The phrase “history is written by the victors” implies that those in power often shape historical narratives to their advantage. Here are some notable instances illustrating this concept:
The Roman Empire: The accounts of the Roman conquests and their rule were predominantly written by Roman historians. These narratives often glorified Rome’s achievements while downplaying or omitting the perspectives of the subjugated peoples, such as the Gauls or the Carthaginians. Consequently, much of what is known about these cultures is filtered through a Roman lens.
The Battle of Hastings (1066): After William the Conqueror triumphed over King Harold II of England, Norman historians portrayed William’s victory as a rightful claim to the throne, emphasizing his legitimacy and divine right. This perspective was propagated while counter-narratives from the Anglo-Saxons were suppressed or lost over time.
Colonial Histories: European colonial powers wrote extensively about their exploits in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, often casting themselves as civilizing forces bringing progress to “primitive” societies. These accounts frequently ignored or marginalized the voices and experiences of the indigenous populations, who suffered significant oppression and cultural erasure.
World War II: The Allied powers’ victory led to a dominant narrative emphasizing the defeat of fascism and injustice. While this narrative is largely supported by the horrific evidence of the Holocaust and other atrocities, it has occasionally obscured the complexities of Allied actions during the war, such as the moral ambiguities of strategic bombings and political decisions in post-war treaties.
Chinese Dynastic Histories: In ancient China, each succeeding dynasty often rewrote the history of its predecessors to justify its own rule and delegitimize those it replaced. The victors labeled their predecessors as corrupt or incompetent, thereby legitimizing the new dynasty’s control.
In all these examples, access to dissemination of information allowed the victors to frame historical narratives, thereby shaping collective memory and understanding for future generations. Consequently, critical evaluation of historical sources is essential to uncover more balanced views of the past.
