Errors – “World History—The Modern World—California Edition” 2008

 by Prentice Hall

1.  A map on pp. 4-5 is labeled “The Rise of Democratic Ideas” with a table of “Spread of Democracy” showing “Glorious Revolution 1688”, “American Revolution 1776”, “French Revolution 1789”, “Revolutions 1830”, “Revolutions 1848”, and “1816 Country date of independence”

a.  Virtually none of the listed revolutions or country independences have much to do with a  spread in democracy at those locations.  Many times one nondemocratic regime is replaced with another.  Democracy is a combination of the defense of individual rights in a government that has the active and actual consent of the governed.

b.  The American Revolution did not take place in 1776.  The shot heard round the world was in April 1775.  Many more years were needed.

c.  Central America is all mixed up.  The countries from north to south should be Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.

d.  Most of world history has absolutely nothing to do with any advance of democracy, but rather involves various methods of oppression of individuals of all lands.

2.  On page 7 for “Sources of the Democratic Tradition”, there is a picture of “Ivory cameo of Rome’s Augustus Caesar”.  This first Roman emperor enforce a backsliding on individual rights, not an advance in democracy.

3.  On page 7 for “Sources of the Democratic Tradition”, there is a picture of “Early Christian symbols”.  There is no history of Christian churches being democratic or protective of individual rights.

4.  On pages 15-17 is a section on “Alexander and the Hellenistic Age”.  The term “Hellenistic” refers to Greeks, not Macedonians such as Alexander the Great.  Macedonia was a separate country back then and still remains a separate country from Greece.  Alexander’s empire was not noted for any democratic institution.  The book does not define the “Hellenistic Age” or give any inclusive dates or locations to give any context.

5.  On page 17 is the statement, “During the Hellenistic age, Rome emerged as a powerful new state.  After its conquest of Asia Minor in 133 B.C., it replaced Greece as the dominant power in the Mediterranean world.”  This is absurd.  The Greeks were not the dominant power in the Mediterranean world at that time.  The Mediterranean extends from Gibralter to Suez.  Maybe the authors are still confused with Macedonians.