Talk:Modern history

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Contents 1 VFD Result 2 eurocentric 3 Lead? 4 Complete rewrite

[edit] VFD Result

The result of the VFD can be found here: Wikipedia:Votes for deletion/Modern history -- AllyUnion (talk) 12:59, 9 Feb 2005 (UTC)

[edit] eurocentric

this article seems to centre around the modern history of western civilization, while greatly ignoring the wast of the world.

i vote for the deletion of certain pages of the article. By the way, is the picture of an i-pod necessary? 213.42.21.81 08:53, 24 December 2006 (UTC)madcowwillie

[edit] Lead?

Why is there no lead on this article? Could someone more in-tune with article write one? J Milburn 20:16, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Done.Flammingo^Hey 07:15, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Complete rewrite

As the anonymous IP person states above this is focused around the west, I would go further to say this is focused around America and Europe, but does not touch on member states of Europe (yes it actually has individual states with their own sovereignty people)

So I will read up on, provide sources for and write up this subject so that it gets an A rating (and no I won't include a picture of an I-Pod)

I will attempt to make it as global and comprehensive as possible.

If you're looking here then there are things that you can help me with... sources... need lots of 'em I'll be relying on personal statements, newspapers etc.

I'm hoping to write something any historian would admire, so bear with me. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 203.206.160.158 (talk • contribs) 07:09, 4 July 2007

Then please take a minute and create an account, that gives you more options and better communication! Flammingo^Hey 07:14, 4 July 2007 (UTC)

Done!--Henry Fenby-Taylor 12:16, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

Since Yesterday I have googled wikipedia to find subjects of historical importance that I will link to. The main themes are as follows. The progress of International Relations, War, Peace & Economics.

I note the African Union has not been mentioned. The rise of new economic global powers is only given a cursory mention. The author implies that the war in Iraq is a war for oil, when in fact there is only a BELIEF that the war was waged for oil, the mention of elections in Iraq is pointless, because they hold no significance to the underlying consequences of the Iraq occupation. Except for Turkey no mention of the expansion of Europe is made. No mention is made of American foreign policy changes towards the new European countries either.

I would take out the entire chapter that refers to the beginning of the 21st Century and maybe replace it with a comparison to the beginning of the 20th Century when a lot of similar predictions were made (armageddon and a better world being two examples of commonalities)

To keep it 'historical' only themes that serve a major contribution to the shaping of the present day and the future will be included. However I do not have a west-centric point of view (Even though I am English) so for example I will not lump all state based reprisals against political violence together as 'the war on terror', because it is a) an American construction and not appropriate for an international encyclopedia entry without mentioning its context b) it is not an accurate description of events and c) lacks historical perspective.

Anyway, as you can see I'm getting stuck into the details of this task and will hopefully be able to make the first entry available within 1-2 weeks for review Henry Fenby-Taylor 12:34, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

Welcome again! Now that sounds very good, linking to the articles relevant to the Modern history is exactly what I had in mind. Structuring the article into topics (best would be e.g. war and politics, economy, philosophy and religion, culture) is a good idea. Only only themes that serve a major contribution to the shaping of the present day and the future will be included makes me thinking: that is not the case! Modern history is the history of a certain period, not history under the aspect of relevance to the present time. Edmund Burke is highgly relevant to history, but not necessarily to the attitudes of today. I am also not sure what you mean by "predictions" in the context of history. But don't mind my thoughts, go ahead, nothing will be lost, sounds really good what you are planning. --Flammingo^Hey 19:26, 5 July 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for the encouragement Flamingo. I'm also adding in a new topic. Globalisation. I take on board your concerns and I am very grateful to you for pointing out Edmund Burke to me of whom I was not aware (my principal 'historical' interests have been centred around my two favourite historical figures Gaius Julius Caesar and Niccolo Macchiavelli). You have given me my reading matter for the next week or so and for that I am very grateful, he seems like a man after my own heart in his opposition to tyranny. However, in my mind the factors that he has influenced, namely the concilliation with America and the opposition of the French Revolution by Great Britain have now become Historical landmarks that now have their own form and character, in my mind he as much a part of these as every other single member of parliament who voted at that time. I'm not discounting your point, indeed it has given me great cause for interest and reflection.

As for "predictions", I intend the introduction to be a brief mention of the importance of time and mankinds fascination with arbitrary changes in the calendar. Basically, for a long time writers of fiction have used the millennium as a spring board for a Utopian vision (as mentioned in the entry on millennium), while others have used it as a means to spread another message entirely. It's just a little warm up, but I think its worthy of a brief mention. What do you think? I don't mind leaving it out because I can understand in its strictest sense it is not of historical importance.

Anyway, thankyou again for your encouragement, I am writing this my first entry in Wikipedia because I am trying to get into one of the top two Universities in England and it's been a while since I've stretched my intellectual muscles, so I am doing it to prove to myself and to them that I have what it takes. If I have it in my power I'm going to take this page from B Grade to A+ Featured Content (and I think I will)

My guiding light throught all this will be the definition of History: An established record or pattern of behavior, an account of related phenomenon, A chronological record of events, and the aggregate of past events or human affairs.

--Henry Fenby-Taylor 00:22, 6 July 2007 (UTC)