What's your favorite era in US/World history?

[m-jean03]

I think my favorite US era would be when modern America was just being built -- wood and steel foundations being laid -- etcetera -- steamships -- early Industrial Revolution post-Civil War Era.

Lot of govnt / corporate corruption not to mention sexism/racism/etcetera at this time -- so in this sense it is far from my favorite -- but in a dreamy & impractical way, the period altogether seems so exciting -- there seemed to be so much hope and promise in the air, for the future of humanity.

Since this is sort of a dinner party conversation -- Can I get you something to drink -- & perhaps loosen the tongue -- while you think on the question?:)



If you have brought wines or appetizers with you, just leave them in your post and we'll take what we like.:)

[Misinformed01]

1. Reconstruction???

Whooo haaaaaa....

I like the sixties; I get all warm and fuzzy over the thought of the Great Society, and still believe that it CAN happen.

Stephanie

[m-jean03]

4. Hi Stephanie

Hoo Ah is right! There is nothing like a little Reconstruction reading to spice up my afternoon.

But the Reconstruction, really was just in the South. The Victorious North didn't need much in the way of rebuilding!

The sixties were another exciting & fascinating if godawfully tragic time. Were you around back then?

Care for an hors'doerve? :)

[Misinformed01]

7. Seven generations

Southerner here! I was born in 1964, and went to elementary school in Charlotte, NC- (bussing)

Interesting times!

And, yes, thank you, I would---I am actually thinking of finishing off the fine vintage (3 weeks old) box of wine in the fridge. My snobby husband, JanMichael, has to have beer tonight, and looks down on the Franzia!

[m-jean03]

18. I'm sure you have

Some interesting memories, Stephanie!:)

[Zomby Woof]

5. you're only warm and fuzzy...

Because you drank all my Jack.

[Misinformed01]

12. I wish!!!

But, I do have a box of fine, chillable red Franzia to finish up! Michael won't drink it tonight (Who knew he was a SNOB???? I think hanging out with ShakeyDave corrupted him.)

[Zomby Woof]

15. I am a snob too

You now have to admit you love hanging out with snobs. At least with you drinking the Franzia, that frees up more Jack...

[Misinformed01]

17. Yeah, seriously

The guys up in TN must be wondering what is going on with the sales in NC.

[EstimatedProphet]

2. I'd agree with the 60's

I'd also say Jefferson's presidency too. Lots of ideals and hope.

[Zomby Woof]

8. maybe his first term

Read up on his second, which is perhaps the worst second term of the 19th century. The Embargo Act only stirred the pot with Britain (paving the way for the useless War of 1812), and was disregarded more than any major legislation until Prohibition. It caused great economic hardship, and made Jefferson disdain his office so much, that he didn't even put any mention of being president on his tombstone.

[EstimatedProphet]

30. Yes, his first term

Which was marked by expansion of the country and a spirit of exploration, or so I have always heard. BTW I am not going to try to get into the conquest of the west at this time. I'm not saying anything about submission of the native Americans, that's not what I'm talking about.

[Zomby Woof]

33. not at all

I won't blast you over head with sanctimonious hindsight and latter-day white liberal guilt. I am a history junkie, and pretty steeped in Jeffersonian lore.

If you haven't already, read Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West". Illuminates a lot of the complexities and contradictions that ideologues like to smooth over to forward their personal agendas. Ambrose admires Lewis a great deal, but doesn't hesitate to tell you where he went wrong, warts and all.

[EstimatedProphet]

34. Sounds good

I'll have to check it out

[xultar]

3. I'm all into the whole Cleopatra thing,,,I think I am her re-encarnated

and I hate being exiled from royalty to live this sickening existance.
Perhaps it is Raj's way of punishing me from having too many Egyptian and Roman lovers.

[m-jean03]

13. I like your animation xultar

:) Makes me go AWWWWWWW.

And I bow before you, your highness Cleo. You are a fascinating historical figure.

[xultar]

19. Yes, Yes I am...

Royalty doesn't uaually say thanks, but $ u I'll make an exception...

Thanks

[Imperialism Inc.]

6. The prehistoric period definitely

;-)

[m-jean03]

14. You mean the one...

with THESE GUYS ruling the earth????



Scary but fascinating.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

21. Better them

than Bush, I would say. :puke:

[m-jean03]

23. Welcome to DU, jaredh!

:hi: Glad you're not a freeper, have an hors'doerve!

[DBoon]

9. 1997

Cold war over, Democrat in the white house, and the job market was very very good for me.

[Parrcrow]

10. ancient Rome

great toga parties

[m-jean03]

26. Parrcrow's favorite outfit:

:7 (That's me, standing next to him)

[Parrcrow]

36. Hey that's not me

that's not even my toga.

[AngryAmish]

11. Mongol empire

[m-jean03]

16. Say Hi to Ghengis Khan

I was Marco Polo in a past life

[President Jesus]

20. 70s...free love...Zeppelin, Stones, Who in their prime...weed

[m-jean03]

22. Too sad

I think, still

[m-jean03]

24. Of course I'm sure grief was thick in the air

During the Reconstruction era too --

:shrug:

[mitchum]

31. I also miss the populist hedonism of the 1970s

A great time to come of age :)

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

39. Generation Jones

http://generationjones.com/files/contents.htm

70s people, more or less....

[solinvictus]

25. Roman Empire

Or the Viking Age. The rest sucked.

[strategery blunder]

27. The Great Depression

I know that from the standpoint of millions, it was not a 'good' time in history, but it legitimized the labor movement. (By 'legitimized,' I mean that unions became politically viable instead of being dismissed as Soviet communism.) Much of the labor law that we take for granted today originated in the desperation of the Depression.

Unfortunately, in the fifties, evil corporations successfully scaled back the labor laws (Taft-Hartley, anyone?), and things have gone downhill ever since...

Unfortunately, American society cares so much about me, me, me that people aren't willing to pay an extra fifteen cents for products produced by people who are paid a decent wage. Unions have become eeeeeeeeevul again.

[On the Road]

28. I Like the Industrial Revolution Also

and the Gilded Age. 19th-Century New York City was quite a place.

I am also intersted in how the 50's became the 60's. Jack Kerouac. Neal Cassidy. Alan Ginsberg. There are many wonderful tales of beatnik glory.

Going back further, the Romans were fascinating because they so modern, almost American in certain ways. In others, they were extremely primitive and superstitious.

[Gildor Inglorion]

29. The late Victorian/Edwardian Era

Ending in 1914. If you were rich, it would have been the PERFECT time to be alive.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

32. from the late 1960's

till Jan, 2001. Take a wild guess what happened then.

[JohnKleeb]

35. the turn of the century is interesting

you know the robber barons, labor unions, etc. Never was though however in to the westward movment. Just about all the 20th century interests me.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

37. The future

I love a story where I don't know the ending.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

38. The Enlightenment...

...while not realll an era of great physical comfort, and there was alot of repression still around, this was when the ideas on modernity first appeared. It was all fresh, and hopefull.

The USA was a product of this era.

Oddly enough the time from, say, 1946 to, say, 1977 or so was also a bit of a golden age.

[MrSlayer]

40. The Middle Ages

I would love to have been a knight. That's real war, swords and shields, maces and halberds. Not like that pussy shit they do now. Shooting from a distance with night vison scopes is weak.

[Catshrink]

41. The American Revolution....

absolutely amazing feat.

World history: Elizabeth I's reign.

[fudge stripe cookays]

42. The 20s.

I absolutely love the period. The clothes, the art, the silly music, the bathtub gin, the aura.

And I love the fact that women were finally getting a little taste of freedom and equality at last, bobbing their hair, smoking, wearing lipstick, and shortening their skirts at last.

[UrbScotty]

43. The late 1700's

America's early years.

[Raenelle]

44. I like Revolutions--American, French, Russian.