Subject: Most overrated historical event?
Posted by: collect
Date: May 18 09
Charlemagne becoming "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800? Hitler's "Beer Hall Putsch"? Which event which everyone is taught about is actually, in the great scheme of things, quite unimportant (in your opinion, of course).
I rather think the assassination of Julius Caesar had a lot less long term efect than books indicate -- Rome was about to become an Empire, and it made little diference who held the reins ...
Dave
Posted by: collect
Date: May 18 09
Charlemagne becoming "Holy Roman Emperor" in 800? Hitler's "Beer Hall Putsch"? Which event which everyone is taught about is actually, in the great scheme of things, quite unimportant (in your opinion, of course).
I rather think the assassination of Julius Caesar had a lot less long term efect than books indicate -- Rome was about to become an Empire, and it made little diference who held the reins ...
Dave
165 replies. On page 1 of 9 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Arpeggionist 
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I'd say two events share the title: Columbus' first voyage across the Atlantic and it's discovery of the Bahamas were the first event. The second was the first Moon landing. In the first case, the race was already on in Western Europe to find ways to Japan independently of Muslim involvement. The Portuguese were learning their way around Africa and were venturing further west than the Spaniards by 1492. (Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan would add to the Portuguese discoveries in the New World in the next century.) And, not long after, the Dutch and English discoveries were made almost indepentently of Spanish explorers. If Columbus had never set sail, Vasco da Gama would have been considered the discoverer of America, or possibly Sebastian Cabot or Magellan or Hudson. In the second case, most people remember the name of Neil Armstrong as the first person to walk on the lunar surface. Certainly he was first, but this was by sheer fortune of NASA's scheduling. Had all gone according to Deke Slayton's original plans, Gus Grissom would have led the first Apollo mission, then two more would test the Lunar Module, and Wally Schirrah would have made the first manned lunar voyage. That said, Armstrong's mission failed in all but one of its objectives: the crew landed and walked on the Moon (and returned safely to Earth). History remembers less well Buzz Aldrin's success as an astronaut in the Gemini program, or David Scott's lunar discoveries on Apollo 15, or even the crew of Apollo 12, which was the only mission to complete every single one of its mission objectives. Most of society doesn't remember the innovation and thought and design and invention that went into the concept of space travel, or the worlds of reality that were opened to humanity by NASA beyond Neil Armstrong. Reply #1. May 18 09, 11:26 AM |
trojan11
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I agree with Collect, Caesar's death had precious little importance in the scheme of things. It's not as though he had any great plan for the future. Putting it bluntly, it would seem that he didn't have the vaguest idea of what to do next. He was a morally bankrupt political chancer of remarkably great personal charm and ability. But, to my mind, no genius. Personally, though, I should say that the most over rated historical event is the advent of the Mongols and Genghis Khan. They cam, they saw, they vanished and left nothing. Reply #2. May 18 09, 1:26 PM |
doublemm
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The Dunkirk evacuations and the Russian October Revolution. Although both were vital to events which followed (strengthening British morale during World War 2 and creating the USSR respectively) the events of both have been greatly exaggerated. In Dunkirk, the focus was placed on the role the small boats played, emphasising the role played by the everyday men in "saving our soldiers" from death on the beaches of Dunkirk. However, this was only focused on to add to the "Miracle of Dunkirk" propaganda as although small boats were present this was first and foremost a naval evacuation. The October Revolution is very romanticised in Russian propaganda and in its history, however in reality the Bolsheviks snuck in through a side door of the Winter Palace while the provisional government waited several hours to be found and arrested. Maybe not the MOST overrated events but overrated nonetheless. Reply #3. May 18 09, 3:13 PM |
Cymruambyth
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The Crusades - talk about a waste of money, lives and energy! Reply #4. May 18 09, 3:14 PM |
tnrees
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Dunkirk evacuations - had a major effect on WWII The Russian October Revolution - it may have been easy but it is affecting the world situation even now. The Mongols - They were around for quite a time & had a major effect on the peoples they conquered - they have been blamed for russian paranoia among other things. Reply #5. Jun 05 09, 5:53 AM |
Rowena8482
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I think the small boats at Dunkirk were very important - they were to me anyway, one of them brought my Father in law back and thus enabled my husband and children to exist now. On the 60th anniversary, someone asked my Father in law about that day and all he said was "aye, we got a bit wet there for a while". Reply #6. Jun 05 09, 5:58 AM |
papasmurf13
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the assassination of archduke ferdinand. i only say this as other events had geared all the parties involved towards the eventuality of war. this was the straw that broke the camels back but if this event didn't happen, there was just any other event waiting to kick off the war. i understand if people disagree with me but its just the way i see it. Reply #7. Jun 05 09, 7:03 PM |
| stuthehistoryguy
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The fall of the Berlin Wall. A marquee event, but only a scant symptom of profound changes that began years before - and would not reach their zenith for a good long while. Reply #8. Jun 05 09, 8:01 PM |
| doublemm
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I know what you’re saying, the small boats did play an important role. However, there were far less small boats present than told to the public in the propaganda. The majority of the rescues were made by large boats. And for the October Revolution I'm not saying the outcome was overrated (it was very significant) I'm saying that the event itself was sensationalised. Reply #9. Jun 06 09, 7:04 AM |
mikejamillon
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The Monica Lewinsky - Pres. Bill Clinton tryst, I'd say. Reply #10. Jun 11 09, 10:41 PM |
houston1127
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I would say the current semi-deificatition of the DDay landings in Normandy are comletely over rated. Sure, the opening of a second front helped bring an earlier end to the war, but to see recent officials fawn over the event would have many believe Jesus himself donned a helmet and stormed Utah beach. Be careful that history is not reduced to a handful of canonized episodes. Reply #11. Jun 12 09, 2:24 AM |
| Cymruambyth
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I'm going to get a lot of angry reaction for this, but the World Trade Centre attack could be included in this category. Yes, a lot of people died on September 11, 2001, but thousands more have died since because of the war in Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11) and Afghanistan. Reply #12. Jun 15 09, 10:14 PM |
| houston1127
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Cym, I am going to agree with you. That episode--horrible and malicious as it was--has been used as an exuse to assert unrelated foreign policy goals and to implement a tighter domestic security state in the US. Overreaction is hardly the appropriate word. We should be utterly outraged at the government officials and their media accomplices who exploited that event for their nefarious adventures. Iraq, indeed! Reply #13. Jun 15 09, 10:43 PM |
| houston1127
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Also, now I need a passport to get back into my own country from Canada!? Ridiculous! Reply #14. Jun 15 09, 10:45 PM |
| kthnos
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The discovery of America from Columbus. He wasnt the first. Vikings had already gone centuries before in North America.. Reply #15. Jun 16 09, 4:20 AM |
BxBarracuda
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It is a shame that the reaction has overshadowed the event. The event is also very recent and certainly has been overexposed, especially in the first five years after 2001. I don't think those factors should take away from the enormity and devestation of the event. These were civlians, including rescue workers and airplane passengers, killed in a devastingly graphic manner, that the whole world watched unfold live, because the non govermental symbol the building they worked in represented. Reply #16. Jun 16 09, 4:30 AM |
| tnrees
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Other people got there first but Columbus did start regular large scale contact so I would say it is significant - Same with all the other Europeans who discovered places that the people who lived there had known about for ages. Reply #17. Jun 16 09, 5:39 AM |
| Cymruambyth
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tnrees, you make a good point. I have native North American friends who regard "the discovery" of the Americas as a joke. As they point out, how do you discover something which millions of people - namely the indigenous North and South Americans and Caribbeans - already knew about? Perhaps we need to find a new word/phrase - first contact, for instance - to describe the events of 1492, 1497 and ensuing voyages of exploration. Reply #18. Jun 16 09, 7:52 PM |
| Cymruambyth
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Further to my previous post, one of favourite cartoons depicts a trio of native North Americans watching a European galleon dropping anchor offshore, with a caption that reads "Well, there goes the neighbourhood." Reply #19. Jun 16 09, 7:56 PM |
stldsf1
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Columbus' voyage is not overrated. Granted he may not have been the first, but the Viking expeditions did not open up the America's to colonization and lead to the triangular trade routes. Columbus's voyage did. If anything the Viking voyage to America had zero impact. Reply #20. Jun 25 09, 7:04 AM |
165 replies. On page 1 of 9 pages. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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