The New Frontier of Western History
Western history is a long and complicated subject. It traces its roots back to ancient Greece, Europe, and the Mediterranean. It was largely shaped by the Roman Empire, which was one of the world’s greatest civilizations. From there, Medieval Western Christendom emerged. But what are its roots? Let’s consider a few points of interest. The first point to consider is the rise of Christianity. By the middle ages, this religion had spread throughout much of Europe.
The term “new western history” originated at a symposium in Santa Fe in 1989. The participants of the conference called it Trails Toward a New Western History, and it was quickly picked up by reporters. The phrase seemed to suggest a new movement in the field, and many of the speakers referred to it in a way that suggested that it was a distinct concept. The Oxford Handbook of the American West was published three years later.
The new western historians ripped the creation myth apart. They argued that a new free man was born in the wilderness. This creation myth, which described the land as untouched by Eastern influences, is now a relic of the past. And this idea is still a popular one among the public. But it is also wrong. It skews our understanding of the past. The “new western history” has become a source of malignance for Americans.
The next frontier of western history is rewriting history’s history. A new generation of historians began challenging the ideas of old, and presenting a more comprehensive view of the past. But the debate has been largely confined to the post-Columbian period. The editors of Under an Open Sky describe their relationship as one from flux to fixity, and reject the sterile argument about regional versus frontier histories. The editors’ work is engaging and highly readable.
The Western History Association promotes the study of the North American West. Since its founding, the group has met in several cities across the west. The association’s members include academic historians and writers who write about the history of the western world. While they are united in their passion for the region, it has also spawned a vibrant online community. The Western History Association’s mission is to foster a healthy environment where all members can engage in discussions of their preferred topic.
After the collapse of Western civilization in AD 476, Christian religion gradually reestablished its influence over the area. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the Byzantine Empire was the center of Christianity, and Norsemen raided the areas of the West. In the modern day, the impact of Western history on the world is profound. The book covers two World Wars, the Russian Revolution, and the ancient world. A few books even deal with the history of the ancient world.