a lesson in history

When an important event happened, the date of that particular event is recorded and remembered. Whatever had happened; lessons are learnt from. And we make changes and improvements and we adapt. And so we tell ourselves that the past had shaped the future.

Important events that happened in the past will be remembered; stories told and retold, heard and purged, the facts analyzed and reorganized, until a 'relevant' (and feasible) string of facts is achieved. A line of events that is recognized and acknowledged by the people (handling the facts).

History is not really made by the maharajahs of yesterday. It is made by the scholars of today. Those who got their hands on the manuscripts first. Those who heard the stories first. Those who realized their important roles in passing on the facts they accumulated, albeit after some analysis and addition of their own opinions, the way they see it. And this practice of passing on facts along with opinions and analysis is carried on. Ultimately, when the facts is to be presented, the condition and general opinion of the (current) public will be taken into consideration. Whatever happened in the past will be told, but only the way we want to hear it. The way we prefer it heard.

So really, is it the past that shaped the future? Or is it the other way around?