One meaning of History could be the legacy left when a great leader passes away. All societies make their historical imagination as they prefer. For instance: museums, monuments, maps, special dates, and obviously literature. History is, by definition, written. All of the above, make the collective and imaginary memory and define the culture. A great leaders are heroes and they and their peoples are one. As Dumas said: “all for one and one for all”.
On the one hand, Architecture is a way to do that but not the only one. In fact, ancient civilizations exerted this strategy. The pyramids in Egypt, Mexico or Peru are the best examples. Additionally, in German and France you can appreciate the bullets marks in many places as the École du Guerre or in Museum Island. Why? Those nations do not want repeat this tragedy.
By the other side, museums are other kind to preserve the past. In that places the societies bring to present the past that they worship. And all greats personages that they consider as heroes thorough art, in general terms, or in pictures, statues and short stories, in specific words.
All societies needs to identify with their heroes. Biographies are an outstanding instrument for idealize an epoch, a moment and almost the war times. In other words, it is a romantic version of heroes according to Thomas Carlyle or Paul Johnson.
In part of Latin America, Bolívar have a lot monuments, in Mexico, in Cuba, and in all countries in South America. Bolivar was the Liberator, the statesman, and obviously the father founder. For instance, in Europe, Bolivar have many biographers.
All leaders must write a memoirs. After leaving the scene, when the courtain falls, leaders have to tell their version about the facts, the crises, decisions that have to take in decisive hours. His teachings are indispensable for those that have to lead nation in darkness hours.
In Africa, for example, the memory is not extend exercise like in other continents, but their countries remember, in many ways, their national leaders that give the independence in 20th century
Nowadays the private initiative, as foundations of former presidents in U.S are so common. This projects are a great opportunity for preserve and present them as human figure that work for nation. The Reagan Foundation and Institute and JFK Library Foundation are goods examples of that non- profit organization.
On the whole, the majority of societies avoid to lose their past and attempt to preserve their collective memory. But, the legacy is a duty of national heroes and their role in the history is their undisputed leadership. There are a special relation between leadership, memory and history, it is impossible understand the history without leaders.
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