In terms of the timeline, there is no such thing as a single timeline that explains the origin of everything. As we saw with the example with the timeline of the western world book that was shown in class it showed how the world is not composed on one single line , but a intensely complex system that stem from each other. There are many events that are happening from many parts in the world that are happening at the same time from each other. But when looking in timelines one has to understand the problems that come with it. “Addressing the problem of chronology, and especially the problem of visual chronology, means going back to the line, to understand its ubiquity, flexibility, and force… the presence of the lines couldn’t be more obvious.” (pg13)
For what it is I have come to terms with the Moravian Lives complexity on its ideas and modes of representation because one must use what was given to them to their fullest and understand that everything will not be as a simple to plot. The way that I have come to terms is by understanding the complexity of it and seeing that there won’t be a clear cut answer to solving the timeline. With the modes of representation that were used was geography, in which was used to understand the land of the areas that Latrobe use to live, and chronology, in which helped our group to be more organized in seeing the flow of time. Which both have clarified Historical events that happened during the time period. There are times where these modes can obscure small or some important details that are not told to why things led to these events.
For a timeline it can tell a story of a human being, the era of a kingdom or the environment in a specific area, but in a big picture “in which 
forces of disorder occupy the forefront of attention in which things happen to people rather one in which people do things.” (pg.12) For example, with Minards chart of the Russian campaign gives a “complex, but sometimes paradoxical way in which a real story is told.” (pg.23) It allowed me to see the story at a different angle in how this event transpired during that that time. Starting from a huge army then having most of the army wipe out by the winter season was told by single timeline of a line that thinned out overtime.
Mauricio Enrique Martínez is a student who is majoring in Cultural Anthropology and Japanese at Bucknell University. A wanderer in life.
2 replies on “Blog #3”
It’s interesting to note your argument that timelines do not always capture every detail. Although I do agree to some extent, I think the purpose of a timeline is to present the major historical events with essential details. They are quite time efficient to understand the main context and details of historical events to see the bigger picture.
I agree with you when you say that understanding the complexity of the Moravian lives projects have helped you come to terms that you won’t understand the project as a simple timeline. Grafton talks about how a timeline tells a much more complex story that it appears to be, which is what you seem to be saying and I also wrote about it in my blog post. I also agree that Geography is also a very important mode of representation that plays a big role in making understanding the memoir and understanding what as going on in the world at their time.