Yes, history has more or less always been a little hobby of mine. A teacher at high school inspired me. He made us think differently. I remember the very first lesson when he gave us some kind of pamphlet filled with various maps of how boundaries have been moved over centuries. Wars lead to territorial changes and wars were often related to religion.
This history teacher had very difficult examinas. Once I could not attend an examination and I had to have a private session. Since I was the only one interrogated, I was very well prepared. He noticed that, and after five minutes he said that he understood that I knew my lesson very well. Then he started to talk politics instead. I got a bit surprised, but I listened. At that time I was politically active and somehow he knew that. He told me that it could be scarry to be involved in politics. When he went to school, he told me that people went marching with torchlights. And that could be very dangerous.
Anyway, I liked history since it was so difficult. You needed to know important battles by heart. Various countries. Then you could start a discussion. The protestants and catholics were often involved in conflicts. Religion is also important today. Currently, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan 2021 with fasting and prayer is soon ending. The Koran is read and epidemiological Covid safety restricions are followed. Meanwhile, it is very tense in East Jerusalem where Israelis and Palestinians has led the UN to warn of a “full-scale war”. Please read more about the conflict here, and note the map: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396
Ending today´s writing with “Peace of Westphalia – a European settlement in 1648”. The peace was actually complex and lengthy since it was negotiated during four years before the Spanish-Dutch treaty was signed. The thirty years war was ended. History has also a romantic touch with these kind of costumes, don´t you agree?
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