In Genesis, Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery, which is how Joseph ends up in Egypt, which is how Egypt is saved from famine, and on and on. The brothers are able to do this because Joseph finds them with their flocks. But Joseph is able to find his brothers only because he asks an unnamed man in the story where they are, and the man tells him.
On the reasonable assumption that this is allegoric, the message is that sometimes history depends on a single anonymous person who we might never even know about.
Thank you for the additional information about good old "Christopher Columbus"! In 4th grade I was asked to write a review about Amerigo Vespucci, and learned that he was more likely that Columbus to have "discovered" North America. [I didn't go to a "special" school, but one where the educational mix was quite varied. So, I was fortunate to have this experience.]
Great responses. Esp Paul S! As for one individual influencing history….dept of duh now: John the Baptist passing the baton to Jesus of Nazareth …? Even Time changes with that one. And a rarity at that—some enduring good came from it. Not all big influencers measure up, and may the gods help us re this semi-immanent one.
I've been asking the same question in a totally different context, about the Israeli doctor who saved Sinwar's life. (Sinwar is the one who orchestrated the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023). What if the doctor hadn't saved Sinwar's life? Would it have made a difference? And if so, should that be a lesson to doctors not to treat their enemies?
I've also thought about those 'minor' characters who shape events accidentally or purposefully. Another great one is the failed assassination attempt on Hitler's life...
The very idea that an illiterate weaver with only wet clothes on his back from a shipwreck would even get a glance let alone a welcome by the aristocratic's and royals in Spain is not even in the air in that time and age. Colomb would have been someone of high state or wealth to have been accepted into the realm of the hierarchy of Spain or Portugal. There is a well researched and documented book tracing Colomb's statue as a royal of a small country in central Europe who escaped death in battle and found refuge in Portugal or Spain and lived his life there accepted as royalty and with his maps and knowledge was endowed to go west to new lands. He probably claimed Brazil for Portugal since it was below the longitude separating Spain and Portugal for exploring the west for new riches. Spain later claimed Mexico south ceding brazil to Portugal.
In Genesis, Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery, which is how Joseph ends up in Egypt, which is how Egypt is saved from famine, and on and on. The brothers are able to do this because Joseph finds them with their flocks. But Joseph is able to find his brothers only because he asks an unnamed man in the story where they are, and the man tells him.
On the reasonable assumption that this is allegoric, the message is that sometimes history depends on a single anonymous person who we might never even know about.
Thank you for the additional information about good old "Christopher Columbus"! In 4th grade I was asked to write a review about Amerigo Vespucci, and learned that he was more likely that Columbus to have "discovered" North America. [I didn't go to a "special" school, but one where the educational mix was quite varied. So, I was fortunate to have this experience.]
I had a few people write to me about it - I thought Paul's explanation above was an excellent recap of the news. Very interesting!
Amazing articles!!!!Keep it up!!!!!!..and many thanks!!!!~Luisa
Great responses. Esp Paul S! As for one individual influencing history….dept of duh now: John the Baptist passing the baton to Jesus of Nazareth …? Even Time changes with that one. And a rarity at that—some enduring good came from it. Not all big influencers measure up, and may the gods help us re this semi-immanent one.
I've been asking the same question in a totally different context, about the Israeli doctor who saved Sinwar's life. (Sinwar is the one who orchestrated the massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023). What if the doctor hadn't saved Sinwar's life? Would it have made a difference? And if so, should that be a lesson to doctors not to treat their enemies?
https://open.substack.com/pub/authorjoelmhoffman/p/yahya-sinwar-gaza-israel-vexing-dilemma-of-kindness
I've also thought about those 'minor' characters who shape events accidentally or purposefully. Another great one is the failed assassination attempt on Hitler's life...
The very idea that an illiterate weaver with only wet clothes on his back from a shipwreck would even get a glance let alone a welcome by the aristocratic's and royals in Spain is not even in the air in that time and age. Colomb would have been someone of high state or wealth to have been accepted into the realm of the hierarchy of Spain or Portugal. There is a well researched and documented book tracing Colomb's statue as a royal of a small country in central Europe who escaped death in battle and found refuge in Portugal or Spain and lived his life there accepted as royalty and with his maps and knowledge was endowed to go west to new lands. He probably claimed Brazil for Portugal since it was below the longitude separating Spain and Portugal for exploring the west for new riches. Spain later claimed Mexico south ceding brazil to Portugal.