Interviews

    For my interviews I chose to do a rather conventional interview and somewhat of an unconventional interview.  My first interview was with a history teacher at my school, Mr. Jim Doran.  That was my conventual interview as in person to person.  My second interview was done over electronic mail.  I sent a list of of questions to a professor at the University of Minnesota at Duluth and that professor was Professor Alexis Pogorelskin.

    From his own words Mr. Doran admitted that he did not know much about the Mongol Empire so instead I asked him a series of other history related questions.

1.  Why do you think that the teaching of history is important?
    I feel history teaches us three basic things:
          1)  History gives us our location in time, for instance we know what day it is because of history.
          2)  History also supplies us with an identity.  This can be as a group or as an individual.
          3)  History gives us memories.

2.  What is your most favorite thing to study in American and World History?
    I love to study the American Civil War.  As far as world history is concerned I have recently began reading more Irish history.

3.  Why do you like history?
    I especially like the idea that  history gives us the idea of an identity.  Who we are depends so much on our past.

4.  Why do you think Asian history, like the Mongol Empire, is not taught in most Western history books?
    Your question answered your question.  Xenophobia or racism is a major factor.  Our culture is obsessed with "Western Civilization" especially Europe and "Classical" civilization.

5.  If you could visit or live in any time era other than this century where would you visit?
    A large city (New York, Boston, Chicago) in the late 19th century.  I would especially like to visit the Irish neighborhoods and experience that.

6.  Of the knowledge you have of the Mongol Empire, what do you like about it?
    I do not feel I can answer this question.

7.  What do you consider the top two turning points or events in all of written history?
    1.  The European invasion of the "New World" and the cultural diffusion that resulted that still effects us today; disease, food and many other things including ideas are still influenced.
    2.  The Declaration of Independence:  Not necessarily the document itself but the climax of the enlightenment.  The political philosophy and idea that echoed during this time, equality, freedom, and the idea of basic human rights.   

8.  Why did you decide to teach history?
    I have enjoyed history all my life and I wanted to share it.

9.  Why is it that many people my age, 18, blow off history as unimportant?
    History textbooks are boring.  For too long we have been tied to the textbook.  Textbooks need to be resources to use not what drives the class.

10.  What in your lifetime do you think will live on for generations to come?
    The expansion of human and civil rights.  In my lifetime I believe there will be a woman president and/or a person of color as president.

    My second e-mailed interview came from Professor Alexis Pogorelskin who is a teacher at the University of Duluth in Minnesota, USA.

1.  What do you consider to be the most significant about the Mongol
Empire and/or the Mongol people of that time era?
    Its successful conquest of the Muscovite state.

2.  What made Genghis Khan, or Chingis Khan, such a great leader?  What
was it about him that made people follow him?
    He had a vision of conquest.

3.  Would you consider the Mongols of that time to be more brutal or
civilized than other civilizations of that time?
    They were more sophisticated militarily than the civilizations they
conquered , but more brutal and with little respect for the culture of other peoples.

4.  Why do you think the Mongol Empire died out so quickly?
    It didn't, but broke up with individual khans remaining very strong.

5.  What, in your opinion, is the most lasting effect of the Mongol
Empire if any at all?
    The impact of the Mongol period on Russian national development.

6. Finally, why is it that the Mongol Empire and Genghis Khan are given
so little coverage in most history books that are used by students?
      There is little study of the medieval period and almost none beyond
western Europe, but that is changing as your assignment shows.

    Thanks to both of you for those very informative and interesting answers.  I hope that this website shows you that it was worth your time to talk, or write, to me to help this project.