So the question of history being lost, if statues or monuments are taken down, is a resounding yes. In fact, once a statue or monument is removed, it is hard to bring it back. ... However, history was being lost before monuments were taken down, in the sense of general lack of awareness.

How does removing a statues erase history?

Taking down a statue or changing a name does not mean removing that person from the history books or diminishing their contributions, but it does mean reshaping and reframing the conversation. It means more accurately depicting Canada's history.

Are statues important to history?

They represent what people in the Past chose to celebrate and memorialise, they do not represent history. Indeed, teaching history is almost never the reason why they are erected. Instead, statues in public spaces since Antiquity have most typically been used to represent power and authority.

Are statues part of history?

But historians say that statues themselves are not history – rather they are a symbol about the time in which they were first erected.

What do statues tell us?

Statues can teach us about history, but they do not convey some immutable truth from the past. Instead, they are symbolic of the fixed ideas of a specific community regarding its past, as captured at a particular point in time.

Taking Down Statues Isn’t Erasing History, and I’ll Tell You Why.

What do monuments tell us about history?

What do monuments tell us about its history? Monuments give us an idea about the grand lifestyle of kings and queens of the past. They tell us about what people of that time and what materials were used and the knowledge they had of architecture. The use of stones like marble, sandstone, etc.

Why should statues be taken down?

Taking them down is to censor, whitewash, and potentially forget that history. ... Those who disagree with the beliefs upheld by the statues should work to understand the history these monuments represent, rather than trying to simply remove them and the history from sight.

Why was Cecil Rhodes statue removed?

But Oriel College said it would not seek to move the statue due to costs and "complex" planning processes. Campaigners say Rhodes, a 19th Century businessman and politician in southern Africa, represented white supremacy and was steeped in colonialism and racism.

What purpose do statues serve?

Statues convey and perpetuate honor. Consequently, no matter how important their historical role, villains simply do not merit statues, nor do they merit having their names associated with lakes or streets or schools or military bases.

What is the Confederate statue?

According to the American Historical Association (AHA), the erection of Confederate monuments during the early 20th century was "part and parcel of the initiation of legally mandated segregation and widespread disenfranchisement across the South." According to the AHA, memorials to the Confederacy erected during this ...

Do monuments teach history?

Statues, however, don't teach history. They commemorate individuals and celebrate a romanticized vision of the past. They provide neither context nor an explanation of events. They elevate representatives of some groups while ignoring others.

Are monuments history?

A monument is not history itself, it is an interpretation of a historical person or event, cast at the particular moment in time of its creation.

Why are monuments so important?

Monuments are frequently used to improve the appearance of a city or location. Planned cities such as Washington, D.C., New Delhi and Brasília are often built around monuments. ... Monuments are also often designed to convey historical or political information, and they can thus develop an active socio-political potency.

Where is Rhodes statue now?

The governing body said it agreed to a virtual exhibition to "provide an arena for contextualisation and explanation of the Rhodes legacy". The statue sits above a doorway on the front of the college's Rhodes Building, which faces Oxford's High Street.

How much was Cecil Rhodes worth?

In his will Cecil left a fortune in excess of £3 million to fund the famous Rhodes scholarships that enable students, primarily from former British territories, to study at Oxford University.

Who pays for Rhodes Scholarships?

In the first instance, the scholarship is awarded for two years. However, it may also be held for one year or three years. Applications for a third year are considered during the course of the second year. University and college fees are paid by the Rhodes Trust.

Do historical monuments matter?

Certainly monuments can contribute to a sense of shared heritage in societies where a monument reflects their values and understanding of the past. ... They are tangible representations of historical legacies that reveal a great deal about the fabric of the societies in which they stand.

How do monuments help us to know about the past?

A historical monument is a rich source of History. It gives us a sense of wonder and makes us curious to know more about the past connected with it. The study of a monument helps the students construct History through observation. The activity generates interest in historical buildings and develops observation skills.

How do monuments help us learn about history?

Some of the import archaeological sources used by historians to reconstruct history has been the monuments. They help to explain chronology of events, important developments as they are substantiated by material evidences like coins, monuments, art and architecture.

Why should we protect the historical monuments?

Old buildings teach us about the history that happened before we were born and promotes the respect for those who lived in different times and different societies. Architectural monuments cultivates pride of our past and heritage making us unique in the world.

What is the difference between monument and memorial?

A memorial may be a day or space, but it need not be a monument. A monument, on the other hand, is always a type of memorial. A memorial is often erected to honor those who have died, including spontaneous memorials we see created in the immediate aftermath of tragedy.

How are monuments a source of history?

Monuments: Buildings of historical importance are called monuments. ... They inform us about the social life, religious beliefs, the culture and the knowledge of the people and about the period in which the monuments were built. Temples, forts, palaces, stupas, and monasteries make the past come alive.

What is the history of monuments?

Monuments have been constructed for thousands of years. Some early monuments include the pyramids of Egypt, the Roman colosseum, and the Great Wall of China. ... One of the most famous American monuments is the Statue of Liberty, dedicated in 1886, as a symbol of freedom and democracy.

Is a monument an artifact?

As nouns the difference between artifacts and monument

is that artifacts is while monument is a structure built for commemorative or symbolic reasons, or as a memorial; a commemoration.