One of the key factors that made China one of the four ancient kingdoms survive is that our ancestors successfully recorded the environment of that era, so that we can get a glimpse of what people lived hundreds of years ago today.
History plays a pivotal role in our studies. It is not only the crystallization of the wisdom of our predecessors, but also an important lesson for us to avoid detours. Therefore, an authentic historical record is crucial, and it needs to pass on the authentic past to future generations.
However, the pioneer of historical research, the "father of history" who was the first to produce the most complete history book, appeared in the book some expressions that did not match the real history, which aroused public doubts.
This has challenged his position, but we should always maintain a reverence for history and a quest for truth.
The truth of history is often obscured by historians and the general public's understanding, and it remains to be explored who is right and who is wrong. For us today, a proper understanding of history is an important task, because we can ask our own questions and challenge established opinions in our studies.
In the ancient Greek period, the development of society was accompanied by the birth of various literary works, among which was a famous person
Herodotus was born into a wealthy family in ancient Greece, and his father was a slave owner who owned a lot of property. The young Herodotus was witty and showed great wisdom.
At a time when the rulers of the ancient Greek city-states came to power through intrigues, Herodotus' uncle, hating such perverse means, began to rebel and try to overthrow them.
Herodotus, influenced by his uncle, also participated in this revolt. However, they did not succeed and were exiled. Herodotus began his life of wanderlust until someone overthrew the ruler of the day.
Despite this, Herodotus did not return to his homeland, but continued to travel the world.
The wandering life allowed Herodotus to enjoy countless beautiful scenery and meet many people and things he had never met. These rich experiences sparked his desire to record them, and he compiled them into a book and took them with him.
During his travels, he not only documented the customs of the region, but also actively participated in various historical activities, learned more about the war, and made a living by selling goods.
After the war, he migrated with the people and began his writing career, focusing on his famous book History.
The book later circulated, but there were many contradictions in its content because Herodotus was not finished before his death. In addition, the social and technological conditions of the time also led to the book being mixed with Herodotus' own views.
As a result, some chapters have been questioned, especially the mention of cinnamon, raising doubts as to whether it really started in Arabia. However, cinnamon doesn't just originate in Arabia.
In China, anything can be made into a delicacy, whether it's not a single rabbit making it out of Sichuan alive, or a healthy hairy crab making it past our table, let alone hot pot, barbecue, and fried skewers.
As a result, cinnamon has different histories and origins around the world, and this book may just describe one possibility.
The preparation of these delicacies is not an easy task, and every detail needs to be taken care of. For example, when to add spices and how to control the heat, these need to be considered.
Among them, spices, bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon, etc. are all important parts of making food. Cinnamon, in particular, dates back a long time and is not only a spice, but also a medicinal herb that nourishes the body.
In traditional Chinese medicine, cinnamon is an indispensable medicinal material. As early as ancient times, there were emperors who consumed cinnamon to maintain their health. And cinnamon is also one of our country's main export commodities.
Guangxi cinnamon, with a long history, won praise for its high-quality varieties and excellent medicinal effects as early as the Qing Dynasty. Today, Guangxi is still the world's largest producer of cinnamon, and the cinnamon grown in Guangxi is of excellent quality and has an excellent tonic effect on the human body.
Although there are various theories about the origin of cinnamon, some books record that it was introduced to China after the Tang Dynasty, and others believe that it existed during the Qin Dynasty, but in any case, it was widely used as a spice in ancient times.
And in Herodotus's book of history, the difference between cinnamon and Ceylon cinnamon is mentioned, although the difference between the two is only two words, but the nature is completely different, Ceylon cinnamon was brought to the market by the Arabs.
In ancient times, the Arabs were fascinated by the aroma of Ceylon cinnamon and used it not only as a spice in cooking, but also in perfumes and even as a flavoring agent for coffee. This widely used spice is considered a treasure by the Arabs, whose origin is kept secret.
Although people in Europe and elsewhere were also willing to buy Ceylon cinnamon, Herodotus's Histories mentions ordinary cinnamon, not Ceylon cinnamon. This may be due to the fact that in ancient times, China was still relatively closed to other countries, and it was not possible to transport the precious Ceylon cinnamon to Arabia.
Although the ancient Arabs came all the way to China to buy cinnamon, according to historical records, there was no mass production and export of cinnamon in China at that time. Therefore, questions arise about the appearance of cinnamon in Arabia, as mentioned by Herodotus in the article "History", since the technical conditions at that time seemed unlikely to be realized.
However, due to the passage of time, we cannot know exactly what happened at that time, and we can only speculate based on the existing historical books and writings. But regardless of the actual situation, Chinese cinnamon has always been a favorite of the Chinese people.
History is an important tool for us to understand the past and the future. The life and wisdom of the ancients, as well as their way of life and values, are reflected in the historical record.
Therefore, we need to treat history in a professional and realistic manner to ensure that correct historical knowledge is passed on. We need for the next generation to understand, recognize, and benefit from the wisdom of the ancients.
At the same time, we cannot ignore or deny history, because history is like a mirror that reflects the past and foreshadows the future. Only by treating the past correctly can we create a better future.