Carey Williams leaps into the icy waters of the Snake River for the 2022 Polar Plunge at the Hells Gate Marina on Saturday, January 1, 2022, in Clarkston, Wash. (Photo by August Frank/Lewiston Tribune via AP Photo)

In this July 11, 2018 photo, members of a private photo studio take pictures of a woman in Havana, Cuba. New rules for private business indicate that the government has ruled out going further to open private business, such as allowing small and medium enterprises and authorizing business to operate as societies. Currently, private business licenses are granted only to individuals, and only one license per person. (Photo by Desmond Boylan/AP Photo)

This picture taken on December 31, 2017 shows an Indian sadhu preparing food at a camp at Sangam, ahead of the Magh Mela festival, in Allahabad. The Magh Mela, which is known as a mini-Kumbh Mela, is scheduled to start January 2 and continue until February 13 with auspicious bathing dates throughout the 45 day period. (Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/AFP 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.

Swimmers in fancy costume take part in the New Year's Day swim at Saundersfoot in Wales, Britain, January 1, 2017. (Photo by Rebecca Naden/Reuters)

London Zoo photo of Tammy the tree-climbing anteater who is to be given her own minder during a series of late night events at ZSL London Zoo this summer. The twelve-year-old tree-climbing anteater is famed for her friendly disposition, but with naturally poor eyesight zookeepers will be giving Tammy help to steer her past any errant feet in the free-roaming exhibit. (Photo by ZSL London Zoo/PA Wire)

P.S. All pictures are presented in high resolution. To see Hi-Res images – just TWICE click on any picture. In other words, click small picture – opens the BIG picture. Click BIG picture – opens VERY BIG picture (if available; this principle works anywhere on the site AvaxNews)

Ai (R) and Hamuka dressed in “Lolita fashion”, influenced by Victorian style, pose for a photographs at Harajuku shopping district in Tokyo, Japan March 15, 2018. (Photo by Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

In this picture taken on January 11, 2021, young gymnasts train at the Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School in Xiantao, Hubei province. This summer's delayed Tokyo Olympics, which are now due to start on July 23, 2021, will be the defining moment for Chinese gymnasts who have trained relentlessly since as young as age four in the pursuit of gold. (Photo by Nicolas Asfouri/AFP Photo)