A Palestinian man rides a donkey-drawn cart transporting an old car to a scrap yard, in Gaza City on March 15, 2020. (Photo by Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

A communal worker removes the snow from steps next people dressed as pandas near the center of the Ukrainian capital Kiev, on November 14, 2018, during an heavy snowfall, the first one of this autumn season. (Photo by Sergei Supinsky/AFP Photo)

Soldiers and firefighters carry the body of Chilean President Salvador Allende, wrapped in a Bolivian poncho, out of La Moneda presidential palace after it was bombed during a coup by Gen. Augusto Pinochet in Santiago, Chile, September 11, 1973. (Phoot by El Mercurio/AP Photo)

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.

Joanne Froggatt poses with her award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or TV Movie for her role in “Downton Abbey” backstage at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 11, 2015. (Photo by Mike Blake/Reuters)

Denis Rouvre is a portraitist, living and working in France. His photos have been nationally and internationally published. Rouvre’s photo series have been widely exhibited in France and abroad. He has also published several books, and his numerous prizes include World Press Photo award, and a Sony World Photography Award. Photo: Asia Argento. (Photo by Denis Rouvre)

Chinese women dressed in traditional costumes and wearing masks visit a popular shopping street in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, Saturday, January 23, 2021. A year after it was locked down to contain the spread of coronavirus, the central Chinese city of Wuhan has largely returned to normal, even as China continues to battle outbreaks elsewhere in the country. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

A puffadder snake is guided to safety as firefighters battle a wildfire near Pringle Bay, as firefighters remain on high alert amid dry, hot, and windy weather in Western Cape, South Africa on January 30, 2024. (Photo by Esa Alexander/Reuters)