Introduction: Historical Context and Its Significance
The analysis of any significant person in history, who took part in a specific event, their values and beliefs, etc. starts with gathering the facts about the epoch in the course of which the event in question took place. Though the given method of values analysis has proven to be quite legitimate, its usefulness and reasonability may be questioned.
However, despite the obvious significance of the family background and the specifics of personality, the analysis of historical background is crucial for understanding the values and moral principles of the people, who organized the event or took part in it.
Where the Necessity Comes from Historical Background as the Key to Understanding
Though every single event in the history of a state, be it a political, an economic or a cultural one, is always viewed through the prism of its historical background. As a result, the values of the people, who were in favor of the event taking place, are necessarily viewed through the lens of the historical backdrop.
The necessity to consider the moral, ethical and cultural values of the event participants from the historical environment, i.e., the political doctrine, the societal morals, etc., might be underrated considerably, especially if the event is assessed in a very black-and-white manner at present. However, such an attitude is fraught with serious consequences, such as the misrepresentation of the prevent participants, their goals, and mission. As a result, even such dubious events as the Vietnam War can be analyzed objectively (Moss, 2010).
Indeed, it should be noted that the historical background is a necessary component of evaluating the aspirations of the participants. For instance, when considering the values of the people, who were involved in a war, it is very easy to succumb to the stereotypical thinking and attribute their motivations to political aggressiveness and the need to annex more areas.
However, when taking a closer look at the historical context, one may find out that the people, who were recruited as soldiers, may have had no other choice but to join the army or to be charged with the betrayal of the state and its interests. Therefore, to have a clear and unbiased overview of the factors that contributed to the actions of the people involved, one will have to analyze the historical context of the event discussed.
The Helpfulness of the Historical Backdrop: Learning the Motivations and Aspirations of the Participants
Addressing a specific moment in the history of any state is practically impossible without gathering information on the economic, financial, and social issues, which the residents of the state in question were dealing at the time. Seeing how the historical background provides the information about the people that were at the helm on the time slot of the interest, the context above makes it possible to figure out what atmosphere the participants of the alleged event lived in and, therefore, what they were guided by.
More to the point, the key specifics of the culture of the participants can be identified with the help of the historical context. The historical background, therefore, should be viewed as a tool that can be very helpful in understanding the motivations and the aspirations of the people, who took part in a specific historical event. The historical backdrop may serve as a means to restore the environment of the era in question and analyze the factors that shaped people’s beliefs and values.
While one must not overestimate the effects that the environment has on a certain person, one must admit that the historical (i.e., political, economic, financial and cultural) environment defies the moral standards, according to which the society functions. Seeing how major events are traditionally the product of the social beliefs and values, one must admit that the background of the era is inseparable from the events that the era under consideration produced (Tisdell, 2009).
Where the Historical Analysis Might Get Tricky: Doubting the Accuracy of the Facts
Though the historical background is a crucial element in the analysis of the values that the participants held close to their heart, it is an admittedly complex subject matter to deal with. There is no secret that obtaining accurate historical data becomes increasingly more difficult as time passes; as a rule, several decades after a specific event took place, its purely objective evaluation, not to mention the assessment of the participants’ values, becomes practically impossible.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that different sources for assessing the values of the people, who took part in specific historical events, should be taken into consideration in the process of the analysis. The more opinions on the issue are provided, the more objective and faithful to the original conflict the picture is going to be.
Nevertheless, it is still worth keeping in mind that in a number of cases, the true values of the participants of a specific event are left behind the scene even after the analysis of the historical background (Jost, Federico & Napier, 2009).
Conclusion: What Lessons the History Has to Offer
Though often underrated, the analysis of the historical context is crucial for understanding the values and moral standpoint of the people, who participated in a specific historical event. Historical context predetermines the cultural, social, and political environment, in which people live. As a result, their values are not only informed but also defined by their historical background.
Reference List
Jost, J. T., Federico, C. M. & Napier, J. L. (2009). Political ideology: Its structure, functions, and elective affinities. Annual Review of Psychology, 60(1), 307–337.
Moss, G. D. (2010). Vietnam: An American ordeal. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Person Education, Ltd.
Tisdell, C. (2009). Economic reform and openness in China: China’s development policies in the last 30 years. Economic Analysis and Policy, 39(2), 271–294.