World Language Community Project
History plays an essential role in all cultures and sets the foundation for all cultures and languages regardless of change throughout time.
Many cultures hold on to their past and look to it as a way to identify oneself and others in the world they live in. An easy example would be Africa. Africa is made up of many independent states, all with their own ethnic groups of differing backgrounds. Many Africans choose to identify themselves through their ethnicity instead of their state. A common political issue stems from this decision since some political parties represent a certain ethnic group and fight for the benefits of their own ethnic group, usually putting down others. Even though we may call different parts of Africa states, not all Africans would agree with that statement like Ethiopians. āTribeā is usually a term used to describe small political and social groups, but due to colonialism, especially in South Africa, that term was avoided due to the western view of ātribeā seeming primitive and savage. The term is only used to describe small, isolated societies that have little involvement with the central government or as an insult. Of course, this doesnāt the fact that many Africans used to consider themselves by their tribes, but due to the deep colonial impact in Africa that part of their identity has been stripped away.
Another example would be religion. Religion varies by region and era, but for most people who are a part of a certain belief system, their whole identity is their religion (usually). Belonging to a religion also means being part of a community and, sometimes, a culture. The Abrahamic religions are an excellent example of identity throughout history. For Judaism, many Jews are believed to be descendants of Abraham, Godās covenant people, and, an important distinction, are waiting for their Messiah to reconnect them with God. Christians believe the same thing, but it is not something you are born into and they believe that the Messiah already came, who was Jesus Christ. Islam believes they are the descendants of Godās covenant people, but not through Issac, as the Jews are, but of Ismael. Islam also has a vital prophet figure the other two beliefs do not share; Muhammad, the founder of Islam. These three beliefs all share the same history but due to what seems to be small differences leads to a vast difference between the three and a strong history of conflict. The conflict between Jews and Muslims is more reoccurring than between Christians and Jews. Besides their differences with Muhammad and whether he was a true prophet, their long history conflict is a generational issue, between Issac and Ismael. In, short, Issac and Ismael were both sons of Israel, since Ismael mother was not Sarai, his descendants were not a part of the promise. Since today the people of Islam believe they are descendants of Ismael they believe they deserve more privileges than the Jews since Ismael was the oldest. This family conflict is still prevalent today in Israel between the Palestinian and Israeli.Ā
Some countries value their history and value traditions. Iceland is a very traditional country. Family is especially important in Iceland since it is such small country with a small population. Iceland has a homogeneous culture. Everything recorded by Icelandic writers in the 12th to 14th century is still honored and practiced today. It ranges from weaving, silver crafting, and wood carving and Old Icelandic language is preserved through continuous use in everyday life.Ā
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/nation-tribe-and-ethnic-group-africa
https://www.facinghistory.org/holocaust-and-human-behavior/chapter-1/religion-and-identity
