Ask A Historian

[Dystopia]

Min do you predict that any new countries will be created as a result of economic and geo-political events like warfare and revolutions?

Also, what do you think will be the effect of globalization and the influence of international or transnational organizations on ourselves (Like the UN, the World Trade Organization, etc.) - Will national governments lose sovereignty in practise?

[Minimalist]

I don't know that it will be the result of economic issues so much as what seems to be a growing trend of "Everybody-Has-To-Be-Like-Me" in the world.  I call it a reversion to tribalism because there is no fucking reason at all for Sudan and South Sudan to be separate countries. 

Too soon to tell about globalization.  Right now it seems a decidedly negative trend.

[Dystopia]

What religion do you think had major impact on the world, society and culture?

[Minimalist]

The ones that have attained a measure of political power have always had a major impact...and always for the negative but you did not specify a "positive" impact.  The obvious culprits are xtianity and islam but the ritual sacrifices of the South American cultures...even allowing for Spanish exaggeration can hardly be claimed a positive impact either.  To quote Gibbon:

The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.

[Dystopia]

Well it did have positive impact at least for the rulers.

Who do you think was the most influential musician of the 20th century?

[Minimalist]

"Influential musician?"  Almost an oxymoron. Each generation seems to have an influential musician who is generally despised by previous generations. However, for making the concept of an "influential musician" possible I would credit ( or blame, depending on p-o-v)Thomas Edison for the invention of the phonograph.  He made Elvis possible.

[Pyrrho]

You seem to be forgetting your favorite type of music.  Do you think that Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven were not influential without the phonograph?

Your point, though, does make me rethink the value of being able to record music.  I like my collection of recordings, but the recording industry has also subjected me to quite a lot of noise over the years.  Noise that I otherwise would be blissfully unaware of having ever existed.

[Minimalist]

Influential in what way?  In the relatively small circle of professional musicians in Germany/Austria.  Yes.  But as cultural icons, which is what I think Dys was getting at?  Not really.  The whole concept of mass culture post dates them.

[Minimalist]

Amusing how these things turn up.  Obviously, I don't agree with the position taken by da Luz.

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/heres-wh...-waterloo/

It is the evening of June 18, 1815 and an exultant Napoleon Bonaparte surveys the field after winning the Battle of Waterloo, planning his next conquest.

Within years his empire will stretch as far as China, French will be spoken across the continent, and in the 20th century a global war between the great powers will be avoided because of the stability his rule created.

No.

[abaris]

Amusing how these things turn up.  Obviously, I don't agree with the position taken by da Luz.

I've heard far worse claims in my time. One of the most absurd one on the so called history channel about the Arminius battle in 9 AD. Some so called historian, whose name I have rightfully forgotten, put out the claim that if the Romans had won that battle, Hitler's third Reich would have never existed because of Roman civilization instead of Germanic tribal rule.

Nevermind the fact that large parts of what later made up Germany were in fact under Roman rule and nevermind that Rome itself had it's own brand of fascism that predates the German one by a decade.