History Nerds

[TheHighwaySong]

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes, I do like to go online and read about a few historical topics. Namely, the Armenian Genocide. Ever since I started listening to System of a Down, I've just been fascinated with the topic.

Are there any specific topics in history that just interest you and make you want to read more or learn more about them?

[Raxo]

I like to randomly look up stuff about the origins of hip hop music because I listen to so much of it.

I also enjoy reading a lot about psychology throughout history and it's discoveries.

I also do like learning about Nazis, the KKK, Black Panthers, and various cults.

[Crysis]

Yeh I'm a sucker for history. Got A* in GCSE and A at A-levels in it.
I look at global history, but focus more on European and Russian as the New World isn't really deep enough to be fully interested in tbh.:nerd: :facts:

[Ureshii]

My Grandfather gave me "A Road through Kurdistan" (http://http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1850436371/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top) (Original 1928 edition). He won at it Highschool when he was my age. Anyway ever since reading it I have been very interested in Kurdish History. I even got my school computer account suspended for going on the PKK website (Violent Kurdish Secessionist party). I'm also planning to go to Iraqi Kurdistan on my OE.

[jewishjosh]

Browsing Wikipedia is an awesome way to glean useless information about random topics that catch your interest. Russian history has interested me a lot the past few years but I don't really have the drive to teach myself about it.

A topic that I can't stand is the Holocaust. I'm tired of having it crammed down my throat. Yes it was bad, but shut up about it.

[John Travolta]

I'm a huge fan of nuclear weapons. I'll be on wikipedia and somehow always end up on a page about some nuclear bomb that was detonated years ago. I've read the WWII article on wiki about a hundred times as well, modern warfare interests me greatly.

I'll be on wikipedia for just hours and hours looking up useless history information and it's euphoria for me.

[HappyPalooza]

I'm a huge fan of nuclear weapons. I'll be on wikipedia and somehow always end up on a page about some nuclear bomb that was detonated years ago.

Yeah same here, not just nuclear weapons and the arms race, but the whole Cold War interests me. But I usually don't have the will power to look it up and just maintain my High School knowledge of it.

[The Fetus]

I AM A HISTORY NUT!

I love reading about it and discussing it.

--Vietnam War- I'm obsessed with it! I got into it about a year ago, and even before then it still fascinated me. It started sophomore year when we studied it in history. I used to gobble every single bit of information on the war that I could. Plus, my dad was a veteran who was there in 'sixty-nine through 'seventy. I try to meet vets all the time, and a LOT of homeless people are vets. 42% of all homeless males are Vietnam War veterans! It's not hard to bump into them in a big city where I live. It's an incredibly fascinating and interesting war to me. It seems more mysterious than all of America's other wars and is a lot less linear than WWII.

--Pol Pot's regime-Over 3 million Cambodians lost their lives during the late-late 'sixties and early 'eighties. Pol Pot was a Communist who's view's were more extreme and totalitarian. He took over by finding teenagers and started what was called the Khmer Rouge. Much of the country was in a struggle due to the Vietnam War. Cambodia and Vietnam are neighbors. Highly interesting if you're into history. And if you liked to look up stuff on the Holocaust, I advise researching this.

--Armenian Genocide-Yes, I too got it from System Of A Down. My mom was born in Turkey though. She's not Turkish at all by bloodline, but still makes me feel a little ashamed.

--American involvement in Central America and South America-If you thought we were preoccupied with the Soviet Union only in the 'eighties, you are dead wrong. American troops were sent into Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemela. Reagan of course did not make many comments. A lot of shit went down in Central America that the US doesn't seem to proud to talk about. The Dead Kennedys came up with the phrase "If you liked Vietnam... Then you'll love Nicaragua!" There was no real reason for any US troops to be there at all. Some argue it was all for oil. The only hard evidence brought on America taking oil from South America is in Chile.

--Ku Klux Klan-Racism--to me--is really, really funny. The KKK just seem like a rowdy bunch'a rednecks that are intolerant. Deeper research can show you just how much politics in America were involved in such an organization! Looking up the stuff about the KKK outside of high school history books will give you a surprise!

--Celtic/Gaelic History-I'm really into the history of the UK and Ireland. Medieval shit doesn't even interest me much, except for those two islands. My grandmother was from Ireland, and I hate talking about being Irish because of the fact that it's become a trend amongst young and old alike. It's sickening. Anyway, I know quite a bit more about Britain and Ireland that any other high school kid you'd see in the US.

--The British Empire-The British owned a LOT of land. Countless countries have been taken over by them and their colonial rule. Now, don't get the idea that I'm attacking Britain or anyone British or present day Britain, it's just the stuff that happened in the past. One could argue the British liberated many, and others'll tell you that they just wanted the world. Not that that happens now or I'm trying to offend anyone British. Think of it as me talking about Germany in WWI and WWII; it's just their history.

--Conspiracy type stuff in America-My dad's side of the family is really into the whole "conspiracy" thing. He's more into talking about how all politicians in America worship Satan and all that. However, that's not all he's told me about over the years I've been alive. He's the real reason I got so politically active and started researching other things myself.

[ramutara]

I like learning about Word War II, I don't know the exact reason. I also like learning about Anne Frank & anything that happened in 1900-1950 because I think that those years were really interesting & sometimes I wished I lived during that time. Also, "famous" photos that captured events in the past interest me & I never get tired of looking at them (I think there was a thread for famous photos a couple months ago).

[TangerineOrange]

I love history. I love learing about WWII, but only on the European front. I love learning about various genocides, such as the Cambodian genocide, the Rwandan genocide, what's going on in Sudan right now, etc etc. I love learning about Africa, I find it incredibly fascinating. I find Mayan history to be very interesting, too.

I read my old history textbooks for fun.

[Tweek]

History is my shit, yo.
I like to read more about the political side of things though, like political theory but that is just me.

But if I am reading exclusively about history I think East Asian and Russian history is pretty pimp.

[Casalen]

History is a pretty major thing for me, especially pre-1600. Everything works, though. I'd major in it just for the entertainment factor, but unfortunately that degree is only really helpful for history professors.

[Crysis]

Yeh politics & history are my big two.
Cold war and WW2 is always good. Crusades are pretty funny, in a way.
My favorite has to be colonial rule though. The Europeans and their Empires are so interesting, especially learning about the East India Trading Company. Its like, how can countries so small control so much? I'm not condoning what we did, but for a lot of it we were a force of modernization. Without Britain, America, Australia, South Africa, Canada and a hell of a lot of the other major world players wouldn't be what they are today.

[Cristo]

Browsing Wikipedia is an awesome way to glean useless information about random topics that catch your interest. Russian history has interested me a lot the past few years but I don't really have the drive to teach myself about it.


That's me too! Although I'm absolutely sick and fucking tired of Russian history, I've had it to my neck with the two Alexander's and Stalin. They can go fuck themselves.

No what really interests me, and what I want to specialise in is Ancient History (Especially Greek ancient history and the Peloponysian Wars and the Persian wars) and Medieval History (specifically the Crusades).

I'm studying History at Royal Holloway, University of London next year actually :))

[Tweek]

Ancient history bores me for the most part, but maybe it is just because my Ancient History teachers focus on shit and give me boring assessment items with oddly worded topic questions and too restricted stimulus material.
Actually yeah, it is all their fault.

[Cristo]

History is a pretty major thing for me, especially pre-1600. Everything works, though. I'd major in it just for the entertainment factor, but unfortunately that degree is only really helpful for history professors.

How completey untrue.

That is such a bullshit misconception about History degrees. A History degree isn't about getting to learn a whole load of useless dates and famous figures, that's only one part of History. The other part, and perhaps a much larger part of History, are the analysis and research skills you gain from a History degree at University level.

Those research and analysis skills give you access to work in more or less any branch you want to work in be it Journalism, the Media, Law, Banking, Business, Government, Politics or Diplomacy. I know Historians who work in Credit Suisse and HSBC having only taken a MBA afterwards.
Once I've taken my History degree I'm off to work in the media. Funnily; JFK, Borat, Louis Theroux, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laury all have History degrees, the last four all from Oxbridge.

History is most certainly NOT just for History Professors.

Edit: Am I the only person here who's going to study History at University level? Or are there others, and maybe people thinking about it?

[Crysis]

Edit: Am I the only person here who's going to study History at University level? Or are there others, and maybe people thinking about it?

I'm thinking about it, for sure.

Although i don't have a clue what i want to do. I've been thinking about going into advertising, in which was 2 years of history will be of limited use.

[John Travolta]

I'm going to major in Law and minor in History. It's not the other way around because, honestly nobody hires on the basis of whether or not you know why the crusades were started. Unless you wanted to be an archaeologist or some shit.

[potolife]

Usually when I'm doing history homework I get sidetracked and start reading tons of other articles. Some of the most interesting times for me to read about are the middle ages and the age of absolutism. It's something about all that power that fascinates me.

[retard]

I AM A HISTORY NUT!

--Ku Klux Klan-Racism--to me--is really, really funny. The KKK just seem like a rowdy bunch'a rednecks that are intolerant.


i was shocked when i found out that most of them where lawers and accountions

i too thourth they where redneck assholes

[xkittenxsocksx]

I fucking love the holodomor.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f4/Holodomor2.jpg

Wikipedia is probably my favourite source for looking up pictures of mao zedong too.

[Salmoness]

Am I the only person here who's going to study History at University level? Or are there others, and maybe people thinking about it?

I'm a third year English major, but I'm going to carry on studying and have been advised to take history by most of my professors. Apparently its useful in conjunction with any degree (especially humanities) because it provides a broader context for all the issues you confront.

Without it, its like studying with blinkers on, you never see the borders of the picture.

[Inseln]

I'm taking ancient history next year for year 11 and 12, I'm not that into Modern history it kind of bores me (especially my own country's). But I do like reading into stuff like Salem Witch Trials and the Columbine shootings. American history is so violent, therefore actually interesting.

What I'm really into though are all the mainstream ancient cultures, like the Aztec, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Celts.

[Cristo]

Exactly Salmoness.

And John Travolta and Crysis, did you even read the VAST majority of my post in which I asked if anyone was studying History?

They don't care if you know when the Crusades started, they care about the research and analysis skills. Research skills that could come in handy for you Crysis, when you need to do some Mark research and you JT when you're working on a case and need referencing material.

[jewishjosh]

I'm not that into Modern history it kind of bores me (especially my own country's).

I think most countries are like that. I've been learning about Canadian First Nations, politics, and colonization for 10 years and I'm absolutely sick of it. One of the reasons I'm interested in Russia is because I know very little about it. Modern history is great if it's significant, like European or American history the past 300 years. Canadian history is downright dull, and I imagine Australia is the same. For me, ancient history has its moments, but right now I'm more into political history than cultural (I'd say cultures are more hit and miss), and I've never been a war buff.

I'll probably study some history at university, probably to go along with political science or philosophy or some shit. I honestly have no clue yet.

[Trevorp1594]

I'm not a history nerd, I'm a math nerd. Though, I believe the people who are into history like it because it shows out past and who we have been.

[MarkS33]

History is most certainly NOT just for History Professors.

Edit: Am I the only person here who's going to study History at University level? Or are there others, and maybe people thinking about it?

I most definately intend on studying history more in University. Military History especially, I'm fascinated by it. I do agree with you on the analytical skills, as diplomacy is a route that really interests me. Though I must say, I would really like to teach history as well!

[Cristo]

I'd like to teach it, but as a hobby rather than as my sole provider of income, since teacher's earn shit. As I said, I'd like to teach it if I'd already amassed a fortune and didn't have anything to do with my time. I would want to teach it in a way to get kids involved and interested in History, since it usually gets a pretty bad rep.

[Ox]

At my last job, the internet access was really restricted, but I had a lot of free time in between calls, so I sat and read about Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, Pirates, Vikings and Norse Mythology, The Crusades and The Knights Templar. Interesting stuff. Although, it kinda wastes films, books, conversations and the likes when you know that half the stuff is ridiculously innaccurate.

[der]

I don't know about you guys, but sometimes, I do like to go online and read about a few historical topics. Namely, the Armenian Genocide. Ever since I started listening to System of a Down, I've just been fascinated with the topic.

Are there any specific topics in history that just interest you and make you want to read more or learn more about them?

My friend Jackie lives in Burbank and she complains about how most of her school is Armenian and always bitches about them. They pretty much get off school for the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide or whatever though.

I'll be on wikipedia for just hours and hours looking up useless history information and it's euphoria for me.

I always end up at the stupidest things. I think one time I was reading about the Cold War and ended up jumping years back into reading about some WWII general.

[MSB]

History was my favorite subject in high school. :smile: I was particularly interested in ancient civilizations (Mayans/Incas/Aztecs), ancient Egypt, Greek mythology, the Roman Empire, and the class system of the middle ages.

I still catch myself stopping on the history channel and getting caught up in all sorts of programs.

[History]

I'm taking ancient history next year for year 11 and 12, I'm not that into Modern history it kind of bores me (especially my own country's). But I do like reading into stuff like Salem Witch Trials and the Columbine shootings. American history is so violent, therefore actually interesting.

What I'm really into though are all the mainstream ancient cultures, like the Aztec, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Celts.

Ancient History is pretty cool, as long as it isn't an in depth course. Once you persue it post high school it's boring as hell. You have to read tons of primary source material, usually translated from ancient Greek, that is assuming you don't already know the language. I used to want to concentrate on ancient history until I realized how dry it actually is.

I like the post WWII era now. The sources are far more interesting, and you get more sides to one story. Last semester I had a course in American Urban History after 1945, and it was really cool. Basically, the historians that concentrate in the field look at trends and problems throughout the period, using cities and suburbs as their lens. I think I might pick it as my concentration.

[Inseln]

I doubt I'd take Ancient as a Uni course, I just wanted a basic understanding, you know; skim the surface. But I doubt I'm going to need it in what I'm planning to do once I hit 18.

I might take Modern as a Uni course, get a grip on old warfare tactics and get a slight understanding about the worlds international politics and how they used to function.

[Crabstick]

The Trojans. Mostly about how they fought Greece for so long then outsmarted the fuckers with their giant novelty horse. Now that's inspiraiton.

[Idioteque]

Fuck, History is the one subject I've ever excelled in and I love it so much.

Biography's are probably my favorite, getting to know the human side of dictators like Stalin and Hitler (he was vegetarian and scared of women!), as morbid as it may sound, it makes them so much more real to me.

I love reading up on more obscure wars and such, like the Crimean War for example.

[Veffanculo]

A topic that I can't stand is the Holocaust. I'm tired of having it crammed down my throat. Yes it was bad, but shut up about it.

I thought the exact same thing, until recently when i picked up a book titled "a thread of grace" by mary doria russell, detailing the italian front. Thats a side nobody ever hears about, so it was kindof interesting to read - like how the general public of italy hated the war for a substantial part of it, and were relentlessly bombed by both sides even after pulling out and signing neutrality agreements

[Veffanculo]

Fuck, History is the one subject I've ever excelled in and I love it so much.

Biography's are probably my favorite, getting to know the human side of dictators like Stalin and Hitler (he was vegetarian and scared of women!), as morbid as it may sound, it makes them so much more real to me.

I love reading up on more obscure wars and such, like the Crimean War for example.

Ever read about machiavelli?

[Alphawolf29]

I do things like this frequently, today i went to the library and read a 120 page book that summed up the battle of Stalingrad, because i was bored.

[Alphawolf29]

The Trojans. Mostly about how they fought Greece for so long then outsmarted the fuckers with their giant novelty horse. Now that's inspiraiton.

I am speechless. It was the Greeks invading the city of troy, its called the Trojan horse because it was use against troy. Your lack of historical education astounds me. Troy fell after a 10 year war / seige.

[Idioteque]

Ever read about machiavelli?

Well, of course. I had to read "The Prince" in my AP European class and we did a whole unit on his influence throughout the century.

[MarkS33]

Well no matter, I'd willingly take a shit pay just to be able to teach the subject I love. That and I get 2 months vacation in the summer :lol:

Maybe teach university history. That would pay a little better and I would be dealing with (somewhat) more mature and serious students. anything to staisfy my urge for information in history.

I just finished reading the wiki page on the USMC. VERY fascinating for me. Took me three days to thuroughly read it and understand and intake everything, but I think it was worth it. Next is all the major battles of WWI. Damn I look foward to it :D

[TheHighwaySong]

There's a lengthy article on Pornography in Japan that was quite an interesting read in some areas. Lately I realized I love reading about assasinations. I just finished reading about the supposed Kennedy curse.

[Veffanculo]

Well, of course. I had to read "The Prince" in my AP European class and we did a whole unit on his influence throughout the century.

What'd you think of it? Personally i thought he was a genius, and if people could be trusted with that kind of power today his system would be optimal.

[jewishjosh]

I thought the exact same thing, until recently when i picked up a book titled "a thread of grace" by mary doria russell, detailing the italian front. Thats a side nobody ever hears about, so it was kindof interesting to read - like how the general public of italy hated the war for a substantial part of it, and were relentlessly bombed by both sides even after pulling out and signing neutrality agreements

The Holocaust doesn't include WWII. It only refers to the genocide. That's the part that bores me, the war itself can be interesting.

[BurgerKueen]

Why do so many people find the Armenian Genocide interesting? I'm Turkish so I'm the one who should be reading about it, but I couldn't find a single topic in history more boring.

I like to read about how people used to live in the past, not necessarily historical happenings. I'm fascinated by cultures and how they interacted with each other to change and become what they are now, that's why I'm studying anthropology. I don't find singular events like battles interesting to read lengthily about.

[allizdog]

Why do so many people find the Armenian Genocide interesting? I'm Turkish so I'm the one who should be reading about it, but I couldn't find a single topic in history more boring.

I like to read about how people used to live in the past, not necessarily historical happenings. I'm fascinated by cultures and how they interacted with each other to change and become what they are now, that's why I'm studying anthropology. I don't find singular events like battles interesting to read lengthily about.

Then you must be fascinated by Spain's history.

I loved reading about Spain, and and since you're fascinated by cultures and how they interact you should read about Spain, Cordoba, it was the era of convivencia that really struck me as interesting. Convivencia refers to the time the Moors, Christians and Jews lived together peacfully in the same region. As a matter of fact, it is in that region that contemporary Jewish literature thrived due to the strong influence of the Arabic contemporary movement where "modern" poets articulated individuality rather than looking back at classicals, it was referred to as the Jewish Golden Age, or something similar. It's a shame that it only lasted a few centuries before religion became the means to a horrible end rather than the reason for coexistence.

[whangadude]

I've always found history facinating, when I was 10ish over a year or two I got out every single book from my school lybrary about anchient egypt (was my favourite but I know so much about it I cant stand it anymore) and greece. I've always found the dawn of civilasation really good, all the different civilasations battaling it out threw the fertile cresent ( Iraq, Middle East, Israle ..... hmmmmm... they still fighting ) 4-6000 years ago. I use to love reading about all the history and mythology of Babylon that was just soooo similar to the Bible and yet different.

But since Wikipedia I find myself loving Europian history from the fall of Rome till just before Nepolian screwed everything up. I love reading about all the small nations, kingdoms, princeapalities, duchy's that were around for a couple hundred years and yet I've never heard of them. It's just interesting to read about them.

But the history I dislike is the history of New Zealand, it seems everyone dislikes there own history, but New Zealand only has 200 years of history, and it's not that interesting either, but at school we would learn about every little pointless thing.

[Dave]

I love mostly looking into the last 30 years or so in the north of ireland. Its very interesting to hear the vastly polarised points of view between two people who both love this island equally, yet have different visions for it.

[k8rose]

I like history. I'm not really a huge fan of it, like going to look it up, but it's interesting to me.
I'm taking AP World History next year...is it all it's brought up to be?

[Eco-Geeko]

That's me too! Although I'm absolutely sick and fucking tired of Russian history, I've had it to my neck with the two Alexander's and Stalin. They can go fuck themselves.

No what really interests me, and what I want to specialise in is Ancient History (Especially Greek ancient history and the Peloponysian Wars and the Persian wars) and Medieval History (specifically the Crusades).

I'm studying History at Royal Holloway, University of London next year actually :))

I LOVE Ancient History and Mythology... I love learning about Ancient Greece, Macedonia and Alexander the Great, i probably know more on ancient history and mythology than my teachers lol, =]

it really pisses me off when sum1 gets there facts wrong, i kno a teacher who thought Artemis was a man XO nearly had a heart attack, i did..

[Eco-Geeko]

I cant stand South African history.. they way were taught its no wonder! every year you wud learn about Apartheid and nothing else! its as if the boer war never happened! ever since the new curriculm all we wud learn is apartheid.. dont take me as a racist, im not actually im very far from it.. bt honestly wit the ANC everything is blamed on apartheid! we have blackouts that lasts hours on end cause they didnt build another station 5 years ago but of course its apartheids fault.. i need 2 go calm down now

[Facepaste]

The Hundred Years war 1337-1453 between France and England. Its just really interesting!

[DyslexicGoat]

Love history, always have. Third Reich Germany and WW2 in Europe is the area I find most interesting. Am hoping to do history as one of two majors at Uni next year

[Stealth Prawn]

Im fascinated by Russia. It has gone through so much shit, from being exiles to cruel monarchs to Mongolian rule, followed by Tzarism, then a fucked up version of Communism. Now its even got a mockery of democracy going on. Maybe its Russias unique history, or maybe Im just a commie, but I find it very interesting.

[HipHipHooray]

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Greek Mythology. Things like the underworld are the most interesting though. Tartarus, the Titans, Hades, the 5 Rivers (Styx, Acheron, etc) and the ferryman all really interest me.

The main reason I like all this is because of the different spin put on it everytime. For instance, God of War has Kronos carrying the Temple of Zeus on his back, whereas in Age of Mythology... Kronos is relegated to Tartarus.

Also the fact that Zeus has a shitload of children, whom he had more babies with. I.e. Zeus and a divine mother gave birth to Demeter. Demeter and Zeus then gave birth to Persephone. Eeww.

[spaj]

Only ever liked Ancient History really. From the year gunpowder was put into action I've found history tedious, boring and uninspiring.

That said, I don't really read up on history much at all anymore. I used to read a lot of mythology and ancient Egyptian history when I was younger, but these days I browse science-related articles instead.

[Audioslave]

--American involvement in Central America and South America-If you thought we were preoccupied with the Soviet Union only in the 'eighties, you are dead wrong. American troops were sent into Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemela. Reagan of course did not make many comments. A lot of shit went down in Central America that the US doesn't seem to proud to talk about. The Dead Kennedys came up with the phrase "If you liked Vietnam... Then you'll love Nicaragua!" There was no real reason for any US troops to be there at all. Some argue it was all for oil. The only hard evidence brought on America taking oil from South America is in Chile.

FTW.

The most interesting andictode to attribute to America's interest in foreign intervention is this;

1973 in Chile; there was a newly, democratically, elected Socialist government in power. A minority (+America) did not want this. After an unsuccesful coup, America came up with a plan. Since Chile is a long, narrow country, it needs truck drivers to deliver goods across the country. What America did was go in and pay $2 million dollars to the truck drivers union so that they would go on strike until the Socialist government was removed from office. Naturally, people started to support the truck drivers once there was no food in the supermarkets. From there, a coup was preformed and the president, Salvador Allende, who committed suicide during the coup. After him, a US-supported dictator was appointed, maybe you've heard of him? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Pinochet)


Wiki article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Chilean_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat)

[shadoshado]

I am a huge weapon history fan, like how they were made,rate of fire etc. In my GCSE history i am doing crime and punishment, its so good to learn.

[wayside]

love history, I'd say my favorite subjects are more of the different empires and the politics, leaders, and events that fueled them. I like the 1940's1970's too

[thisiswhoiam]

I like to study various cults, genocides, and enviroment disasters.

Also Swedish Kings because one king is like my great great great grandpa.

[lm008m]

Browsing Wikipedia is an awesome way to glean useless information about random topics that catch your interest.

Yeah, I do this too. I mainly use Wikipedia to look up stuff about the history of pop culture.
As far as actual history goes I love reading about people more than events. Marie Antoinette and Henry VIII are some of my favorites.

[Sinicious]

Finnish Civil War in 1918. I got interested about it on 8th grade (when I was 14 [our school system is different]) and now that I've grown up I'm even more interested. Especially about the Red side of the story because it was hidden for such a long time.
Individual activists and their lifestories. I'm more interested about how things affect individuals. How their life changes as time goes by, how things like war or politics of the time affect them. Especially concious objectors are my field (: And strong women and feminists.
Different mythologies. They've facinated me since I was a little kid. I don't have one favourite culture. Mythologies and the occult just have always interested me. I don't like biblical things though.
60's and 70's. A lot of interesting things happened during that time, I don't want to start separating all of them. I'll just say that it was interesting time.
Cold war as a phenomenon. It has so many layers.

[KeyboardSpastic]

I'm alot like Raxo in the sense that I look up music I often listen to. I've found myself looking up alot on RnB,which leads me to onto hip hop, then furthermore onto Tupac and all of the conspiracy theories behind his death. I am intrigued by famous deaths, especially murders such as Gianni Versace. I also like to look up alot on the Holocaust, and cults such as Heavan's Gate and KKK.

[TheHighwaySong]

My Government teacher showed my class the episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days where he lives in the Navajo Nation for 30 days. Before that class I have never even heard of the Navajo Nation. Has anyone else seen that episode or studied Navajos?

[FloydFan]

Browsing Wikipedia is an awesome way to glean useless information about random topics that catch your interest. Russian history has interested me a lot the past few years but I don't really have the drive to teach myself about it.

A topic that I can't stand is the Holocaust. I'm tired of having it crammed down my throat. Yes it was bad, but shut up about it.

Holy shit yes. Since I was in third grade, i've been learning about this every year. Yes, i've seen that movie, yes i've read that book. I've been to 4 of the biggest holocaust museums in the world. The one in Israel, New York, Washington D.C., and South Miami. I've had enough.

[Pieman]

I love Ancient History, and would probably love Modern History too if not for me being Australian. I have to learn about Aborinal history every year, and it always involves watching "The Rabbit Proof Fence." And that's just in History classes, in English we always had to learn about the dreamtime and all that bullshit. I'm in year 10 and I've probably watched that damned movie 20 times.

So I'm taking Ancient History next year, and I'm going to pretend that any other type of history was never taught in my school.

[Android]

I've always been a sucker for history. I liked it so much that I got a Bachelors in it and in Philosophy while I was in college with the intention of going to law school. I ended up changing my mind and going back and getting a Masters to teach it in high school.

I've always been fascinated with ancient civilizations and ideas. When you think about it history and philosophy have a lot in common in that one is what people did and the other is what they thought. I also find ancient religions fascinating, especially the early christian, jewish, and islamic churches/synagogues/mosques (though I am not all that religious myself).

[BurgerKueen]

My Government teacher showed my class the episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days where he lives in the Navajo Nation for 30 days. Before that class I have never even heard of the Navajo Nation. Has anyone else seen that episode or studied Navajos?

I'm planning to go there for two months this summer so maybe I should see that.

[TheHighwaySong]

Oh man. The Navajo Nation is 17 million acres big and it's spread out amongst the Four Corners. What I thought was a major kick to the nuts of the Navajo Nation was that, although they owned all that land, the United States never gave them the rights to what was under the land. Hence, all of that water under the land? None for the Navajos, that's America's water, bitch.

[Dodger]

I like learning about the American Civil War. Really any war that defined military tactics of their day. I like studying the military maneuvers and shit. The world wars were boring because of trench warfare, but The Civil War, The Napoleonic Wars, The reign of Alexander the Great and Ancient Greece, those wars were awesome because of the ingenious shit they thought of to fool their opponents. Unlike modern warfare where it's pretty much just bomb the shit out of everything.

[Android]

The most interesting part of the Civil War was the guerrilla warfare between Missouri and Kansas. That was some of the most cruel, brutal fighting of the entire war. Check out Quantrill's Raiders (it's where Frank and Jesse James got started) and Bloody Bill Anderson.

[Haggis McSpud]

I love history, unfortunately my AS/A Level course isn't very stimulating as all we learn about is economic policies of 19th century Britain (Corn Laws anyone?) and bloody WWII. The only time I really enjoy history these days is when we do our Irish module because at least then there's some variation.

[Audioslave]

My resident areas of expertise are Latin/Central America (especially in reference to the 'containment' era in U.S foreign policy) and modern Middle Eastern history, especially Israel, Iraq and Palestine. Anyone else cool like me?

[The Fetus]

My resident areas of expertise are Latin/Central America (especially in reference to the 'containment' era in U.S foreign policy) and modern Middle Eastern history, especially Israel, Iraq and Palestine. Anyone else cool like me?

We should hang out. Like seriously.

I don't really dig Ancient History too much. More stuff on the past 250 years.

As I posted earlier, I mentioned my bliss on studying US Military involvement in Central America. Last year I was a sucker for the Vietnam War. But over the summer I got into the Reagan years mainly because of the music I got into around then. Rock against Reagan stuff. I discovered all the stuff about what Reagan did to Central America. I've been reading up on that quite a bit. There were troops in El Salvador fighting for eleven years. Nothing too brutal. But eleven years is ridiculous. Did you know we still have troops in El Salvador? Nicaragua got hit real hard. It was pretty much Vietnam all over again. Sending Vietnam Veterans to Nicaragua fifteen-twenty years later to do the exact same things they did in Vietnam. And Reagan's praised Invasion of Grenada (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Grenada). We were there to "stop Communism", by then that shit was a broken record. He's relished because he was in and out in three months. Of course! The island is so Goddam tiny! How hard could it be to take all that oil on an island that fuckin' small.

Leaflett dropped by US during invasion. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d5/P3090124.JPG)

Also when Nixon invaded Chile in 1973. You'll never hear that one in school.

As for the Middle East, I just eat that shit up. I am really concerned with the current wars in the Middle East we're hosting now, so I do a lotta looking up on the past history. As for specifically, Iran. For some reason, I really dig Iran. Not just Middle Eastern history, per say, but just social studies in the Middle East in general. Culture, geography, current issues, government, etc. My mom was born in Turkey (but her bloodlines aren't of Turkish ancestory, her parents immigrated), which is sometimes considered the Middle East. She's been to Iran and stuff in the eighties. Said it was peculiar. Turkey's apparently way different than all the other Middle Eastern countries. It seems to be the most developed next to Israel.

[slayer41]

Ever since I had to write a ten page paper on Andrew Jackson, I've been obsessed with the guy. In fact, I'm gonna read a biography about him once i can get my hands on the one that just came out. He was a true badass.

[Jada]

I'm a history major with a secondary education focus, so it, thankfully, benefits me to be a history nerd. I come back from lectures or take breaks from reading texts books to explain all the cool shit I just learned to whoever will listen to me. As a kid I was obessed with the Civil War, then moved onto WWII, then medieval history (particularly the history of the Catholic Church). While my interests widely vary, the French Revolution is probably one of my favorite subjects. I had a great 19th century European history class that I really dug a few years ago too. I was allowed to do a great term paper on Victorian Feminism.

[BurgerKueen]

Turkey's apparently way different than all the other Middle Eastern countries. It seems to be the most developed next to Israel.

It is very different. I don't think we belong either to Middle East or Europe truly, we could find common ground with both but I wouldn't say we're part of them. You should visit Turkey sometime Fetus.:dance:

Oh and my roommate is obsessed with Greeks, Romans, 20th century US, Chinese history and a bunch of other stuff since she's a classics and history double major. She knows a lot but it gets tiring to listen to her after a while. It's almost as if she knows TOO much detail about some stuff. If I ever was to ready about history, it'd be something she never talks about.

[SquidWard]

I used to be really into Ancient history like the crusades, roman empire etc. I was also heavily into Dinosaurs and always wanted to be a paleantologist until I found out how much that paid.

The problem with Ancient history is all the battles are pretty much the same just get some swords and hack some other guys with swords. Modern history has more strategy I believe and bigger battlefields.

[Audioslave]

Words

Nice. I just finished a 2000 word essay on Reagan and Nicaragua/Grenada, and am in the middle of a 10-15 minute presentation on the media bias of the 2006 Lebanon-Israeli war.

[danmanlott]

i have watched modern marvels and everything good on the history channel and now half my class is scared of me because they can't believe that i know so much about history.

[notafan]

My history teacher should honestly win the best teacher in the world award. I try to be bored in his class but I can't. So basically because of him, I love history. I mostly read up on history of running such as books like "The Perfect Mile" and "Pre." The Helsinki olympics tends to interest me the most mostly based on the performances of Emil Zatopek and the stories of Wes Santee, John Landy, and Roger Bannister. Because my interest is based on performances from all periods of time a lot of the history I'm into is somewhat recent. I also loved studying World War I and II.

[Pencil]

My history teacher should honestly win the best teacher in the world award. I try to be bored in his class but I can't. So basically because of him, I love history.

Same here. My teacher can talk about a historic subject and then drift off to other, usually awesome things.
One time, he was talking about politics in Holland in the seventeenth century, then he drifted off to a political party he wanted to start. His party involved running over persons that are over 65 years old crossing the street.

[lostos]

The Trojans. Mostly about how they fought Greece for so long then outsmarted the fuckers with their giant novelty horse. Now that's inspiraiton.

Uhh, what? The Trojans were outsmarted.
Troja (Troy) was impregnable since it was surrounded by huge walls, so cunning Greeks came with a plan. They made a huge wooden horse and hid a few people inside, then gave the horse to the Trojans claiming it was a gift from Danaos. The Trojans took the horse (the Trojan horse) and kept it in their town. In the night the few Greeks hidden inside came out and opened the town's gates for the rest of them to come in and conquer. That's a nice kids story by the way.
Now what the fuck? Did you post to tell us that you've read the history of those times or that you know the story about Troy? Because neither of the two is true.


I am interested in history in general, I've read from ancient to modern history. Modern history in particular is a subject everyone should study well from various sources -I insist on various sources because, believe it or not, history books are rather subjective and -in some cases- even totally misleading and false. I believe that only someone who has studied history in that manner is fully aware of what is going on today. Political, social and economical changes as well as diplomatic relationships between different counties can only be interpreted through history. In addition, that knowledge will also allow someone to develop a more judicial spirit.

[bRainville]

I love reading history. Civil War history is actually my favorite. But I also like learning stuff about the Nazis.. I used to feel bad because it seems the horrific parts of history are the ones that interest me the most :[

[Ziggy St. Valentine]

I love reading history. Civil War history is actually my favorite. But I also like learning stuff about the Nazis.. I used to feel bad because it seems the horrific parts of history are the ones that interest me the most :[

The horrific parts are often the most interesting. It interests me to see how far/sick some people will go.
I love WWII history the most, but I find most wars to be interesting, 'specially ancient wars with their different tactics and weapons.

[koots]

The horrific parts are often the most interesting. It interests me to see how far/sick some people will go.
I love WWII history the most, but I find most wars to be interesting, 'specially ancient wars with their different tactics and weapons.

I like how the weapons evolve in different societies through the years. And looking at the difference in cultures like how native americans were still using bow and arrows while the europeans were using guns and such.


I always enjoyed looking through these history books my grandpa had. They were like encyclopedias of the old west. I always found the outlaws of the old west to be extremely fascinating. Shame I only retained some of that information, I used to know everything about Jesse James, his family, his connection to other outlaws of the time and places they'd rob. I think my love for the outlaws came from my great grandma telling me all these stories about Jesse J. when I was little. Those are the kind of things I wish I could have learned in high school social studies.