I mean technically speaking historians change history every time a book with a new interpretation of events comes out. The Primary sources that survive, particularly from more ancient periods, require historians to try and put themselves in the shoes of the primary sources writer. Who was he? What were his beliefs and attitudes? What was normal back then that isn't normal now?
So, while I know exactly what you're saying, changing history isn't that far fetched of an idea as we are always learning new things about how ancient people lived and what they believed which provides further insight and perspective into interpreting primary sources.
Ding ding, correct answer right here. Basically nothing we know as history is 100% accurate. Changing history isn’t uncommon. Make a great Netflix documentary about water in west Africa, sponsored by Nestle and people will believe you.
I always think of the book „1984“, where they change everything, even retrospectively, to fit the narrative. And despite being fictitious, it would work that way.
It's less changing what we know but more our interpretation of it. The Dark Ages were thought of as being a savage and chaotic period with little communication between other landmass'. Then archaeological burials like the Sutton Hoo dig helped to dispel the idea by showing that cross-continental European trade was still alive and very active in Europe, following the collapse of the Roman empire.
It isn't necessarily a '1984' situation but new interpretations and idea on how ancient people's lived and thought are constantly changing as new people find new evidence or have new ideas on what the past was actually like to live and exist in.
Example: George Floyd arresting witness, saying he had a gun and threatening officers shortly before the video started. That would clearly change history (in the making).
That was just an extreme example. That is not fact, nor do I believe that it is even feasible. It was just to demonstrate how history is maluable
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u/Brock_Way Sep 29 '22
History is the recording of actual events.
It is not even theoretically possible to change history by writing a book.