ToK/IRL II

-Can one talk meaningfully of a historical fact? How far can we speak with certainty about anything in the past?

History can be spoken with certainty to a certain point in the past. We can say that we generally understood what happened, but we may not have all the information, and some information may be ignored. For example, the biography of John Marshall at http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1953/marshall-bio.html shows him to be a very peaceful man. However, if we look at other evidence he created the Marshall Plan.

Another example is Kruschev's so-called secret speech. Many thought that this speech was intended to reach a larger audience. However, the information at http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/history_workshop_journal/v062/62.1rettie.html shows that Kruschev never wanted the speech to be secret, and took special steps so that it wouldn't be.

A third example is the biography of David Ben-Gurion, listed at http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/ben_gurion.html. It gives the impression of a peaceful leader. But it was later proved that Ben Gurion's men started many of the wars in the middle east.

These sources show how we should be cautious in being certain about history.

In-Class Work 4/15/10

1. What were the results of the six day war?
Israel completely defeated the Arabs, winning the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai and the Golan Heights. They kept these territories. They also now had air superiority.
2. Why did Egypt and Syria attack Israel in 1973?
They wanted their land back, and now they had enough support from oil-bearing states and the USSR, as well as USSR surface-to-air missiles. They also had a perfect attack plan.
3. What happened in the early stages of the war?
At first, the Israelis were completely defenseless. Because of the perfect planning of the attack and the fact that it was on a holy day, it took 3 days to mobilize their troops.
4. What steps led to an Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty?
The US helped the Saudis get back on their feet so they would sell the US oil again. President Sadat and the Israeli Prime Minister agreed to peace.
5. What were the results of the Camp David meeting?
A treaty was made to withdraw Israeli troops from Sinai, to give Egypt Sinai over three years, and to give Israelis passage through the Suez canal.