History of the common people

In the present era, history has come out of the confines of the elite and reached the masses, which has led to an interest in history among the common people, as well as feelings of national identity and pride.

A man looks at a 900-year-old statue of the Hindu god Shiva, dubbed the 'Golden Boy', brought back from the United States in Bangkok on May 21, 2024 

History of the common people

In the present era, history has come out of the confines of the elite and reached the masses, due to which the common people have become interested in history and have developed feelings of national identity and pride in them.

Now history has left the educational institutions and entered people's homes.

History is undergoing changes over time. A type of history is academic in which the historian constructs history with the help of primary sources.

Initially, this history covered a wide range of topics. Like Edward Gibbon's book on the Roman Empire (Destined Fall of Roman Empire).

But now, instead of breadth, one aspect of civilization or empire is researched in depth, such as the bath in the Roman period or the postal system in the Iranian period.

This scholarly history, written with references, is confined to scholarly circles, and reaches the general public when it is presented in simple language.

Along with the advancement of knowledge and technology and people's interest in history, on the one hand there are historians who emphasize the importance of historical figures in simple language and with few references.

These personalities include rulers, military generals, writers, poets, artists, architects and religious saints.

Some of them are those who have left their memoirs, diaries and correspondence. These provide important information about their covenant.

In modern times, radio, television, cinema, newspapers and magazines have also popularized history. Newspapers and magazines continue to publish similar articles on historical topics.

Historical documents are presented on radio, television, but the most important are historical films.

Modern man has a romantic relationship with the past. He cannot bring back the past but it can be reflected through films, for example a Russian filmmaker has made a five-hour film on Tolstoy's (d.1910) famous novel 'War and Peace'.

There is also a Hollywood movie on the same novel. Hollywood and European filmmakers have depicted the ancient and medieval history of Greece, Rome and Europe in films in such a way that the viewer is transported to that era.

The imperial countries of Europe that were once colonial powers. Having lost them, they are left with their memories.

This can be inferred from the fact that not only novels and books were written on his rule over India in Britain but also numerous films were made which remind him of his rule over India.

One of their aims is to remember the glorious past by showing it on the big screen in the form of films and inculcate feelings of nationalism and pride in the people.

This situation arises when nations go through decline.

Apart from films, historical dramas also try to bring back the past.

When actors come on stage in historical costumes and deliver dialogues, sometimes they bring Greek plays to life and sometimes Shakespeare's plays bring back the past.

These historical dramas become so popular that they are duplicated over the years.

Students view a statue of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Sofia on May 18, 2024 

One way to bring back the past is to re-enact old historical events, especially wars, such as Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812 AD.

Now the Russians show their national pride by reproducing the attack in its original form. Now this process of holding that date is going on in America and European countries.

Seeing these scenes, people mentally go back in time. Television documentaries have also played an important role in bringing history to the people.

Like documenting how humans spread out of Africa and spread across the world. It is titled 'Unbelievable Journey'.

The discovery of archeology has also given a new dimension to history by bringing to light the disappearance of ancient civilizations.

This gives an idea of ​​the evolutionary stages that humans took, which sometimes makes it difficult to say whether ancient civilizations were more advanced than ours.

Just like the problem of building the Egyptian pyramids has not been solved till now.

Another way to preserve the past is to build medieval and medieval villages in England and Germany where people were kept for a period of time to live the life of a bygone era.

Live in the houses of that covenant. It was then investigated what the residents gained from the experience. How did you feel the difference between ancient and modern?

Museums have also played an important role in disseminating history to the people. The major museums of the world have galleries from ancient times to the modern era.

These galleries include the tools and sculptures of their era which gives an idea of ​​the evolution of the civilization.

Historical exhibitions are also organized by the museum, for example, exhibitions of Egyptian historical artefacts are held in Europe and America, which reduces the difference between superior and inferior civilizations.

The Albert and Victoria Museum in England has artifacts from the Mughal era that they often exhibit.

The British Museum has traces of world civilizations. Thousands of people here recognize the importance of history by seeing them daily.

When history becomes public, historians give it a new life by telling the history of the lower classes.

Among them are the toils of farmers, factory workers, women engaged in domestic work, settlements of lower class people, idle and vagrant youth, beggars, fraud, poverty and new crimes, when it All are a part of history, so the picture of the whole society emerges.

So the question is, although history reaches the public through various channels, do elites and common people find it merely a source of entertainment or do they learn something from it?

As far as Pakistanis are concerned. They are wandering in the circle of their own civilization, unaware of world history and ancient civilizations.

Until their mind gets out of its past glory and understands the realities of the present age. Until that time, the knowledge of history will remain useless for our society.