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Hypothetically, if governments wordwide just suddenly became authoritarian and deleted all records of history, how much history can you recall from memory to re-teach to the next generation? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Hypothetically, if governments wordwide just suddenly became authoritarian and deleted all records of history, you and some survivors escape to a remote area outside of government control, they all can't remember much from history (either didn't pay attwntion in class, or suffers memory loss from the governemtn attacks) and so you are designated as this community's official historian. How much can you remember? What's gonna be the official narrative of your little rebel community?

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[-] MyDarkestTimeline01@ani.social 10 points 3 days ago

I have a stack of Encyclopedia Britannica in my parents storage.

[-] Hupf@feddit.org 2 points 3 days ago

I have a stack of the Animorphs in my attic. Yours is just speculative fiction.

[-] MyDarkestTimeline01@ani.social 1 points 3 days ago

.......huh?

[-] Hupf@feddit.org 1 points 2 days ago

How would you prove that your books reflect the true history?

[-] MyDarkestTimeline01@ani.social 2 points 2 days ago

Ok, I see what you mean. Counterpoint: how could/would anyone? If someone wanted to have "faith" enough they could feasibly handwave away anything that didn't jive with what they wanted the past to be. And in a situation where cross referencing would be nigh on impossible? I mean....I've got nothing. "Trust me bro."

[-] wolframhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yeah, I have curated my library to be focused on the history of science, with special focus on the sorts of books which include information necessary to bring society to the technological equivalent of the age of reason (with extra chemistry and medicine). At that point, it's mostly practical, and the practicality of the source speaks to the likely authenticity of other texts within the collection.

[-] frostysauce@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

All records of history have been deleted.

[-] MyDarkestTimeline01@ani.social 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Like others, I question the ability to delete a book. And while a regime would be able to change digital literature easily, and educational literature like school books being a close second; changing a book in someone's storage unit is a lot harder.

It also handwaves away the other ways we keep history as well. Would people's family photo albums be deleted? What about a great grandma's diary? In some rural areas the family bible has some insanely well kept family records.

this post was submitted on 04 Sep 2025

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