History as a science

History as a science helps one to understand and explain the processes going on in various aspects of human history. It also helps a specialist to foresee the course of events in future.

The entire history of human society is that of wars and struggle for power. Wars, except just ones, were always waged for the purpose of conquering other lands and people. No matter whether Roman dictators, German or French emperors, British kings or queens or Russian tsars - all the monarchs in their fight for absolute power or colonial possessions brutally oppressed their people, enslaved and plundered the conquered nations.

But in the course of time empires and monarchies gradually came to a downfall. As a result of bourgeois democratic revolutions some monarchs were overthrown and republics were proclaimed. And those were bourgeois republics. It was the 1917 October Uprising in Russia that proclaimed the first socialist state and ushered a new era in the history of humanity. It was the era of transition from capitalism to socialism and the creation of the world socialist system. But the USSR leaders' Summit in 1985 has become a turning point in the development of this system. As for now the number of the countries - members of the socialist community - is constantly decreasing.

Notes:

1. except just ones - кроме справедливых войн

2. for the purpose of conquering - с целью завоевания

3. no matter whether Roman dictators... неважно, Римские ли диктаторы

4. in the course of - в течение

5. came to a downfall - пала, рухнула

6. ushered a new era - возвестила новую эру

7. a turning point - поворотный момент

Exercises:

1. Give Russian equivalents of the following:

To foresee the events; the entire history; just wars; to wage wars; absolute power; colonial possession; brutally oppressed; in the course of time; to come to a downfall; as a result; bourgeois democratic revolution; the history of humanity.

II. Suggest the English for:

Различные области; борьба за власть; с целью завоевания; абсо­лютная власть; покоренные народы; буржуазная республика; пе­реход от капитализма к социализму; мировая социалистическая система; поворотный момент в развитии; постоянно сокращает­ся.

III. Express agreement or disagreement with the following using:

Yes, you are right (= it is correct)

No, you are not right (= you are wrong)

1. The entire history of human society is that of peace.

2. As a result of bourgeois democratic revolution a monarchy was proclaimed.

3. The October Uprising proclaimed the first socialist state.

4. In the course of time empires and monarchies gradually came to a prosperity.

IV. Insert the missing words:

1. the entire history of......is that of wars.

2. All the monarchs brutally... their people.

3. But in the course of time......gradually came to a downfall.

4. As a result of bourgeois revolutions some monarchs were......

and republics were......

V. Complete the following sentences:

1. Wars were waged for the purpose....

2. As a result of bourgeois democratic revolution....

3. It was the 1917 October Uprising that....

VI. Answer the following questions:

1. What is characteristic of the entire human history?

2. What purpose were the wars, except just ones, usually waged for?

3. What did the monarch usually fight for?

4. How did the monarchs treat their own people?

5. What became of some monarchs and monarchies?

6. What republics were usually proclaimed after the overthrow of some monarchs?

7. What role did the October Uprising play in the history of mankind?

VII. Speak on the history of humanity:

The words you may need: struggle for power, for the purpose of conquering, absolute power, to oppress, to enslave, to plunder, the conquered nations, bourgeois democratic revolution, to usher a new era.