While we all can agree
that learning to read and write, and basic Mathematics, are essential subjects in school or at home, there are other subjects which should also be considered essential.
One of these is History! Yes, while most of us are made to believe that history is not an important subject to be taught in schools, and many schools make it optional or a minor subject, I strongly disagree. From history we can learn what is not successful, and what has been successful!. This includes such things as peace and war, economic systems such as communism, socialism as opposed to free market societies, religious freedom and intolerance, discrimination and oppression. I am not debating the different theories, but actually studying which of these worked well in the past, and which were not successful. History!
Some of the top business schools actually practice this a lot. They call it case studies, where companies are being studied to see what they did successfully, and what they could have done better.
Socialism
Essential subjects in school: One subject that should be studied from a historical perspective is Socialism. Did you know that only one in four people in the USA knows the definition of Socialism? Major dictionaries define Socialism as “An economic and political theory in which there is no private property, and in which the means of production and distribution of goods are controlled by the state”. In this regard it is not much different than communism. Even Russia used to be called the USSR, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
The historical study of Russia shows that for 70 years, Russia maintained a socialist economic and political system, while the West pursued a free market system! Eventually, after 70 years, Russia gave up on the idea, as well as most of its 14 satellite republics, and the east block countries such as East Germany, Hungary, Poland etc. Yet there is a big push in the West by many politicians to pursue Socialism. Study History and we learn that history proves it doesn’t work. When former Socialist countries gave up on the idea in favor of a free market system, there was no violent revolution, no struggle, no war to maintain socialism. That is how badly its people had become disillusioned with the concept.
Russia and its legacy.
One problem that Russia has to live with, is that it never apologized to its people, and the countries it controlled, for having insisted on an economic and political system that didn’t work so well! Those satellite countries remember this very well, and of course don’t want that ever to happen again. Any sign from Russia to want to excert power over those countries again, can and has resulted in war!
What else can we learn from History? At Smartbubblegum.com we know that history is one of the essential subjects in school and we have History as a subject under Social Studies. Here is the link: Smartbubblegum.com
Let us know which historical subjects you think are of such importance that they should be taught in school! There are other subjects in school that should be mandatory, which we cover as well. But with all subjects, it is best if students show an interest. So one of the first questions to ask when starting on a new subject: Why are you studying this? Make sure the answer is a good, valid answer, not “Because I am supposed to”, or “they make me”.
As a side note. If you like to learn more about the history of Russia you can always ask ChatGPT or Claude.AI. I asked ChatGPT for a list. I haven’t verified this list, but you can do your own research.
Here are some of the best books on Russian history, spanning different eras and offering various perspectives:
📚 “A People’s Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1891–1924” by Orlando Figes
- Focus: The Russian Revolution and its impact on Russian society.
- Why It’s Great: Figes provides a sweeping narrative that covers not just the political changes but also the experiences of ordinary Russians.
📚 “The Romanovs: 1613–1918” by Simon Sebag Montefiore
- Focus: The Romanov dynasty from its rise to its fall.
- Why It’s Great: Montefiore delivers a detailed, dramatic, and often scandalous account of the rulers who shaped Russia over three centuries.
📚 “Natasha’s Dance: A Cultural History of Russia” by Orlando Figes
- Focus: Russian culture from the 18th century to the present.
- Why It’s Great: This book explores Russia’s cultural identity through art, literature, and music, giving insights into how Russia’s history influenced its creative output.
📚 “A History of Russia” by Nicholas Riasanovsky and Mark Steinberg
- Focus: A comprehensive overview of Russian history from the Kievan Rus to the modern era.
- Why It’s Great: This is a classic textbook that offers a balanced and scholarly account, perfect for those seeking a broad understanding.
📚 “Russia: A 1,000-Year Chronicle of the Wild East” by Martin Sixsmith
- Focus: An accessible history covering Russia’s entire span, including politics, culture, and people.
- Why It’s Great: Sixsmith blends storytelling and analysis, making this a great introductory book on Russian history.
📚 “Revolutionary Russia, 1891–1991” by Orlando Figes
- Focus: A concise history of Russia’s revolutionary period, including the Soviet Union’s rise and fall.
- Why It’s Great: A succinct but rich account of one of the most transformative periods in Russian history.
📚 “Gulag: A History” by Anne Applebaum
- Focus: The Soviet labor camps under Stalin.
- Why It’s Great: Applebaum’s Pulitzer Prize-winning work examines one of the darkest aspects of Soviet history through meticulous research and survivor accounts.
📚 “Lenin on the Train” by Catherine Merridale
- Focus: Lenin’s return to Russia during the 1917 Revolution.
- Why It’s Great: A gripping narrative that explores how a single journey helped change the course of history.
Each of these books offers unique insights into different aspects of Russian history. Depending on your interest—whether it’s the Tsars, the revolution, culture, or Soviet times—there’s a definitive book here for you!