As the saying goes: “History is written by the winners”
So, if this is the case… can we really trust historical accounts of events? Is the history we’re taught essentially just propaganda? Or is there just too much evidence for certain things which cannot be hidden? 
An example
Had Hitler and the Nazi’s not have been defeated during WWII would we have ever discovered the true horrors of the concentration camps?
Discuss.
Re: History is written by the winners
Often History is written by the victors but this is not universally the case.
Considering the Nazi empire I'm certian we would have come to know of it sometime through dissidents in the Nazi's own ranks... afterall many former Nazi party loyalists turned to Allies in seeking help for killing Hitler but alas we may never know.
Sometimes the defeated are clever and ultimately leave more of thier mark on the enemy than others...
How many inventors and learned men lost thier lives to thugs... but still thier inventions live on and nobody remmbers the thugs who killed them.
Re: History is written by the winners
As the saying goes: "History is written by the winners"
It maybe but then wining could be a perspective or worst, fabricated. There are lots of fabrication in indo-pak history (even up to 1971 Dhaka fall) and it all based on which nation was writing the book (India, Pakistan or Bangladesh). History to me is a point of view and point of views are perspective realities which could be totally different from actual facts.
Re: History is written by the winners
History to me is a point of view and point of views are perspective realities which could be totally different from actual facts.
Well said... History is named after Herodotus and that man was not always speaking the truth...
Re: History is written by the winners
Often History is written by the victors but this is not universally the case.
You're right...it isn't universally the case but generally it is. Sometimes the losers don't even survive and all evidence of their existence is wiped out.
It maybe but then wining could be a perspective or worst, fabricated. There are lots of fabrication in indo-pak history (even up to 1971 Dhaka fall) and it all based on which nation was writing the book (India, Pakistan or Bangladesh). History to me is a point of view and point of views are perspective realities which could be totally different from actual facts.
See, now this is my point...history really isn't accurate at all due to bias. It all depends on who's writing the account...like I said in my first post it's essentially propaganda. So, can we really trust history?
Re: History is written by the winners
Yes if we collaborate different sources... if enough people see something they will tell it more or less the way it was... sure everyone adds thier opinion but the facts of the event are not something that can be hidden easily... though they may be distorted.
It's like a fishing net... the bigger the net the greater the catch. History is ever changing and always new discoveries shed light on things.
Re: History is written by the winners
See, now this is my point...history really isn't accurate at all due to bias. It all depends on who's writing the account...like I said in my first post it's essentially propaganda. So, can we really trust history?
as Faris said, we can make a judgment call by tapping into many sources, but then you can never be sure. I am not sure if you noticed that, but in last few years, Egyptian archeological department is trying to re-write the history by claiming that pharaohs were every kind to their slaves and Pyramids were not built by whipping people or beak breaking labor (as always portrayed in movies and books), instead slaves were treated with dignity and they were provided with all the comfort and amenities when they were at the work site. This defintely looks like a preplanned effort to create a better picture of Egypt cause its good for their tourism department and country's over all image. Most of it sounds fabricated to me.
Re: History is written by the winners
^ Well actually some pyramids were built by farmers and other free men becuase at various times the cruelty of the Pharoah led to mutinies and slave rebbelions... theres been many such examples particularly in the reign of Ramasese the II and this has led many to believe that the Biblical exodus occured during that sort of period. Which does make sense... however most Pyramids were built by slaves.
Another Historical revision is the portrayal of peoples like the Vikings who have gone from being seen as Pagan rampant loonatics who looted and ravaged Europe and the northern hemisphere in what historians used to call the dark ages... to being seen as traders and misunderstood cultured people when the vast ammount of historical evidence points to them being utter barbarians.
Sounds like theres too many apoligists.
Re: History is written by the winners
If it was generally true then we would never have heard about the crimes committed by the victorious.
The crimes do get 'sugarcoated' by victorious however.
Overall, history is a subject to have fun, with coffee and nice cigar after dinner.
Re: History is written by the winners
.......Another Historical revision is the portrayal of peoples like the Vikings who have gone from being seen as Pagan rampant loonatics who looted and ravaged Europe and the northern hemisphere in what historians used to call the dark ages... to being seen as traders and misunderstood cultured people when the vast ammount of historical evidence points to them being utter barbarians.
Sounds like theres too many apoligists.
The origins of the word 'barbarian' should shed some light on how people are stereotyped.