Introduction
Historical events influence society, its changes, and subsequent development. History lessons allow a person to reflect on his or her own changes in attitudes, philosophy, and following ideology. History lessons are a source of knowledge, allowing us to look at historical events from different angles. Using the lessons of history in everyday life is an opportunity to manage the development of one’s personality formation. Within the course, I noticed several points that changed my behavior and attitude: the foundations of democracy and law in Greece, the pressure of Christianity on Islam and the arts, and the confrontation of Eastern cultures.
Lessons Learnt
Greece
Ancient Greece gave birth to notions of society, the state, and the city. The Greeks changed the idea of communication through the birth of the first philosophical, social, and legal ideas and currents. Currents and ideas constantly clashed, allowing the state to develop and become stronger (Strayer and Nelson). The Greek experience has shown that such confrontations are necessary to trigger change, so I agree that truth is born in the argument.
I think Greece’s experience with internal confrontations is the most indicative measure of the progress made there, the fastest. I also think that without debate and discussion of controversial topics, one can never achieve an evolution of views and the formation of personalities. The most important historical lesson is the acceptance of the need for democracy as a fundamental component of society, without which development will be impossible.
Among the aspects that interested me about Ancient Greece, I would call the pursuit of democracy and the regulation of social relations. Not long ago, I encountered a situation where I realized I was wrong after the controversy erupted. The other side was correct in its beliefs, but I was not ready to negotiate and was very impolite by saying unpleasant words. I do not fully understand how to admit defeat and not be embarrassed about it, but be able to find common ground.
In the experience of ancient Greece, there were many situations, and now knowing about them and applying them to reality, I strive to achieve unity of opinion, or at least to understand them. It seems to me that the experience of the Greeks shows how much we cannot sometimes develop our position. The internecine wars in Greece led to armed confrontations and largely drove progress in legal and social directions. But I think it is necessary to seek the strength to accept the truth that is born in dispute and learn to interact without even figurative bloodshed.
Islamic Art
Unlike so many other art movements, Islamic art has unusual characteristics. Byzantine trends and ideas in art were quite popular in Europe, and in fact, they were the benchmark for cultural figures. Christianity played a leading role in the development of art, offering new ideas and subjects for paintings, music, and theater (Strayer and Nelson). At the same time, one cannot observe the same in Islamic culture. Islam stood aloof and constantly fought the imposition of Christian culture.
I have doubts about Christianity because some aspects raise questions for me, such as the role of women in society. I have similar questions about Islamic culture, so I am partially familiar with both the Bible and the Koran. Although there are questions about religion, I am deeply impressed by the grandeur and beauty of art in Christianity and Islam. I find the study of religion in terms of art, painting, and creativity fascinating because it sheds light on human life and living.
I am most likely an agnostic, but I am always happy to discuss art. Not long ago, I saw a work related to Islam and was struck by how different it was from a similar subject in Christianity. As I compared the pieces and tried to understand why the artists wanted to paint them, I saw that the origins lay in understanding the principles of religion and its role. People see the world differently depending on their religious experience, so understanding and respecting it is critical to social interaction.
Art in Islam is a different and unique product of a religious experience that has taught me to change my perspective and explore unfamiliar cultures. I suppose the most crucial lesson in this area for me is to rethink Christian thinking. One way or another, the American community is different, and there is almost no way we will ever understand the same issues and thoughts that members of Islam have had to deal with.
One of the lessons learned is the need to recognize diversity in terms of the cultural experiences that shape behavioral responses to events. I find it amazing the revolutionary thought that the collision between Islam and Christianity has given me – Christianity is radical, and its ideas are not always righteous. No matter how many followers tried to convince society of its absolute goodness, the encounter with Islam convinced me this was not entirely true.
Not long ago, I encountered a situation where I witnessed an openly boorish attitude toward Islam and its followers. It was unpleasant for me to witness such a scene, even though no one insulted or offended me directly. It was amazing how much I wanted to stand up for an unknown woman who was a practitioner of Islam.
The conflict was religiously motivated because the other party, a white man, hurled many insults and mentioned Jesus Christ several times. I was not ashamed to approach him and express my bewilderment, for every religion teaches love for one’s neighbor, and it is wrong to violate such an essential postulate. The man did not respond to my intervention and left without apologizing to the woman. I did it in his place and offered to help because I did not want to become someone who would inadvertently participate in the oppression of another religion. History has taught me that religious movements and ideas constantly clash. However, it has also shown that it is necessary to remain humane to one another.
Eastern Cultures
The interaction between Eastern cultures is a unique communication full of clashes and unity in worldviews. Today, India is a philosophical pillar that preaches the ideas of peace and unity. But in its history, too, there have been challenging aspects of intra-state interaction. Much of the conflict has been religious, so it is not difficult to surmise the origins of the conflicts and where they led.
Eastern art and culture are completely different from typical European and American thinking, so comprehension of origins and assumptions cannot always be distinguished (Strayer and Nelson). Many aspects are surprising because our thinking is primarily based on stereotypes. When I met people from Asia and Eastern cultures, I wondered if I was making them uncomfortable with my stereotypes. I am not entirely sure that I am not offending my acquaintances with my words and ignorance, so this lesson prompted me to turn to reflection.
I believe Eastern culture continues to be a rather prefabricated concept since I had little interest in it until a specific time. However, I have delved more deeply into the problems and clashes within Eastern cultures. This has allowed me to understand how to interact with people of a similar culture and one completely different from my own.
My experience with Eastern art and history has taught me the desire to explore and fully understand my cultural components. Nowadays, I try to reflect on every experience and benefit from it to build the communication skills that allow me to develop. I find it quite important that I have learned to manage myself and always accept cultural diversity. Still, some stereotypes do not come out of my head, but I suppose it is a matter of time and experience.
Conclusion
Consequently, different cultures and their interactions have taught me several important historical lessons. First, Greece turned me toward democracy and the development of communicative competencies with the ability to admit mistakes. The lesson learned about the importance of negotiation made it easier for me to communicate with others.
Second, the lesson about confronting Christianity and Islam in the arts demonstrated how to develop cultural competence and emotional intelligence. It taught me how to ask the right questions and seek answers with a respectful knowledge of other cultures. Finally, the diversity of Eastern cultures and their differentiation pointed me to my own stereotypes and helped me renounce at least some of them.
Work Cited
Strayer, Robert, W. and Eric W. Nelson. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History, Value Edition, Volume 1, 5th edition. Macmillan Higher Education, 2021.