Communication Between Cultures

• The Spanish conquest and colonization of Mexico instilled in the native popula-
  tion many cultural traits that endure today.


• The historical achievements of Islam are a source of pride and inspiration for con-
  temporary Muslims.

Activities

1. Search the Internet for“Why study history?”and
   make a list of the five best reasons you find. Com-
   pare your list with the reasons other class members
   find.


2. Select a country (or culture) different from your
   own and examine the history of that country. Try
   to isolate examples of historical events that have
   influenced the country’s national character.


3. Write down the different groups you belong to
   now and those you belonged to four to five years
   ago (include all informal groups, such as a study
   group). Compare your list with the lists of other

classmates to see how frequently membership in a

group has changed.

4. Go to YouTube and search for videos on the his-
   tory of a country or culture you are interested in
   (use Russia or China to see an example). Try to
   determine any cultural values that are highlighted
   in the videos.


5. Interview an older member of your family about
   the family’s history. Try to identify a historical
   event that resulted in a family tradition carried on
   today.

Concepts and Questions

1. How can the historical legacies of the United
   States and Russia (China, Islamic nations, etc.)
   produce discord and conflict? What is a contem-
   porary example?


2. How can a government use a nation’s historical
   legacy to generate popular support among the
   general population?


3. How does national history play a role in shaping
   national identity? What is an example for the
   United States?
   4. During a state visit to China in 2010, the United
   Kingdom’s prime minister and his party were
   asked to remove the poppy flowers they were
   wearing to honor U.K. war dead, a national tradi-
   tion observed every November 11. The Chinese
   indicated that the poppies might remind the
   Chinese of the Opium Wars of the mid-1800s,
   in which British forces defeated the Chinese. In
   your opinion, should the British representatives
   have worn the poppies? Why?

Concepts and Questions 197

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