fbpx
32.1 C
Islamabad
Saturday, May 18, 2024
type here...
Excerpts from History

History as a linear or a cyclic process :

By Rizwan Sikander
157
9828

Must read

Continue to the category

History as a linear or a cyclic process: Herodotus, Khaldun, and Augustine

In social sciences, we often come across different schools; in history or the philosophy of history, there are many, but prominent are two competitive claims that history is a linear or a cyclical process.

So, in this essay, a comparison of both the schools will be made in the light of the works of three famous historians: Herodotus, also known as the Father of History; Khaldun, as the Father of Social Sciences and Modern Historiography; and Augustine, a historian, and theologian.

History

Further skimming of both ideas is necessary before starting. Those who claim to be linear believe that there is a chain of events written in chronological order, and the events that happened in the past are very unlikely to take place in the future. At the same time, those like Herodotus and Khaldun believe that it is a cyclical process.

History is a mixture of the jumbled-up pattern of events that would happen and take place again. However, human behavior is unpredictable but is still predictable by looking keenly and observing the chains of events that thoroughly happened in the past.

By analyzing that pattern, humans cannot only predict the future somehow but also crack human psychology.

Khaldun, as the Father of Social Sciences

Khaldun believed that an empire lived for a life span of almost 120 years, which means four generations. He argues further that the Asabiya of society, when it grows stronger, comes into a position to overthrow the reign of Hadara, or the civilized world.

Khaldun

The Badawi, or the uncivilized, then become civilized, acquiring more lands and acquiring wealth for their luxury. Four generations later, they had forgotten all the norms of their predecessors, resulting in a weak Asabiya, and hence were attacked by another group of Badawi, resulting in the collapse of the power of the existing and a new empire starting.

Khaldun’s theory is applicable in many cases even today if we look at the American power has reached a hundred years and now in the contemporary time, the American power is encountering different challenges.

One of the major issues is China’s becoming an economic giant, which is predicted to overtake the USA by 2030. But there are some instances, like the Ottoman Empire, where this theory fails; the Ottomans ruled for 626 years.

Ottoman Empire

Augustine historian, and theologian.

Saint Augustine, on the other hand, was a converted Christian who lived in Hippo, modern-day Algeria. He wrote his famous book, “The City of God,” in response to the Romans who blamed Christianity as the sole cause of Rome’s downfall.

The City of God

Augustine followed the Religious traditions of history and was portrayed to be a chain of events imposed by God. Humans followed their unique nature to make the events happen.

He claimed that the roman downfall was due to their attitudes towards Christianity, while what remained in the Roman Empire was due to the blessings of Christianity.

In the first five chapters of “The city of God”, Augustine mentions the History of the Roman Empire. While apart from all the previous Historians of Greece and Rome, he had an approach to writing history linearly.

He believed that would not repeat itself, as humans have a unique and unpredictable nature.

Augustine

Herodotus, the Father of History

Herodotus and his counterparts in ancient Greece, like Thucydides, mostly believed in history being a cyclical process. Herodotus believed that humans have a nature that can be predicted to an extent by being observed keenly.

Herodotus, the Father of History

This way, the predictable human behavior would result in a similar event that would take place in the future. So history as a subject or a knowledge can be useful only if it can guide the generations to come about the past and to learn from history and be prepared for any next events of a similar nature.

Predicting and preparing for any type of event helps a lot. History is the backbone of all the social sciences. The events that were recorded, with no coherence in them, are mere recorded events, not history.

The histories of Herodotus, for example, are still relevant in contemporary times with a few exceptions and a few changes because of a lot of time in between and the advancement today.

Persians being defeated by the Scythians and Americans bearing heavy losses in the Vietnam War if we analyze the two wars being fought with a time difference of 2500 years have a lot many similarities and commonalities.

Both Superpowers were defeated by the hit-and-run tactics or what we came in modern strategy as Guerrilla warfare. Chronologically Ibn e Khaldun was the last in them while Herodotus was the first among three.

Though Augustine was a great thinker of his time if we look at what is more relevant today is Herodotus and Ibn e Khaldun.

History has a pattern and it repeats itself, the spread of viral diseases for instance Plague, Spanish influenza, and now Covid-19, and along with them are a lot many other viruses.

Most virus outbreaks happen due to contact with infected animals, birds, or mosquitoes, and historians have written about them. Yet again, the coronavirus came from bats. The theory of cyclical is the most dominant that makes history to be useful.

While at some points history seems to be linear but linear does not make any significant change to the human race. It is just to know the happenings of the past but when the cyclical theory applies it becomes a lot more useful.

For instance, realism in International relations has the concept of balance of power, and nuclear deterrence is never breached in the history of nuclear bombs.

According to strategists and experts, there are very few chances that two nuclear powers would ever fight directly. That is the reason nuclear deterrence is a widely discussed topic among policymakers.

Rizwan Sikander
+ posts

Rizwan Sikandar is a student of history from Quaid-e-Azam university. He has a keen eye on events which he likes to analyze on bike rides of the city from Constitution Avenue to GHQ, Rawalpindi.

Previous article
The United States and Southeast Asia:
Next article
Diplomacy of Era
- Advertisement -spot_img

More articles

157 COMMENTS

  2. Normally I do not read post on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up
    very compelled me to try and do so! Your writing taste has been surprised
    me. Thanks, very great post.

  3. My partner and I stumbled over here from a different web page
    and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you.

    Look forward to checking out your web page again.

  5. Hmm it appears like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I’ll just
    sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying
    your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole
    thing. Do you have any tips for inexperienced blog writers?
    I’d really appreciate it.

  8. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog!
    I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
    I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook
    group. Chat soon!

    my web page :: Rapid Fire Keto Review

  11. Hey there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your blog site in Opera, it looks fine but
    when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.

    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that,
    very good blog!

    my webpage: Keto Complete Reviews

  17. What i don’t realize is in fact how you are not really much
    more smartly-appreciated than you might be right now.
    You are very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly with
    regards to this subject, made me individually imagine it
    from so many varied angles. Its like women and men are not interested until it’s one
    thing to accomplish with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding.
    Always maintain it up!

    Also visit my page :: vo Naturals Hemp Gummy Bears

  19. Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a
    outstanding job!

  23. Great web site you have here.. It’s hard to find
    high quality writing like yours nowadays. I honestly appreciate people like you!

    Take care!!

  25. fantastic put up, very informative. I’m wondering
    why the other experts of this sector do not realize this. You should
    proceed your writing. I am confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!

  28. Hi there! This post could not be written any better!
    Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him.

    Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!

  29. Simply desire to say your article is as amazing. The clarity
    in your publish is just spectacular and that i could think you
    are knowledgeable in this subject. Well along with your permission let me
    to clutch your RSS feed to keep updated with imminent post.
    Thank you one million and please carry on the gratifying work.

  32. Whoa! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it
    has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!

  33. Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is an extremely neatly written article.
    I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to learn more of your helpful information. Thanks for the post.
    I will certainly comeback.

  34. It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy.
    I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you few interesting things or tips.
    Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
    I wish to read more things about it!

  35. I got this web page from my friend who informed me
    regarding this website and at the moment this time I am visiting this site and reading
    very informative posts at this time.

  36. I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by
    him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty.
    You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  38. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous
    to and you are just too wonderful. I really like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and
    the way in which you say it. You make it enjoyable and you still take care of
    to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read far more from
    you. This is really a great site.

  41. Wow, awesome blog format! How lengthy have you
    ever been running a blog for? you make running a
    blog look easy. The whole glance of your web site is fantastic, as neatly as the content material!

  42. Thanks for your personal marvelous posting! I definitely enjoyed reading it, you will be a great author.I will
    ensure that I bookmark your blog and will often come back from
    now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great writing,
    have a nice evening!

  47. I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but good topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more.
    Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.

  48. Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
    and found that it is truly informative. I’m gonna
    watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this
    in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.
    Cheers!

  50. You actually make it seem so easy with your
    presentation but I find this topic to be really something that I think I would never
    understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me.
    I’m looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the
    hang of it!

  51. Hey there! I’ve been following your weblog
    for some time now and finally got the courage to
    go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted
    to say keep up the excellent work!

  52. Its like you read my mind! You appear to grasp a lot approximately this, like
    you wrote the ebook in it or something. I feel that you just can do with
    a few p.c. to drive the message house a little bit,
    but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A great read.
    I will definitely be back.

  55. After looking over a few of the blog posts on your web site, I
    truly appreciate your way of blogging. I added it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back
    in the near future. Please visit my website too and tell me what
    you think.

  56. Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better!
    Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to
    him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

  58. Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to mention that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your weblog posts.
    After all I will be subscribing on your feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!

  63. Hello there! I simply want to offer you a huge thumbs
    up for the great information you have right here on this post.

    I’ll be coming back to your blog for more soon.

  66. Hello there I am so excited I found your site, I really found you
    by error, while I was searching on Digg for something else,
    Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say many thanks for a
    marvelous post and a all round interesting blog (I also
    love the theme/design), I don’t have time to browse it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I
    will be back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the excellent work.

  68. Fantastic items from you, man. I have take into accout your stuff prior to
    and you’re simply extremely fantastic. I really like what you have obtained right here, certainly like what
    you’re saying and the way during which you say it. You make it enjoyable and
    you continue to care for to stay it smart. I cant wait to read
    much more from you. That is really a terrific site.

  70. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something.
    I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog.
    A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

  71. Simply desire to say your article is as surprising. The clarity to your
    submit is just excellent and i could suppose you
    are a professional in this subject. Fine along with your permission let me to snatch your
    RSS feed to keep up to date with impending post.
    Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the enjoyable work.

  72. Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am inspired!

    Very helpful info specially the closing part 🙂 I deal with
    such information much. I used to be looking for this particular
    information for a long time. Thanks and good luck.

  74. It’s actually a cool and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
    Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  77. Thanks for your marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future.
    I want to encourage one to continue your great writing, have a
    nice holiday weekend!

  84. Magnificent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just too
    excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here, really like
    what you are stating and the way in which you say it.
    You make it enjoyable and you still care for to keep it sensible.
    I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous website.

  85. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this website.
    I’m hoping to see the same high-grade content from you later on as well.
    In fact, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get
    my own blog now 😉

  86. Unquestionably believe that that you said. Your favorite justification appeared to
    be on the web the simplest thing to take into accout
    of. I say to you, I definitely get irked whilst folks consider issues that they plainly don’t recognise about.
    You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as neatly as outlined out the whole
    thing with no need side-effects , folks could take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thank you

  88. I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this
    post was good. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to
    a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!

  92. Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice whilst you amend your web site, how can i subscribe for a weblog web site?
    The account aided me a applicable deal. I have been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered brilliant clear idea

  93. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
    I do not know who you are but certainly you’re
    going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  94. Great post. I used to be checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired!
    Extremely useful info particularly the final section :
    ) I maintain such information a lot. I used to be seeking this particular info for
    a long time. Thank you and good luck.

  95. A person essentially lend a hand to make significantly posts I would
    state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far?
    I surprised with the research you made to make this particular
    submit amazing. Fantastic task!

  105. Howdy! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!

  107. I have to thank you for the efforts you have put in penning this blog.

    I really hope to check out the same high-grade blog posts from you
    later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my
    own, personal blog now 😉

  108. Unquestionably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest thing to
    be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people
    consider worries that they plainly do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the
    top and defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal.
    Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  113. I like the valuable info you provide in your articles.
    I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently.
    I am quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here!
    Best of luck for the next!

  114. That is really interesting, You’re an overly skilled blogger.

    I’ve joined your rss feed and sit up for seeking more of your
    magnificent post. Also, I have shared your website in my social
    networks

  115. This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.

    I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more
    of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!

  118. Hey there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a
    collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community
    in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!

  120. I was pretty pleased to uncover this page. I need to to thank you
    for your time due to this fantastic read!! I definitely loved every little
    bit of it and I have you book-marked to look at new
    information on your site.

  121. Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly helpful & it
    helped me out a lot. I am hoping to present something again and help others
    like you helped me.

  124. I’ve read a few good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting.
    I wonder how a lot effort you put to create such a great informative web site.

  125. Exceptional post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more
    on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a
    little bit further. Appreciate it!

  126. Hi, I do think this is a great website. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return yet again since I book marked it.
    Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be
    rich and continue to guide other people.

  128. My brother suggested I may like this blog. He used to be entirely
    right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how
    a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!

  129. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
    I’ll make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more
    of your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.

  130. We stumbled over here by a different website and thought I should check things out.
    I like what I see so now i am following you. Look
    forward to going over your web page repeatedly.

  136. Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Many thanks, However I am having troubles with your RSS.
    I don’t understand the reason why I can’t join it.

    Is there anybody else having the same RSS problems? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond?
    Thanks!!

  137. Attractive part of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that
    I get actually loved account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing for your augment or even I success you get admission to persistently rapidly.

  144. This is the right web site for everyone who would like to find
    out about this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to
    argue with you (not that I actually would want to…HaHa). You definitely put a brand new spin on a topic which has been written about for decades.
    Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

  145. Hello, its good post about media print, we all understand media is a wonderful source of facts.

  147. Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is fantastic,
    let alone the content!

  151. Can I simply just say what a relief to uncover a person that genuinely knows what they’re
    discussing on the net. You actually realize how to
    bring an issue to light and make it important. More people
    must look at this and understand this side of the story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you certainly possess
    the gift.

  153. Hello! I just wish to give you a big thumbs up for your excellent information you have got here on this post.

  155. Asking questions is a genuinely pleasant thing if you are not understanding something totally, but this piece of writing provides a nice understanding even.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -spot_img

Latest article

Continue to the category

© . TimesGlo. All rights reserved.

.

.... .

.

About Us

Popular Category

Editor Picks