it today.

For example Chamberlains policy of appeasement and the Weimar Republic, could show how the Nazis came to power. WW2 had a drastic effect worldwide, influencing foreign policy, attitudes to was etc.

But different history departments may do different topics, depends on the teacher/ head of department.

Answer 9

My child lives in europe and there's enough european history to keep them learning for years so I am not interested in my kids learning about another cultures history until they need to.

But I suppose they could consider an opt in/out of that type of teaching as I realise others are interested.

Answer 10

There are many Authors who have written many articles about the sociology, anthropology and ethnology of the peoples of Africa. To bound them all into one collective grouping under African is probably not a good idea. Critical thinking is lacking here if you are to achieve a well balanced arguement which features and reflects facts and representations of both sides of your debate. A good well structured arguement should always be prepared to question itself. Research further my friend and you will find that your views will change and change several times to get you where you are wanting to go! At the moment you are in a state of chaotic euphoria which is not allowing you to perceive, observe and relate objectively to your subject matter. Chill!