An analysis of bias in historical accounts of ancient Mali.
Written in 2005; 1,265 words; 4 sources; MLA; $ 42.95
Paper Summary:
The early history of Mali is preserved in numerous ways, through oral history in Africa and through the writings of early Muslim scholars, for example. Each of these methods carries with it an obvious measure of impartiality; yet, in an age where more "objective" modern history is unavailable, these early accounts are all that we have in determining Mali's past. How should these histories be treated, and in what ways are they valid? Using the history of Mali, this paper discusses the various ways in which the past is recorded, and the validity of each of these as determinants of what we would consider "objective history".
From the Paper:
"There is no perhaps no subject as vital to individual and cultural identity, and yet often so curiously resistant to impartiality, than history. Even modern scholars, working in an age of fierce objectivity, cannot agree on such a seemingly simple issue as the racial composition of ancient Egypt or the spread of medieval Islam, and wage war over major aspects of events as recent as Vietnam. The reasons for this disagreement, naturally, often involve the individual beliefs of historians, including their religious and cultural values, their desire for a history that glorifies their ancestry, and many other factors that could more commonly be termed "biases." These biases have an immense impact on how the stark framework of historical fact is colored by individual viewpoints, a process that often results in the creation of many clashing accounts, each with its own unique perspective and intent. This issue is particularly exemplified by the struggle to interpret the history of African kingdoms such as Mali, whose many historians have produced a dazzling - if complicated - array of written and oral records. Examination of these various records and the biases within them provides a window into a globally-significant ancient civilization, and, perhaps more importantly, helps us understand the role of biases and their importance in our understanding of the ancient world."
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