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What role does imagination play in studying history?
Julie Harrop
EDITOR'S History has always been a point of NOTE particular interest to me. Growing up, I always heard from peers that history was so boring, that it was simply dates and facts being presented in the most mundane way possible. But I could never relate to those opinions. From learning about treaty agreements to world wars, I always enjoyed getting to step into a world different from ours. So, when the option to take Ancient Civilizations in Grade 11 was presented to me, I jumped at the chance. That course was the final step in solidifying my passion for history. Every class was interesting, every article we read and documentary we watched left me wanting more. For the first time in my educational career, I was willing to sit down and do homework without being asked. I spent hours on my projects, giving all my effort, not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Late nights reading about civilizations and their economic systems, days spent brainstorming how to creatively present my findings, all for the simple joy of learning. This passion has stayed with me even after finishing the course. So, naturally, when choosing the topic for the first issue of Humans Reviewed, Ancient Civilizations was my first choice. History is so much more than facts and dates, it's the total and complete view of humanity. By studying Ancient Civilizations we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, our communities, and each other.
Across oceans and mountains, over hundreds of years, and through countless leaders and communities, religion has a constant thread over every single civilization. Looking at civilizations across the world, we see several overlapping features that play a vital role in helping a society thrive. A government system, a trading system, and the focus of this article, a religious belief system. Historians across the world have noticed that there isn't one civilization that hasn't had some form of religion. What's interesting, is that this overlap is presumably coincidental, that civilizations that never had any contact with one another ended up with similar belief systems. The reason for this is widely debated not only in the field of history, but also in sociology. What makes a religious system so important in the survival of a community?
Civilizations 2026
Julie Harrop
Thousands of years ago, humans existed in tribes of hunter gatherers. We followed resources, hunting animals and forging whatever we could to stay alive. Then, as we learned how to create our own food sources, through agriculture and herding, we began to stabilize as a species. As we established communities, a need for leaders arose. Similarly, now that we were forced to work together to harvest, plant, and support our crop, an incentive to get people to work together became necessary. This is where many historians believe religion was created. Leaders saw a lack of participation and cooperation, and came up with a solution. Religion gave people purpose and clear direction. In some cases religion scared people into behaving, and in others it was a form of hope. Having a promise of a life after this one gave people a reason to keep putting in their best effort. Similarly, leaders were often believed to have been chosen by a supreme being.
This them authority gave and control over their followers. Kevin Rounding, a researcher at Queen's University, also explains how religion increases self-control. His experiments confirmed his idea, showing that subjects who had been primed to think about religion had more self control than subjects who weren't primed. As an ancient society, having everyone working together was essential for survival. Food and resources were shared, people lived in close proximity, and populations were often small. Religion ensured that necessary work was getting done, it provided inspiration to the community, and allowed leaders to have a better sense of control over their subjects.
Some researchers however, argue that religion is simply a part of being human. We, as a whole, create religion because it provides us with comfort. In ancient civilizations, having an explanation for a phenomenon in our daily lives means we don't have to worry about what's truly happening. From the flooding of the Nile River in Egypt, to lightning and the changing of seasons, religion provided people with a sense of understanding.
"Is my religion an essential part of the 12
This ensured a peaceful society. Having religion as a crutch to explain the unexplainable prevented outrage and panic.
While the origin of religion is unknown and debated across the world, it's indisputable that religion brings people together. Having a sense o community was vital in ancient civilizations. As young societies, the only way everyone would survive and thrive was by working together. Religious ceremonies brought people together, often giving people the opportunity to cope and process their emotions.. The commonality of serving the same god gave people a reason to love on another and treat each other with respect and having a widespread belie system meant everyone wε on the same page. At the end of the day, without a central religion, ancient civilizations wouldn't have been able to thrive. Religion brought people together and ensured a sense of community and interconnectedness.
A Short Story
ATHENS, 410 BCE. AT THE CLINIC OF DR. HIPPOCRATES.
I'm so angry and terrified all the time. I keep having visions and hearing voices. Please help me
You've angered the gods and you are now receiving your punishment. Ares, god of war, has given you anger.
Ah! i've seen this many times. The visions, the terrified feeling, your frustration and anger
Apollo has given you your fear. And your visions are a product of Dionysus. Your mind is under their control.
Your symptoms will continue if you do not please them.
There's only one explanation...
In Ancient Greece, mental illnesses were not acknowledged how they are now. All symptoms were considerd a direct punishement from the gods. Certain gods were assiociated with particular symptoms. The only "treatment" was to fix your relationship with the gods through offerings.
Civilizations 2026
The Inca Civilization thrived in South America for several years. Their unique culture, traditions, and ways of life make this civilization truly special. The Incan Empire spanned from modern day Chile to Columbia, and included a variety of landscapes, from deserts to mountains to tropical forests. Because of this, the Incan people had to get creative with how they grew their food, and how they built their infrastructure. Not much is known about this civilization because of their lack of written language. Incan people used knotted cords, called Kipu, to record numerical data, such as censuses, inventories, and harvests. Some researchers believe that these cords were also a form of written language, and hold stories and legends. However, the Kipu language hasn't been deciphered, and some scientists believe it never will be. The Incan Empire and civilization is truly one of the greatest of its time, the adaptability of the people and their sense of community allowed them to thrive
Interview With Johannes B Mahr
Johannes B Mahr is an assis at York University in Toront Throughout his career, he h episodic memory, imaginati human connection. This into focuses on episodic memor imagination, and how this in view of the past and history
Q: “Can you give us a brief overview of episodic memory, and its role in our daily lives?"
Mahr: "Episodic memory is our ability to recall events we've experienced. The overall idea is that when it comes to things that have happened in the past, we are not only able to remember what happened, but also how we know that to be true."
Q: "In a study published by The National Institute of Medicine you explain how we as humans spend a large amount of conversational time talking about our past, why do you think this is?”
Mahr: "Well our personal experiences from the past have a special place in our mind. When it comes to memory, the biggest divide between episodic memory and other memory systems is the how. How do we know this happened? As opposed to facts and statistics we get told throughout our lives, our personal experiences have an answer to that question. When we recall past events, we are able to reinsert ourselves into the event because we have the first hand experience. We can give honest views and feelings that make it so much more meaningful. Being able to tell these stories provides us with areas to connect with others and relive old memories, this could explain why we tend to lean towards recalling our past over other conversational topics."
Q: "How would you say our memory plays a role in how we interact with others and in society"
Mahr: "Well, in my opinion, human connection relies on empathy and understanding. Two things that are formed through your memories. Being able to recall your own experiences allows you to relate to another person's current situation. Having the ability to remember how you felt means you can imagine how that person is feeling. This provides an outlet to connect with people we may not even know that well. In terms of understanding, well what helps you get to know someone better than sharing old memories. You can look at grandparents and how they love to revisit memories through stories with their grandchildren. Specifically with episodic memory, being able to put yourself into those memories means you can retell them truthfully, which creates a pathway for people to see into who you are. Similarly, our past is what makes us who we are. Every experience and memory has led us to this moment."
Explore more of Mahr' on his website.
Q: "How would you say our episodic memory influences how we learn, specifically how we learn history?"
Mahr: "When we learn, we depend on many parts of our brain to process and store information. Being able to recall information and add to it is the definition of learning. But while most topics require us to use our semantic memory, history requires both semantic and episodic aspects of our brain. Because of the content in the field of history, scholars need to be able to create their own images in their head to explain what's being taught. While they may not be creating episodic memories, they must be able to use their imagination and memory to picture experiences, which is called episodic simulation. They are creating 'memories' from a time before theirs and putting themselves in someone else's shoes, something that makes learning history such a personal and fulfilling experience."
Civilizations 2026
Q: "One of your other areas of study is imagination, how would you say this impacts the field of history?"
Mahr: "One of the most important topics when it comes to imagination is mental time travel, something I recently did a research article on. In terms of history, being able to imagine a time before your own is vital. Having the mental capacity to put yourself in the shoes of someone from an ancient time is what has allowed us to solve complex problems about how ancient civilizations were run. These historians need to have active imaginations that are able to creatively come up with possible explanations for situations that may not even be replicable in our current age."
Q: "In your opinion, would you say that someone's level of imagination impacts how they enjoy history?"
Mahr: "Oh yes of course. As we know some people do have a greater capacity to imagine things. We see how, in certain fields, this impacts performance and enjoyment. When it comes to history, many people find it boring because it's seemingly a repetition and regurgitation of facts. However, people with very active imaginations can almost reinvent the history they learn in their minds. Like reading a book, having an imagination means being able to paint a picture in your mind, something that makes history so much fun."
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Cross Word
5. The most complex type of column, known for their plant or leaf like designs, originated in Greece but was adopted by Rome. 6. A point is a fixed point that is used as a reference for any measurements needed at an excavation site.
8. The study of ancient astronomy and its impact on a civilizations culture
10. This is the study of humanity 12. This age in history includes Greek and Roman civilizations. 13. This is the method archaeologists use to remove artifacts from the ground. 16. This type of archeology specializes in the study of ancient egypt
Civilizations 2026
1. This type of community follows resources and lives off the land, hunting animals and foraging for plants.
2. dating This scientific dating technique examines the decay rate of an isotope to determine the age of an organic material.
3. This type of ancient writing used pictograms and ideograms
4. An open air area where people would gather in Ancient Greece, used for politics, religion, and commerce.
7. Something very old or something from a very early time in history is 9. "All roads lead to 11. This type of anthropology specializes in the study of human society in the past, they examine artifacts and remains of human culture.
14. This is the scientific word for an object found at an excavation site. 15. photography This type of photography includes taking pictures of a site from above.
AUTHENTICALLY MADE!
KOHL EYELINER
Fun Fact! In Ancient Egypt, wearing makeup was a sign of wealth and prosperity. Kohl, typically a black powder worn on the eyes, was made of toxic materials that would serve as protection from eye infections. Only the wealthiest citizens could afford this expensive product, so wearing it was as much for decoration as it was to display social status.
THE ESSENCE OF WEALTH
AN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN STAPLE
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Anthropology m a i r y Elassica
P h h a ation
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A e g y C a Egyptology
Archaeology and History
Cross Word Answers n t e g
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Civilizations 2026
Kingdom
Asterix and Obelix: The Middle Kingdom is a French live action movie targeted for young children. This franchise, typically animated, is famous in France and across the world for its unique setting, storylines, and sense of humour.
This movie showcases the main characters Asterix and Obelix, two Gaul men around 50 BCE on their adventure to help the Princess of China save her mom, the Empress. Throughout the film, we encounter Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, as well as his numerous staff members. While meant for children, this movie depicts life in ancient Rome, China, and Gaul. We see how Caesar was the center of the state, having servants and staff to serve him day and night. Princess Fu Yi also depicts the need for a suitor in Ancient China. Before her mom was kidnapped, she was in the process of arranging a marriage for her daughter. Civilizations 2026
And in Gaul, the need for long blonde hair was a staple to fit into society. Throughout the movie we see a diverse range of ancient communities. While it may not be entirely historically accurate, this movie gives a perfect anthropological view of many civilizations, showing important cultural aspects and systems.
This movie was wonderful. I was entertained not only by the unique view of life in 50 BCE, but also the humour. My expectations were low considering this movie is meant for young children, however, I found myself laughing out loud throughout the whole movie. The style of humour is fresh and original, and is suitable for all age groups. This movie had an amazing balance between accurate historical representation and a silly sense of humor. While originally filmed in French, English subtitles and dubbing are available.
Astérix Obelix trésors V
L'EMPIRE DU MILIEU
UN FILM DE GUILLAUME CANET D'APRÈS L'ŒUVRE DE RENÉ GOSCINNY D'ALBERT UDERZO
AU CINEMA LE TER FÉVRIER 2023
CTFI Rocs NETFLIX ING
Explore the intricate world of Archaeology. From the most famous sites to the most complicated archaeological techniques, Reviewed covers it all
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