3.2.1 Worldviews Overview
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3.2.1 Changing Worldviews
How should contemporary society respond to the legacies of historical globalization?
On the map below, you can see that the map maker or
cartographer believed that Europe, North America, and Asia were all part of one huge continent. That is why early explorers tried to find India by travelling west and why they called the Aboriginal people of North America Indians.
Not long after this map was made (1560), people began to realize that North America was completely separate from Asia. However, in the historical context of that day, the map shows the world as it was known by Europeans.
Primary sources and their context: When we consider any source of information, we must acknowledge the context. What did the people think? What did they know? What were their deeply held values and beliefs? By understanding their context, we can understand the source material.
Historical events and their context: Think of when you were a child. What was your most cherished possession? A blanket, toy car, teddy bear, or doll? Do you feel the same about that object today? Your ideas about what is true and what is important change as you grow and learn more about the world around you.
The same is true for the people of the past. Their ideas were shaped by what they experienced, by what they were taught, and by how they conceived of the world. Today, we have new views and beliefs based on new knowledge and understandings. However, we do not yet know it all! We are still bound by our historical context — but we know our context is wider than the context of that map-maker of 450 years ago.
Changing worldviews in the global village: We each have our own worldview, or understanding about what the world is all about based on our individual background, culture, and experience. Our worldviews are constantly changing as we learn and grow. Today's technology enables us to know more about other people and other cultures in ways that were impossible for our ancestors. As we learn more about the world and its peoples, our worldviews change.
Not long after this map was made (1560), people began to realize that North America was completely separate from Asia. However, in the historical context of that day, the map shows the world as it was known by Europeans.
The Known World by Oliva, 1560
Used with permission from Michael Pidwirny,
University of British Columbia, Okanagan
Used with permission from Michael Pidwirny,
University of British Columbia, Okanagan
Primary sources and their context: When we consider any source of information, we must acknowledge the context. What did the people think? What did they know? What were their deeply held values and beliefs? By understanding their context, we can understand the source material.
Historical events and their context: Think of when you were a child. What was your most cherished possession? A blanket, toy car, teddy bear, or doll? Do you feel the same about that object today? Your ideas about what is true and what is important change as you grow and learn more about the world around you.
The same is true for the people of the past. Their ideas were shaped by what they experienced, by what they were taught, and by how they conceived of the world. Today, we have new views and beliefs based on new knowledge and understandings. However, we do not yet know it all! We are still bound by our historical context — but we know our context is wider than the context of that map-maker of 450 years ago.
Changing worldviews in the global village: We each have our own worldview, or understanding about what the world is all about based on our individual background, culture, and experience. Our worldviews are constantly changing as we learn and grow. Today's technology enables us to know more about other people and other cultures in ways that were impossible for our ancestors. As we learn more about the world and its peoples, our worldviews change.