Revising history is not a new phenomenon; it is as old as history itself. The reasons for doing so vary, but one of the most common is to support a political agenda (often by denigrating the reputation of those previously in power, such as a dead king or his dynasty). George Orwell was not the first to note the importance of history, but he was the most articulate at documenting its misuse. In his depressingly magnificent book Nineteen Eighty-Four he stated, “He who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” Orwell also understood the…
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