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Right, so first
Chatterbox: Down to Earth
Right, so first
Right, so first day posting and I'm going to try my hand at creating my own thread. I'm a huge history buff and I really can't get enough of those periods I love (Ancient Rome, Medieval Europe, Ancient Mayans, Classical Greece). But I've noticed that there are certain periods or subjects that I simply can't even pretend an interest in (like the Civil War, Indian history, or Tudor England).
I was just curious to hear what all of your favorite (and least-favorite) historical eras were... and if you have any favorite people from those eras.
submitted by Tempest, age Lucky 13, Here.
(March 26, 2010 - 10:44 pm)
(March 26, 2010 - 10:44 pm)
Welcome!
Hmm.... favorite historical periods.... Well. I don't know. I know what you mean about not even pretending an interest in some eras... kinda rude, but who can help it, you know?
Well, I'm a sucker for historical fiction. Sadly I can't be bothered with ACTUAL history. Too much of it's the same. Someone's born, they become a king, or they conquer some new land, they die tragically. Bleh. Too much of it if you ask me. Much of it's the same now anyway, just with more modern equipment, and slightly more civil ways of going about things. Mind you, I said slightly.
No, I like the little details, life styles, houses, foods, clothing, animals, the flowers they grew in their gardens. I like to actually attempt to picture myself in another time, and I need MAJOR detail to do that. Sometimes what I read can be a bit purple (as in purple prose, as in over flowery and descriptive), but that can be good if it's not toooooo sicky sweet. Because I really get to hear the last detail. I live for detail.
(Just to save myself from future embarrassment, are you a boy or a girl?? I usually get mixed up unless the name is obvious... and believe me, even if no one else cares, I get super embarrassed. :D )
So anyway, WELCOME!!!
I'm Laura, by the way! :D
I even am going to put my age and location. (I don't usually bother anymore...)
(March 27, 2010 - 1:10 pm)
First off, I'm a girl. So there's that.
I understand what you mean about finding history boring... sometimes it is. The way I look at it though is not in terms of the big happenings (guy becomes king, tries to kill other king because he wants to be a cooler king, etc.), but the little stories that can come out of it. It's not always the rulers who have the most interesting lives, but those of, say, their guards, or advisors, or even their soldiers. And part of finding these stories is, as you say, imagining yourself in that time period (which I LOVE to do as well).
I like reading historical fiction too, but only in limited doses. And some of the historical fiction out there is nothing more than a backdrop for some sappy romance story. (Blech. Gag me with a spoon.)
And thanks for the warm welcome (and responding to my thread!), I appreciate it. Always nice to hear other people's thoughts!
(March 27, 2010 - 3:36 pm)
Hee, you're welcome!!!
Yes, I agree, often it's only for love, which I'll admit I do like sometimes... but no, I certainly like the ones about life in general then better. Heh. Since it's mostly the same now anyway with love stories.
Um... yes, limited doses, definitely!! Too much of it can be extremely overwhelming. I used to only read historical fiction, until one day I gagged at the sight of it. So then I took a break and read some fantasy, and some books set in the 2000s (which I had detested before), and now I'm back to liking historical fiction, but most certainly not all together.
(March 30, 2010 - 1:14 pm)
I feel exactly the same way about history. And I mean the way Laura feels and also how you, Tempest, feels. I love tiny details and I also have trouble liking most american history. I would rather read about the Greeks or Romans or ancient China or Egypt. And I love reading different, erm, religion tales, would you call them? I mean, I love reading Roman and Greek myths and Indian creation tales and such. My favorites are myths, though. I love learning about the Greek gods. I much prefer the Greeks to the Romans. The romans ( I'll even refrain from capitalizing their name.) just seem like impostors stealing the Greek gods.The earliest american history that I like is maybe the Revolutionary war. Haha, I don;t normally do this, but the spam thing says "faky". ROman fakers! *high fives spam box*
(March 27, 2010 - 5:14 pm)
ha ha..........................
um i like greek history, midevil, WWI and WWII, and the great depression
(March 27, 2010 - 7:21 pm)
Medieval Times is cool. Ancient Greek Mythology is cool too. (thanks Percy J.) When the Europeans first "discovered" (note quotation marks) America and Canada is pretty interesting too. Anyways, welcome to CB! (Chatterbox) Hope you have a fun time here! *Olive says Hi* And if you're wondering, Olive is a very good friend, not twin/sister.
(March 27, 2010 - 6:39 pm)
Aaah! Don't tell me you hate the Romans! *Sigh* Well, I suppose in the spirit of this post I should be prepared to hear things like that. And yes, you're totally right when you say the Romans "stole" the Greek gods and made them into Roman versions, but that's kind of why I love them. They took gods and goddesses (not just the Greek ones) and Romanized them... I suspect because it made it easier to keep newly conquered lands under control.
Yeah, the greek/roman myths are by far my favorites. I remember reading bulfinch's Mythology as a third grader like six times. I like these kind of stories the best because the gods aren't perfect... they're human. They get jealous, they make really awful and stupid decisions sometimes, and they can fall in love with humans. It's like a novel on a cosmic scale, I guess!
I totally agree with you in finding American history uninteresting. My only exception is the "Roaring 20's" because that time is hilariously cool. Clothes started getting weirder, people had to go to secret clubs to *coughcough* "imbibe" *coughcough*, and industrial America was finally starting to take shape. (The process of taking shape is boring... I kind of like seeing history like a TV makeover, you know, with the "before" and "after" pics!) But yeah, otherwise, American history holds no sway for me. I much prefer European history (perhaps because there's more of it?).
How do you guys feel about vikings? My brother's obsessed, and I must say, they're actually quite fascinating (once you get past all the *cough* imbibing *cough* and warmongering). Did you know they've found artifacts from ancient China in Viking hoards? I thought that was cool.
(March 27, 2010 - 7:02 pm)
Vikings? They were awesome. They had long beards and horn hats! I wrote a story on the battle between the Vikings and the Irish in blrgblblm. Actually, I think it was around 1000 something. I forget. Anyway, it was about the Battle of Clontarf, between the High King of Ireland at the time, Brian Boru, and Sigtrygg Silkbeard (and another thing about Vikings, they have amazing names.) and a bunch of other clans and groups. The story was for school ( I am home schooled, and it is new for me, so it's weird.) and I kind of hated it when I finally finished with it, but since it was my idea to write it after learning about the fall of Rome and such, I had to keep on. It was kind of fun but I think I kind of got sloppy towards the end. I think it ended up being like 15 pages long. It involves gruesome deaths (for instance, Wolf the Quarrelsome ((another great name)) slices open Brodir of the Isle of Man's tummy and leads him around in a circle until all his guts have fallen out. But, seeing as he is still not dead, he chops his head off. I did not make that part up, though I had to improvise at times.) and arguments and life changing decisions and horse riding. I think I have said enough. Obviously you understand now that it was a super duper story.
Anyway, I have always been interested in the Vikings. Have you ever read the Sea of Trolls by Nancy Farmer? Those books are all about the Northmen and Anglo-Saxons and such. And also trolls. I have also always been interested in trolls, of course. Yes, I definitely think European history is way more interesting. All parts of it are. I enjoy the very earliest American history, but other than that, meh. I do like learning about the depression though. I don't know why. I think I just like learning about how people survived during it. And I like reading books from that era. I like the late 1800's and early 1900's, maybe because of the people who lived then (Mark Twain, Lewis Caroll, James Barry, Anne Shirley, yes even fictional people count.) and also because of the products. I even have a typewriter from the 1920's. I love my typewriter. I also love the idea of Victorian life in London and such. I know I romanticize about it quite a lot, but I can't help seeing the world with a rosy color, even though I know the world was not a great place back then. Perhaps I live the victorian age because it was a mix between modern and old fashioned. They was new technology and ground breaking discoveries going on all the time, but they still seemed to have a good blend of old and new. Today we have just new. Blehk. But I still enjoy living in today. It is a good day to live in, I think, though it could be improved by gazillions.
(March 29, 2010 - 2:14 pm)
My favorite period is definitely ancient china. it is soo cool! but i also love medieval japan and everything about the huns! eastern history i guess is the best in my opinion!
-VA-
(March 27, 2010 - 10:04 pm)
HELLO!!!! I'm a girl, too. Hehe, I've been asked that, too, because I only use my initials. I haven't been on for a while because I had two sleepovers over the weekend and I just got back last night. Anywho, I really like so many eras. I like World War II, I like Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome, I also like the Civil War. Hmm, I don't have a favorite. Thanks! I hope you stay here, at the Chatterbox, where crazy minds rarely think alike. ;) (I just made that up.... kinda weird and random :)
(March 28, 2010 - 11:01 am)
Haha, I've kinda been neglecting as well... sleepovers, fun, but very disrupting. :) Plus, what with all the Easter preparations, I have NOT been coming on, and that's been leaving me feeling very guilty, so I decided to come on now, even though I'm exhausted, smell like rabbit, have itchy scalp from a cute new scratchy headband, messy hair from taking off the headband, dazed feeling from finishing a book and having spent the night up-side-down. Needless to say, it took a bit of work to come on here, but I'm here, and I interrupted a software update to do so. Dad just went to bed. It's only eleven thirty.... Very early compared to the usual. Good for him. w00t for maybe demolishing our family's habit of not enough sleep at night and too much in the morning. All I can say is, it's a good thing I'm homeschooled, or I'd never survive. Goodness I'm babbling. You can tell I've not been on for a few days... plus, my typing is sloppy, I keep having to stop and delete!!! Arg.
*no, I didn't actually sleep upside down, I just consider it upside down when I sleep with my head on the wrong end of the bed. I got practically no sleep... I always wake up a million times when I sleep somewhere new. I suppose I could have just turned myself around, but what's the fun in that?? Anyway, I really should be getting to bed. Hopefully in the morning my lungs will have cleared. I discovered a few years ago that I seem to be allergic to the pollen from our tree out front, and it gives me dreadfully congested lungs. I used to think I just got mildly sick every year at this time. Well, since it happens every year, my brain finally decided to be smart and sort it out, so I've decided I'm allergic. Whether I actually am or not is not important. I can tell it's not a cold because even though for a few days my nose was a bit stuffy, I have a clear head (except for the usual lack-of-sleep grogginess) and I don't feel like a cold, so in my mind that means I haven't got one. Just a scratchy throat, unhappy lungs, and a nasty cough that just happens to be the kind that slides over the itchy part of your lungs, rather than shooing it away, yet the coughing is inevitable, and I can't seem to go without it. Plus my voice is funny and a bit high pitched, and gets stopped every once in a while by my yucky lungs.
Anyway!!! Sorry for all the info you probably didn't want. Heh. I can be that way once in a while. Usually when I haven't seen someone for a while.... Funny how time seems longer on here. I guess it's because so much more happens here than in real life, and if you don't keep up, you don't go on for a few days, everything is different, all the new threads are old, and there are new people, new topics, new bands you've never heard of, and you just have to go with the flow and hope you can fit your story in somewhere without it sounding too out of date, and you babble, just like I am now.
I won't be sad if no one reads this, it's long, and boring, and has too many details, but I thought I'd give you all an update on my thrilling life. Love you all, see you in morning, I hope. If the pollen hasn't eaten me by then.
At least I know someone will read this (Admin, poor poor Admin), even if they don't have a choice. Sorry I'm always so long winded, Admin. You'd be surprised, but in RL, I often go for hours without saying a word. I'm a listener. I like to notice things other people don't. My mom often asks when I'm in the car with her and my brother, and I'm in the back, "Is Laura still here, I haven't heard her in a while" and I'll croak an answer and laugh a scratchy laugh, because I've not spoken in so long.
Sorry. This was meant to end twenty minutes ago. Goodbye.
S'okay, Laura, I don't mind reading long posts... as long as they're not boring. I've now learned a little about pollen allergies and their effect on one's lungs, so I'm quite content. Welcome back.
Admin
(March 30, 2010 - 1:54 am)
Haha, Admin, you're so tolerant!!! Yes, erm, I got the *subtle* hint..... :D :D :D :D
And thank you, I like being welcomed back!! It's got a nice feeling. :)
I do what I can.
Admin
(March 30, 2010 - 1:00 pm)
Well Admin, as it turns out, just as I was getting done with my coughing, it came back with full force and turned into a horrible cold. I think it wouldn't be so bad is my head didn't hurt so much. Though, I think the worst of it is the fact that I couldn't finish my dinner because my jaw and tongue hurt so much, not to mention the food was bland and watery (according to my misaligned taste buds) Anyway, See you later. All I want is to go back to bed, and yet I'm dreading that because waking up when I have a cold is the worst possible time. Also, last night I couldn't sleep, I kept waking up every hour or so because I was so uncomfortable. Yech. Uuuuhhhhgggggg. My poor head!!!!
p.s. sorry for the update you probably could do without.... :)
Oh no! We all hope you feel better soon. Have you tried lavender to help you sleep? I have a little bottle of lavender essential oil, and putting a few drops on my pillow is super relaxing. You could also put a sprig of lavender underneath your pillow so that you smell it...and never underestimate the sleep-inducing powers of warm milk and a warm bath!
Admin
(April 6, 2010 - 11:31 pm)
Thank you Admin!!! I already feel a lot better today. Pretty much the worst of it now is that my ears are blocked, so I can barely hear everyone, which is a problem, especially because I'm partially deaf in my left ear already. But I seem to be on the mend, and hopefully by friday I'll be back in singing class. I will keep lavender in mind, I hadn't thought of that, because my parents are both very sensitive when it comes to strong scents, so we don't often have things like that around, but I love lavender, so I'll try and find something. :) Thanks again, you guys are always so great!
You're welcome, as always!
Admin
(April 8, 2010 - 2:01 am)
Thanks, R~D~! I pretty much love all your favorite eras too (except of course, the Civil War). I'm definitely liking it here at the Chatterbox, though I think my activities are going to be limited to only a few threads... I'm not a fan of this Warriors series, which seems to cut my participation down by half. :) I'm a big fan of both WW's as well--I'm fascinated by how different the weapons and strategies are even though the two wars occurred less than 30 years apart.
And this has nothing really to do with history, but the first time I saw your name, I thought of "R2D2!" I just thought that was cute, though obviously I know that's probably not what you were going for!
Virginia-- First of all, I love your state! But unfortunately, eastern history is another one of those eras that doesn't have much pull for me. Really can't say why, though... My mom loves it... we have a bunch of oriental artifacts and decorations in our house. But aside from thinking they're pretty, that's all I really care about them. I will acknowledge that the Huns are pretty cool though.
(March 28, 2010 - 11:58 am)