Parley's History of the World

As mentioned on the main page of the blog (the August 22, 2009 entry), I did not study this book as a student but my parents and grandparents had access to the information in it and WOW did they know a whole lot more history than my peers or I did.

Why did we not know as much history? Because by the time I / we went to school, Revisionist history was fast becoming 'the way to teach for a purpose...'

As in the case of the current teaching of what the Mayflower Compact said, very important key concepts have been removed from what was initially written and what is taught today in our classrooms.

As I mentioned on the blog:

Recently I watched a video which taught, among other things, about the effects of Revisionist History on a person’s world view. As one example, It told what is currently in the History Textbooks concerning the Mayflower compact. (The speaker held up the Textbook his daughter was using as an example).

In that typical current History textbook, according to the video I was watching, he said this is what students are now reading when they study the Mayflower Compact:

We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.

Having undertaken, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, ...

(he did not quote the rest of the Mayflower Compact on his Power point presentation so I assume it was unchanged)...

But what the Mayflower compact really stated, (and I am highlighting in RED the words that were deleted from the Current typical Textbook but which are in the original text):

In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, ...

(again I am leaving out the rest of the Mayflower compact since he was emphasizing the fact that the deleted parts were so key in understanding why the Pilgrims came to America.)

This is an example of ‘Revisionist History’. Not many words were left out but they were very significant words. Students who read this abbreviated, edited, revised version of history will have no clue or understanding why the USA was founded and the underlying principles.

So, what to do?

Well, for one thing, read history books that have not revised history. Of course, this is easier said than done. But, if you are wanting to know about the history of the world, without any revisionist bias, then, do I have the book for you.

It is Parley’s History of the World and is now my all time favorite history book.

I discovered this book by accident a few years ago. But, wow! When I found it and read it, my eyes were opened. And, if you read it, yours will, too. This is definitely a ‘must read’ book.

Yeah, Yeah, I can hear you now saying “I don’t like history!” Well, I didn’t either UNTIL I read this book !!!

So let me tell you about this book:

Parley’s History of the World

The following information is taken from the back cover of the book:

“This book was originally printed in 1858, with an update in 1881.

The value of this book is that it predates the revisionists who change history to accommodate current social and world political goals.

Another worthy factor is that world history begins with the first man, Adam.

Each generation bases its future or fall upon the previous generation.

This book affords us an understanding of the Christian principles and the lessons of history in Civil War days that were the basis of education.

Whether the American republic rises to the next generation or falls upon the present one depends upon traditional education, not political indoctrination.

The publisher recommends this book to the comprehensive school system--public, Christian, private, or home.

The description below is taken from the original text. Notice the expectations that are placed upon the student. This denotes the major flaw that occurs in our current education system. "The design of the work is to furnish a CLEAR OUTLINE OF UNIVERSAL HISTORY suited to common schools. It is intended for beginners, and is therefore written in a simple style, and to render it convenient both for the pupil and teacher, it is divided into brief paragraphs and short chapters. Ample questions for examination are appended to the work. It will be seen that a pupil may commit the whole volume to memory during a winter's schooling; and if, in this brief space, a clear outline of Universal History may be established in the memory, it is obvious that the subject is worthy the attention of every person interested in education."

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OK. That is the end of the information on the back cover. But, let me just point out that, having read this book, there is NO way that students today could / would commit the whole volume to memory. For one thing, It is 367 Pages long. Secondly, even though it is said to be in a simple style, our system has so dumbed down students today that I think even the average college student would say this is 'too hard' for them. It isn't of course. And you, dear reader of this blog, would be able to comprehend it. But, the average student today would think that this is a 'big deal'. Sigh.

Alas, while searching to find you a source I found that there are very few copies of this book still available.

I found 5 on the Amazon.com website as of Aug 21/09 starting at $7.49 (used) and going up to $153.25 (New) at Amazon.com

So, you probably will not be able to buy this book. But, you do need to know about it. And IF you ever see it in a used bookstore or somewhere, snatch it up, read it, and share it with your family and friends. You will learn what realllllly happened in the past instead of the ‘revisionist’ stuff that is being foisted upon us today.

Just in case you do 'happen' upon it or try to order it, this is the technical info you will want to know:

Paperback: 367 pages

Publisher: Hearthstone Publishing, Ltd. (February 2002)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1575580993

ISBN-13: 978-1575580999

Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds

Oh, and one more thing, in case you were wondering about the THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT and what the complete text is:

according to Wikipedia

Text of the Mayflower Compact

The original document was lost, but the transcriptions in Mourt's Relation and William Bradford's journal Of Plymouth Plantation are in agreement and accepted as accurate. Bradford's hand written manuscript is kept in a special vault at the State Library of Massachusetts.[4] Bradford's transcription is as follows:

Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.[5][3]

The 'dread sovereign' referred to in the document used the archaic definition of dread; meaning awe and reverence (for the King), not fear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_compact