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Ask HN: United States' history from other ancient civilizations' perspective

The other night it struck me how interesting it would be to read United States' history from the perspective of other cultures that already existed at the time, and preferably from the perspective of the most ancient civilizations. How did they learn about it, what did they have to say at the time and what was their strategy / approach, how did they handle this new entity throughout history? Any recommendations on books or other resources that cover this?

AnimalMuppet 6y ago
I'm not sure I understand your question. From, say, France's perspective? Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy In America may be what you're looking for. More recently, I'm sure that there are tons of French perspectives on the US available. Or do you mean from the perspective of ancient Rome or Greece? That would more likely be speculative historical fiction. Someone may have written such, but I don't know of any examples.
- unexaminedlife 6y ago
  I guess China would be the first specific that came to mind while thinking of this. That they were one of Earth's first human civilizations, and still exist as a nation today, intrigues me if we could peer deeply inside their historical documents mentioning United States and its inception. Also Egypt. It seems quite amazing to me to think about the massive trove of historical documents / knowledge their civilization had already acquired by that time, and that historical knowledge likely informed their perspective on the situation. What sort of perspective arose in their country at the time when they first heard about the United States, and how has that perspective evolved over the years. I think there are many facets to this that could be explored, but I don't have any in particular in mind. More interested to get a better understanding of what's out there for a native English speaker to consume on this topic.
  - yesenadam 6y ago
    Definitely read Democracy in America, it's amazing. The best, most insightful book on today's USA that I've read, though written in the 1830s. Even the chapter titles are fascinating. Some from Volume II: Why Democratic Nations Show A More Ardent And Enduring Love Of Equality Than Of Liberty The Principle Of Equality Suggests To The Americans The Idea Of The Indefinite Perfectibility Of Man Of The Taste For Physical Well-Being In America Causes Of Fanatical Enthusiasm In Some Americans The Americans Combat Individualism By The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood Of The Spirit In Which The Americans Cultivate The Arts Why The National Vanity Of The Americans Is More Restless And Captious Than That Of The English How The Americans Understand The Equality Of The Sexes Why So Many Ambitious Men And So Little Lofty Ambition Are To Be Found In The United States https://www.gutenberg.org/files/816/816-h/816-h.htm#link2HCH0060 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/816/816-h/816-h.htm#link2HCH...

AnimalMuppet 6y ago

I'm not sure I understand your question. From, say, France's perspective? Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy In America may be what you're looking for. More recently, I'm sure that there are tons of French perspectives on the US available. Or do you mean from the perspective of ancient Rome or Greece? That would more likely be speculative historical fiction. Someone may have written such, but I don't know of any examples.

unexaminedlife 6y ago
I guess China would be the first specific that came to mind while thinking of this. That they were one of Earth's first human civilizations, and still exist as a nation today, intrigues me if we could peer deeply inside their historical documents mentioning United States and its inception. Also Egypt. It seems quite amazing to me to think about the massive trove of historical documents / knowledge their civilization had already acquired by that time, and that historical knowledge likely informed their perspective on the situation. What sort of perspective arose in their country at the time when they first heard about the United States, and how has that perspective evolved over the years. I think there are many facets to this that could be explored, but I don't have any in particular in mind. More interested to get a better understanding of what's out there for a native English speaker to consume on this topic.
- yesenadam 6y ago
  Definitely read Democracy in America, it's amazing. The best, most insightful book on today's USA that I've read, though written in the 1830s. Even the chapter titles are fascinating. Some from Volume II: Why Democratic Nations Show A More Ardent And Enduring Love Of Equality Than Of Liberty The Principle Of Equality Suggests To The Americans The Idea Of The Indefinite Perfectibility Of Man Of The Taste For Physical Well-Being In America Causes Of Fanatical Enthusiasm In Some Americans The Americans Combat Individualism By The Principle Of Interest Rightly Understood Of The Spirit In Which The Americans Cultivate The Arts Why The National Vanity Of The Americans Is More Restless And Captious Than That Of The English How The Americans Understand The Equality Of The Sexes Why So Many Ambitious Men And So Little Lofty Ambition Are To Be Found In The United States https://www.gutenberg.org/files/816/816-h/816-h.htm#link2HCH0060 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/816/816-h/816-h.htm#link2HCH...