El lado zurdo de la historia

13/04/2016

BY Paullushistoricus · in knowing the past history. ·
Determined to make a historical point to any aspect of our daily lives and the world around us.
Following a tweet that reads: "Approximately 2,500 left-handed people die each year from using tools designed for right", and grace that made me (despite being one of them), I have arisen related questions a sense of historical curiosity, especially those myths and falsehoods that have been enriched over time.
A left-handed person is one with a natural tendency to use the left side of his body. What should be a little momentous event for humans, they have not gone unnoticed at all in a right-handed world.
Those who had this peculiarity have had some special characterization from a social point of view, and has not always been positively. On the contrary, they have been molested, and even demonized throughout history. But what it was the origin of this sinister character of the Left?
Apparently there are few references in ancient texts, and none that can enlighten the specific cause. One that we highlight are the writings of the Old Testament, that in the context several battles like those fought the Benjamin tribe against the Israelites (Judges 19:21). In their ranks he had handed slingers who enjoyed great skill. an advantage of some warriors in the art of war follows.
In many traditions animosity against the left side, even in some primitive communities. But it is in the history of Christianity where a disproportionate revulsion against lefties. Associating it with the infernal idea and the negative things that were opposed on the right side (with a meaning of power and order). "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41)
But also in the world as superstitious Rome there were some bad omens with this component "sinister" use such a word which originally was linked to the (even survives in the Italian language) left. The flight of a bird coming from the left was a sign that something terrible was brewing.
There are still some expressions meanings that allude to it, such as getting up with the left foot to mean that on certain days things go wrong.
But not all ideas will be bad, and is to be handed also associated with creativity and genius. It is for less and there is a high number of famous people in history have been. Such as Aristotle, Napoleon and Marilyn. Two "big" as Alexander the Great and Charlemagne also came and Julius Caesar. The scientist Newton and artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. And many more like them. Really a curious issue that we can put hours and hours digging, to know the luck (or bad luck, depending how you look) of lefties in history, and get to know more examples of historical characters and get to know your opinions.