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submitted 11 months ago by ybl@lemmygrad.ml to c/literature@lemmygrad.ml

My understanding of history is pretty pathetic, and I am trying to improve it. Looking for a book that isn’t revisionist, racist, or full of colonial apologia. Something that goes as far back as the 15th century would be perfect.

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[-] ThatMagickBastard@lemmygrad.ml 13 points 11 months ago
[-] ybl@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 11 months ago

I appreciate this recommendation, thanks! Do you have any suggestions for books that are not centered around America?

[-] QueerCommie@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

A people’s history of the world by Chris Harman, Open veins of Latin America, how Europe underdeveloped Africa, anything by Gerald Horne, the age of series by Hobsbawm, 1491, 1493, (actually those last two might be Americas focused), Micheal Hudson’s work, and that’s all I can think of for world history back to then.

[-] ybl@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks, I wouldn't mind reading history focused on America but once I get a macro understanding of the history. It might take my incompetent brain some time to digest all the suggestions here but I'll get there zoidberg saluting 1

[-] afellowkid@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 11 months ago

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney

[-] TrismegistusMx@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity by David Graeber, David Wengrow is accessible and portrays history from the perspective of the colonized. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dawn_of_Everything

I will say that it neglects much of African and Asian history. It's a good look at what was happening in Europe and the Americas though.

[-] ybl@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 11 months ago

I like this one a lot, thank you!

[-] AnarchoBolshevik@lemmygrad.ml 7 points 11 months ago

James W. Loewen’s Lies my teacher told me: everything your American history textbook got wrong. Taught me that Wall St. was originally a spot where Europeans marketed slaves.

[-] supersolid_snake@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago

Memory of fire trilogy and open veins of latin america.

[-] ybl@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 11 months ago

For anyone interested, links to the books recommended here

[-] goosehorse@livesound.world 2 points 11 months ago

Someone else mentioned my favorite anthropologist, David Graeber, and I'm working through that book right now!

Another anthropologist, Eric Wolf, wrote Europe and the People Without History, which you might also find interesting.

It covers the time span you're looking for, and focuses on how global, political-economic trajectories were shaped by the "people without history" (the colonized).

this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2023
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