History is written by winners Eh?

yagnyavalkya

The age old adage goes that History is written by winners
Is it true entirely or have you come across any losers account in history that is thought provoking
Is all history is written by winners then how much of it is the truth

Genesiz

Of course it is. You never hear accounts from the losers, because most of the time they are dead. But no seriously, history has a lot of bias, and this is just the beginning. If you read through history text boks, you will notice that there is some well hidden bias in what is written.

Also, the content is very biased. You don't have to look very far to see.

neroyert

History is written from a variety of points of view, that's why it's so important to find and use as many sources as possible. Think about would we know that slavery (in America) was such a 'bad' thing if slaves had not found a way to record their side of the matter. Most southern records show slavery as a necessary economic practice that helped everyone involved, especially the slaves, they claimed that the slaves were too stupid and inept to care for themselves, so yes history is written by the winner, but the loser still has a say.

Shewolf

I guess, as most things, it depends. At most the history is wriiten by the winners, because they are able to make theirs view visible, and to make enough noise for the world be blinded, and only see the winning prart. But of course not in every matter.

Saysior

It is absolutely impossible to view or recount history without bias. Every word in the English language has a connotation that a speaker acknowledges, whether consciously or not. In ever struggle, we, as people, identify more with one side or the other, or perhaps a third party. Or, if you identify with both sides equally, what is there to say that that in itself is not bias, because one side was truly at fault. It is for this reason that no historian can base an original or authentic opinion on solely second-hand sources, or only a handful of first-hand sources.

I do not the "winners" are at fault for having a greater say in history, or that history is intentially biased, but it is the very nature and essence of interpretation that causes it to be this way.

medievalman26

Yes the winners do write history the way that they see it, however, there are many different versions within a single "winners" historians versions. None are truly winners because there will always be another one who will defeat them and rewrite history.