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.

A dog, at the behest of his owner, rides a skatebaord on April 3, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. The dog's owner, who looked like he might be homeless, coaxed the dog to ride the skatebaord and asked passersby who stopped to watch for money. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

A Chinese People's Liberation Army soldier marches with members of an honor guard as they prepare for a welcome ceremony for visiting Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, June 12, 2017. (Photo by Andy Wong/AP Photo)

The lead singer of one band talks to two bemused kids at a gig at the “Warzone Centre” in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1980s. (Photo by Ricky Adam/Mediadrumworld)

A model presents a creation from The Blonds during New York Fashion Week Fall-Winter 2025 in New York City, U.S., February 8, 2025. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Reuters)

Poland's Daria Pikulik, Poland's Wiktoria Pikulik and Britain's Elinor Barker (R) crash as they compete in the Women's Madison race during the fifth day of the UEC European Track Cycling Championships at the Omnisport indoor arena in Apeldoorn, on January 14, 2024. bark (Photo by John Thys/AFP Photo)

Emily clement, 9, left, and her sister, Mallory, 9, pick strawberries together at the Trunnell's Farm Market strawberry field, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Owensboro, Ky. (Photo by USA Today)

Participants take part in the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 02, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade began in 1978 as a march to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York and has been held every year since to promote awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues. (Photo by Roni Bintang/Getty Images)