“ What is more important , saving lives or saving stones ? In reality , these two are inseparable .” -Francois Holland , President of the French Republic , 2016 , in reference to the exhibit “ Eternal
Sites : From Bamiyan to Palmyra ” at the Grand Palais in Paris
As one might expect , these narratives are not the thorough , evidence-based stories that historians aim to create . Rather , they are selective or fabricated accounts that give insurgencies the legitimacy they desire . Therefore , the insurgent groups must eliminate the historical accounts that would invalidate their own evidence by demonstrating the existence of multicultural communities in the Middle East . ISIS ’ s aim of altering the historical record to eliminate challenges to their legitimacy has wreaked havoc on historical sites throughout the Middle East . Not only is this destruction fulfilling an ideological goal , but antiquities trafficking of artifacts from these sites provides funding and material support for ISIS . The destruction of cultural heritage sites threatens the preservation of local and world history , and endangers the work of thousands of historians , archaeologists , conservationists , and museum experts who have dedicated their lives to preserving and sharing history . Furthermore , the destruction of cultural heritage sites hurts the local communities by threatening the memory of their culture and their legitimacy to continue their way of life in their communities . As the United States continues military involvement in the Middle East and other areas with rich archaeological identities , we must be aware of the important role that history plays in controlling narratives and legitimacy and work towards preventing further destruction .
The destruction that ISIS is perpetrating is not an original tactic . Iconoclasm - the destruction of religious icons or monuments - has been used for centuries by those who wish to erase evidence for beliefs that contradict their own . In the Byzantine Empire , iconoclasm became a topic of concern during the 8th and 9th centuries . Although iconoclasts cited the Old Testament in their arguments against idolatry , artistic representations of Christ and the saints continued . In 726 CE , Byzantine emperor Leo III publicly denounced the use of icons . His successor , Constantine V , undertook a rigorous mission against idolatry . He summoned the Council of Hieria to focus on his fight against idolatry . During the French religious wars of the sixteenth century , the use of icons continued to be a concern for followers of the church , particularly Calvinists . The Calvinist ’ s Institutes of the Christian Religion specifically denounced the use of icons , leading to the attacks and destruction of Genevan churches .
Europe would see destruction based on religious ideologies again centuries later via the destruction of Jewish temples by Nazis during World War II . The most infamous incident of this era was Kristallnacht , a night that saw the destruction of well over 1,000 German Jewish synagogues
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