Why Western History Matters :: essays research papers

Critical Analysis for Why westbound narrative Matters by Donald KaganWhy horse opera History Matters is an essay adapted from a speech Donald Kagan delivered to the National Association of Scholars, and was reprinted in the December 28, 1994, issue of the circumvent Street Journal. Throughout Kagans essay, he describes the essential need for the college course, Western History. He does so by examining older cultures and explaining why they were quintessential to the quondam(prenominal) and to our future development as a golf-club. I strongly retain with Kagans standpoint of the necessity of history, and the realization of how exactly our flourishing society came about. History is a get word constituent in determining who we are for to determine who we are one must first know from because they came. In the words of George Santayana, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.Donald Kagan argues for the requisiteness of Western History by describing older c ultures, and then explaining how these older cultures became a key influence in what our society has become today. He examines the ancient Greek, Christian, and side of meat culture influences that helped form our country. Throughout his essay, his depth of historical research is kind of evident. He uses historical research of past cultures to imply the necessity of cognize where we, as Americans, came from. This approach helps establish the authors credibility, and makes his presentation more than plausible. The first ancient civilization that Kagan highlights is the Greek. He writes of their republic city-states, and pioneering of a governmental life come to be shared by a comparatively large portion of people. He uses the Greek culture as an influence of science and reason. The Greeks exposed everything they perceivednatural, human and divineto the meddlesome examination of reason. Finally he describes the Greek quest for virtue and morality. He uses these examples to show how similar our culture is to the Greek.Second, Kagan explains of the Christian influence on our society. With the polemic idea of Christianity, Philosophy led to the powerful divisive quarrels about the genius of God and other theological questions. The influence of Christianity established itself within commodious writers of American history, who helped shape our country. Such as John Locke, who influenced our countrys foundation with the idea of God given natural rights, life, liberty and property. solely of which define our personal freedom today.Finally, he discusses the influence of the English Revolution.