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Troubling Civilizations: Ethnocentrism in World History

Today. Ethnocentrism and the Historian's RoleAnalyze (how/why) rather than judge (good/bad)Evaluate the past on its own terms Some Challenging Examples from Medieval Europe and the Americas (1000

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Troubling Civilizations: Ethnocentrism in World History

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    1. Troubling Civilizations: Ethnocentrism in World History

    2. Today Ethnocentrism and the Historians Role Analyze (how/why) rather than judge (good/bad) Evaluate the past on its own terms Some Challenging Examples from Medieval Europe and the Americas (1000 1500) To consider: what do you find troubling in World History, and why?

    3. Today Ethnocentrism and the Historians Role Some Challenging Examples from Medieval Europe and the Americas (1000 1500) Medieval religious thought Inca socialism Human sacrifice and cannibalism Berdaches / flexible gender systems To consider: what do you find troubling in World History, and why?

    4. Today Ethnocentrism and the Historians Role Some Challenging Examples from Medieval Europe and the Americas (1000 1500) To consider: what do you find troubling in World History, and why? What are your biases and assumptions? How do they affect your understanding of the past? Why does unexamined ethnocentrism make for poor scholarship

    5. Key Points Historians must evaluate the past on its own terms, and avoid imposing our own biases and assumptions: we do not judge, but analyze The best analyses stem from assuming that societies behave in a way that makes sense to them thus we try to understand that point of view Seeking to understand the past on its own terms does not mean that we have to accept all behavior as morally equal. Historians do not have to believe that infanticide, slavery, genocide, etc. are ethically ok our job is to explain, not criticize, the past.

    7. Some Strands of Late-Medieval Mysticism (completely orthodox!) Extreme fasting and food practices, erotic imagery for union with God Jesus as bridegroom, his foreskin is the wedding ring I fastened my lips upon that sacred wound (of Christ) and still more eagerly the mouth of my soul, and slaked my thirst Never in my life have I tasted any food and drink sweeter or more exquisite than this pus.

    8. Ethnocentrism Evaluating other groups or societies by standards that are relevant only to the observers culture . . . typically, standards which the observer consciously or unconsciously believes are superior.

    9. Ethnocentric reactions are difficult to avoid But unexamined ethnocentrism is a major barrier to solid historical study and to effective global citizenship

    15. Berdache

    19. Joan of Arc (d.1431) A major factor in her trial was her wearing of mens clothing: why?

    21. On a piece of paper, write down 2-3 practices or ideas in world history that you find troubling

    22. Now discuss your list with a person next to you. . . What bothers you about those beliefs or practices? Why? What purpose did they serve in that society? Why did people develop/embrace them? Why are we better historians if we assume that people of all societies behave in a way that makes sense to them?

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