“The telectroscope (also referred to as “electroscope”) was the first non-working prototype (i.e. conceptual model) of a television or videophone system. The term was used in the 19th century to describe science-based systems of distant seeing. The name and its concept came into being not long after the telephone was patented in 1876, and its original concept evolved from that of remote facsimile reproductions onto paper, into the live viewing of remote images”. – Wikipedia

Photo: Visitors to London wave to people they can see in New York as they peer through the Telectroscope situated by Tower Bridge on May 23, 2008 in London, England. The device named the Telectroscope provides a live visual link up between London and New York, to another Telectroscope by Brooklyn Bridge. (Photo by Cate Gillon/Getty Images)

Do you think that history is a science? Well, not exactly. First, and foremost, history is the state's “legend of wars”, it’s official regalia. Of course, public historians are not interested in scientific truth – quite the opposite. In this respect, any attempt to present a state’s history as altruistic and benevolent as possible is welcomed and encouraged – as opposed to any revisionism attempts that may be more accurate. In this matter, Chinese have surpassed us all – they revised in highly creative manner (but rather shamelessly) the technology already invented by Europeans, a process that resulted in oldest state on the planet. Here is an interesting paradox: ask any sinologist about the Middle Kingdom during second century B.C., and he will describe it to you in such a vivid manner as if he has been living there all his life – but as soon as you will ask him to describe Chinese history in the 19-20th centuries… let's say, his eagerness will be greatly diminished. However, we will discuss China in a different article, and in the meantime we will try to understand how exactly historic “legend of wars” is formed and functions – based on a specific and well-known example. A great example is Ferdinand Magellan's first voyage around the world.

American singer Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe, known mononymously as Tinashe forgot some of her outfit for GQ's Men of the Year party in West Hollywood, California on November 17, 2022. (Photo by Sweet T./Instagram)

A Palestinian man takes a selfie picture next to a camel at a livestock market in the West Bank city of Hebron on August 9, 2019, as muslims prepare for the Eid al-Adha celebrations. Known as the “big” festival, Eid Al-Adha is celebrated each year by Muslims sacrificing various animals according to religious traditions, including cows, camels, goats and sheep. (Photo by Hazem Bader/AFP Photo)

A postman walks past an art work titled “Alphabetti Spaghett” by artist Alex Chinneck on Norborough Road in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England on September 26, 2019. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)

In this handout image provided by Red Bull, Jessica Macaulay of Canada dives from the 22 metre platform during the final competition day of the sixth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series on September 11, 2022 at Sisikon, Switzerland. (Photo by Romina Amato/Red Bull via Getty Images)

Tourists enjoy the rare opportunity to walk in water as they visit Badwater Basin, the normally driest place in the US, in Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California on February 18, 2024. Badwater Basin, an endorheic basin in Death Valley National Park, was flooded by Hurricane Hilary in August 2023 and recent rains in California. It is the lowest point in North America, at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. (Photo by David Swanson/AFP Photo)

Spanish lamb march during a military parade on the national holiday known as “Hispanidad” or Hispanic Day in Madrid, Spain on October 12, 2022. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)