History Archives

The Rise of Nationalism Amongst Linguistic Minorities

How did the new celebration of cultural identities and linguistic minorities affect the growth of nationalism? How did linguistic-based nationalism change the way many countries were run? According to Benedict Anderson, the author of Imagined Communities, the rise in linguistic nationalism has led to changes in how countries are run—primarily, many nations declared an official national language. Thanks to this change, many old dynasties lost their power. Here is how the rise of nationalism among linguistic minorities shaped how nations are run.

Rescue From Without: The Hero’s Journey Is Aided

What happens during the rescue from without the stage of the hero’s journey? Why does the hero require external help? The rescue from without stage of the hero’s journey is the step where the hero requires aid from a powerful external benefactor to escape the realm of the supernatural and return home. A hero will be in this situation when he has won the ultimate boon through trickery and is been chased by gods seeking to recover what was stolen. Read on to discover more about the rescue from without stage of the hero’s journey.

Return With the Elixir—The Hero’s Homecoming

What happens in the return with the elixir stage of the hero’s journey? Is it dangerous for the hero to return to the secular world? The return with the elixir stage of the hero’s journey is the step where the hero returns to the secular world with the divine boon in hand to be shared with his people. However, a returning hero faces the danger of losing the spark of divinity due to the banalities of ordinary human existence. This is why the mythical Aztec god-king Moctezuma never set foot on the ground to avoid being sullied by the un-sacred

B. Anderson: The Origins of National Consciousness

How did nationalism develop? What was it like to live in the pre-nationalist age? Political scientist and historian Benedict Anderson says that the ideology of “nationalism” is a fairly recent social construct. Before nationalism, people would identify themselves with their occupation, or village, and political communities were ruled by dynastic sovereigns rather than governments. Keep reading to learn about the origins of national consciousness, according to Benedict Anderson.

The Rise of Colonial Nationalism

How did the British colonies find their own sense of nationalism after being colonized? How did Western-style nationalism spread to the East? The term “colonial nationalism” refers to the fight for independence and autonomy in many nations that were colonized by Europeans. Ironically, it was actually the European colonization process that gave many nations the tools to fight back against the Europeans and develop their own sense of nationalism. Continue reading to learn how nationalism spread around the world after the spread of European colonization.

Apotheosis—The Hero’s Journey Leads to Nirvana

What is apotheosis in the hero’s journey? How do cultures typically depict this stage of enlightenment? The apotheosis stage of the hero’s journey is when the hero conquers his fears and the bounds of consciousness to reach a divine state. Ancient cultures often depict this figure of ultimate enlightenment in both male and female forms. For example, ancient Chinese lore embodies both masculine Yang and feminine Yin. Read on to learn more about the Apotheosis stage of the hero’s journey.

The Nazi Hierarchy Was Inspired by Americans

How did the Nazi hierarchy of race and religion come to be? How was the Nazi social order similar to the caste system in America? According to Isabel Wilkerson, the author of Caste, the Nazi hierarchy of race and religion was inspired by the caste system in America. Specifically, she argues, in designing their caste system, the Nazis took inspiration from the American eugenics movement. Keep reading to learn more about the Nazi caste system and how it was developed.

Why Is the Hero’s Journey Important and Relevant?

Why is the hero’s journey important? How does the hero’s journey apply in real life? When you recognize that the hero symbolizes the godly potential within all of us, you will recognize why the hero’s journey is important. All cultures and individuals make sense of the world they live in by telling stories. The hero’s journey tells us who we are, and what destinies we are here to fulfill. Read on to fully discover why the hero’s journey is important.

Caste in Indian Society vs. the United States

What are the similarities between the Indian and the American caste systems? What is the origin of the caste system in India? In her book Caste, Isabel Wilkerson compares the caste in Indian society to the American caste system. Both countries created laws to maintain social order, both were conquered by British colonialists, and both had their indigenous people out. Here’s how the caste system in India is similar to the American caste system.

Understanding the 3 Stages of a Hero’s Journey

What are the 3 stages of a hero’s journey? How does the legend of Moses illustrate the hero’s rite of passage? The 3 stages of a hero’s journey include separation, initiation, and return. The cycle involves the hero separating from the world he has always known, gaining spiritual power in seclusion, and coming back to share the power with humanity. This is well illustrated in the legend of Moses, where he secluded himself to Mount Sinai, received the tablets of law from God, and returned to share the word of God with the people of Israel. Read on to learn