The “Great Man” Theory

One approach to studying history can focus on historian Thomas Carlyle’s words: “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” Carlyle argues that heroes shape history through the vision of their intellect, the beauty of their art, the prowess of their leadership, and, most important, their divine inspiration.

Throughout the ages, historians argue and debate over the impact individuals have on history. Labels of “greatness” have been attached to many individuals, specifically in Ancient Greece. But how great were these leaders?

Posing Questions

• What is a valid claim to fame?
• How does one determine “greatness”?
• Are leaders born or made?
• Do great leaders arise when there is a great need?
• What characteristics or qualities make a “great man”?

The Great man theory is a theory held by some that aims to explains history by the impact of "Great men", ie: highly influential individuals, either from personal charisma, genius intellects, or great political impact. It is often linked to 19th century philosopher and historian Thomas Carlyle, who commented that "The history of the world is but the biography of great men." This theory is usually contrasted with a theory that talks about events occurring in the fullness of time, or when an overwhelming wave of smaller events cause certain developments to occur.

The “Great Man” Theory:

the “eventful” man versus the “event-making man”

In this passage, a contemporary philosopher takes up the question of the hero in history.

The key distinction… is the distinction between the hero as the eventful man in history and the hero as the event-making man in history. The eventful man in history is any man whose actions influenced subsequent developments along a quite different course that would have been if followed if these actions had not been taken. The event-making man is an eventful man whose actions are the consequences of outstanding capacities of intelligence, will and character rather than of accidents of position…

The merely eventful men in history play a role that may be compared to that of the little Dutch boy who kept his finger in the hole of the dam to save the town. Without meaning to strip the legend of its glamour, we can point out that almost anybody in the situation could have done it. All that was required was a boy, a finger, and the lucky chance of passing by. The event itself in the life of the community was of tremendous significance. It saved the town… But the qualities required to cope with the situation were of a fairly common distribution. Here, so to speak, one stumbles upon greatness just as one might stumble on a treasure that will ransom a town. Greatness, however is something that must involve extraordinary talent of some kinds and not merely the compounded luck of being born and of being present at the right place at a happy moment.

Both the eventful man and the event–making man appear at the forking points of history. The possibility of their action has already been prepared for by the direction of antecedent events. The difference is this. In the case of the eventful man, the preparation is at a very advanced stage. It required a relatively simple act-- a decree, a command, a common-sense decision – to make the decisive choice. He many “muff” his rule or let someone steal it from him. But even if he doesn’t this does not prove him an exceptional creature. His virtue or vice is inferred from the happy or unhappy consequence of what he has done, not from the qualities he has displayed in the doing of it.

The event making man, on the other hand, finds a fork in the historical road, but he also helps, so to speak, to create it… At the very least, like Caesar and Cromwell and Napoleon, he must free the path he has taken from opposition and, in so doing, display exceptional qualities of leadership. It is the hero as event-making man who leaves the positive imprint of his personality upon history—an imprint that is still observable after he has disappeared from the scene. The merely eventful man whose finger plugs a dam or fires the shot that starts a war is rarely aware of the nature of the alternative he faces and of the train of events his act sets off.

It is easy to make a sharp distinction in analysis between the eventful man and the event-making man, but here are few historical figures that will fit snugly into either classification. We must leave to historians the delicate task of ascertaining whether any particular “hero” of human history is, in respect to some significant happening, an event-making character --- or merely lucky.

Reflection Questions

1. What is the difference between the “eventful man” and the “event-making man” according to the passage?
2. Give an example from your life that was “eventful” versus “event-making”. How did you decipher the difference?
3. Name any three “event-making” historical figures in history and justify your selections.

Famous Greeks – How Great?

Task

1. Read the article “Great Man Theory”.

2. Students will randomly select a famous Greek. See list.

3. Students will develop a concept map that shows the major historical accomplishments (arts, military, political, social, economic etc.) and cultural legacies of the selected “Famous Greek”. The concept map should also illustrate connections to the Great Man Theory.

Criteria for Concept Map

ü uses key words that link together concepts and ideas

ü illustrates clear interrelationships / connections in applicable areas (military, political, social, economic, political, cultural, religion, arts, legacies, key figures / people, historical importance etc.)

ü depicts hierarchical relationships between terms, concepts and ideas (multi-level mapping)

ü includes subtopics and detailed examples

ü presents information in an organized fashion with clear themes / patterns

ü includes relevant quotes, images and links to maps and scholarly websites

ü uses interactive clip art, connectors, patterns, images and colours

The computer lab has the required software. There is a free trial of SMART IDEAS: http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Ideas/

Ten Steps to Build a Concept Map

1. Identify a focus question that addresses the problem, issues, or knowledge domain that you wish to map.
2. Now hierarchically order your compiled list of concepts.
3. Work through your concepts and add more concepts as needed.
4. Begin building your map.
5. Connect the concepts, and label the connections with one or two linking words. These words should define the relationship between the concepts.
6. Rework the structure of your map, which may include adding, subtracting, or changing subordinate concepts. It may take several iterations of this process to get it to where you want it.
7. Look for crosslinks between concepts in different areas of the map and label these lines.
8. Specific examples of concepts can be attached to the concept labels.
9. It may help to add hyperlinks to concepts you feel require more explanation.
10. Remember that there is no right way to create this concept map, and as your understanding about the relationships between concepts changes, so too will your concept map.

Concept Map Rubric

CATEGORY	Level 4	Level 3	Level 2	Level 1
Conceptual Understanding	Map demonstrates strong conceptual understanding of key ideas because it is comprehensive and accurate.	Map demonstrates solid conceptual understanding of key ideas because it is mostly comprehensive and accurate.	Map demonstrates adequate conceptual understanding of key ideas because it is somewhat comprehensive and accurate.	Map fails to demonstrate adequate conceptual understanding of key ideas because it is not comprehensive or accurate.
Content Coverage	All primary concepts are included on the map and depict accurate associations.	Most primary concepts are included on the map and most depict accurate associations.	Most primary concepts are included on the map, but many are depicted by inaccurate associations.	Several primary concepts are missing and many of those included are depicted by inaccurate associations.
Branching & Hierarchy	The map uses frequent branching yet depicts accurate hierarchical relationships among the concepts.	The map uses branching and usually depicts accurate hierarchical relationships among the concepts.	The map uses branching; however, the hierarchical relationships among the concepts are often inaccurate or neglected.	The map fails to use branching and the hierarchical relationships among the concepts are often inaccurate or neglected.
Cross Linking	Cross links are frequent and show logical inter-relationships among the concepts.	Cross links are used and show logical inter-relationships among the concepts.	Cross links are used and usually show logical inter-relationships among the concepts.	Cross links are not often used and fail to show logical inter-relationships among the concepts.
Linking Words	Linking words are consistently present and strongly enhance the communication of the concept to concept relationships.	Linking words are usually present and enhance the communication of the concept to concept relationships.	Linking words are sometimes present and sometimes enhance the communication of the concept to concept relationships.	Linking words are usually absent and fail to enhance the communication of the concept to concept relationships.
Sub concepts/Examples	Sub concepts and examples are frequent, relevant and demonstrate depth of conceptual understanding.	Sub concepts and examples are included, are usually relevant and demonstrate some degree of conceptual understanding.	Sub concepts and examples are included, but are often irrelevant and fail to demonstrate some degree of conceptual understanding.	Sub concepts and examples are frequently missing, are typically irrelevant and fail to demonstrate conceptual understanding.
Interactivity & Hyperlinks	Map is an excellent resource bank that links to a variety high quality websites. Positioning and organization of links is exceptional.	Map is an solid resource bank that links to quality websites. Positioning and organization of links is sound.	Map is a resource bank. Positioning and organization of links is satisfactory	Map does not contain useful links and needs a great deal of work to be completed.