Top 10 Historical Inaccuracies: Assassin's Creed
07. America (AC3)
The story of America - as told in AC3 - was a rather exciting and interesting one. Especially as we, the player, are permitted to be present at some of the pivotal events of that story!
We got goose-flesh when we jumped up on the rampart as the cannons fired, and the American Flag waved above!
Yeah, but the thing about that is that the flag that gave us goose-flesh? Well at THAT point in the conflict it - and America as a concept - did not exist.
There are many more examples of this so the bottom line for Number Seven is America: the presumption.
No, seriously, the story of America is so well known - not just in America but all over the world - that it is almost understandable that the wizards behind the game at Ubisoft made that mental leap (call it a mental assumption) that it was an idea so powerful it literally sprang into existence on its own, overnight! But the thing is, it didn't.
Maybe it is sort of petty to point out that the succession of flags that were used by the rebel forces at least in the beginning were a mixture of political propaganda (remember “Don't Tread on Me”?) and variations of either private or colony flags, the actual stars and stripes flag did not exist until 1777!
We are not nit-picking here mates - even the first UNOFFICIAL flag - which was called The Continental Colors (aka The Grand Union Flag which really was not the first flag used) still did not come into existence and wide use until around 1776!
The point to this is that the flag that we know did not exist at the start of the fighting, which is when it was portrayed in the game.
And the same is true about the unofficial one (it sported stripes with the Union Jack where the stars would eventually be) as that one was primarily used by the Navy, was unofficial, and again did not appear until later in the conflict.
Conflict officially begins in the game - and in reality - early in 1775 - but the imagery that is used to represent the forces at play is taken out of historical context. Many of the ideas that were the root motivations for making those images had yet to occur to the principal parties.
Still, great story right?
Pretty off point with some of the French revolution criticism.
For the record there are numerous texts that suggest that Leonardo has a relationship with his assistant. Additionally homosexuality was only coined in recent times, but has been practised since biblical times. did you actually do any historical research or is this article just your personal opinion?
I would like to clear up a misconception written on the first page. Other than a minority number of off sect extremists, like the assasins themselves, Shias have not been known to kill Sunnis. Rather, it was usually the other way around. Also, Shias do not believe they were the ones to lead after the Prophet. Shia means follower and accordingly Shias are the followers of Prophet Mohammad and his family. Shias believe the the rightful heirs to the leadership of the Islamic community belonged to the Prophet's cousin Ali, and his descendants. The Prophet stated and implied many times that Ali will be his successor but the power hungry people ignored the fact that the Prophet himself raised Ali after he was born in the Ka'aba in Mecca, and usurped the leadership of Islam while Ali was busy burying the Prophet after his passing. The Sunnis unfortunately follow those that usurped Ali's power while the Shias follow Ali. Shias view the Prophet and his progeny to be perfect exemplary humans.
the catacombs did exist at that point they were just less extensive the people of paris expanded upon what a previous civilization had expanded on the original catacombs, also the speed and ease of use in ships was something that is explained in the codex they were added by the animus to make it a little easier for the whole thing to happen
Actually, depending on the size of the ship, the guns will be on the main deck due to the fact that there is only 1 deck above the water line, like on the Jackdaw. So in truth, the "gun deck" and the "sail deck" would be on the same deck on a brig (Jackdaw) due to it's size. Same can be said about other ships like sloops, schooners and other ships where there is only 1 deck above the water line.
If you're going to question historical validity in a work, it's only fair to give credible sources in turn. "Significant other is archaeologist/anthropologist" doesn't cut it, particularly for evidence on this "advanced technological society" you talk of.
Ancient Aliens aside, some of your "facts" were incorrect. Example, some pirates were pressed from captured vessels. Bartholomew Roberts, in fact, was dragged into service reluctantly under Howel Davis. Roberts later forced captured officer Henry Glasby into service as navigator. To say it NEVER happened is wrong; that implies we know everything about pirates when we really know very little.
Historical fiction doesn't presume to be 100% accurate. Who wants to spend 45 minutes of gameplay unfurling a sail, or 2 in-game weeks careening? History itself is inaccurate; it relies on storytellers to tell us the "facts". People are unreliable narrators, storytellers moreso. After all, it's always about the best story you can tell.
People think Da Vinci's gay because some court files accusing him of "lieing with a man" are found and very real ._.
In his notebooks there are also some pictures of naked boys and men even more than the amount of naked women
Part of that was social attitudes toward women, too. While growing steadily more progressive toward women having education or women in arts, women posing naked in front of men was improper. Women artists were on the rise, as well, where previously art was strictly a man's job, but were still banned from male nude art model classes, something that's essential in any art training, as well as learning how to paint group pictures. Consequently, most of the nude or semi-nude paintings commissioned depicted religious scenes, which paid quite a bit more.
Many artists just used drawings of corpses, themselves (if they couldn't afford models), each other, or their apprentices, as was the case with Salai. Salai was clearly a favorite subject of many art classes, not just da Vinci's, and although Salai definitely has his share of mysteries and rumors which may or may not have aligned with the Assassin Creed storyline, he was definitely an interesting character if nothing else.
when playing assassin's creed one needs to remember that it's just a game
The only part of this that was't picky was the cannons on the top deck. The point of the game isn't to be exact, Warren Vidic says that what Desmond see's is different because that's how it actually happened.
You have a very rudimentary understanding of history. Being a Professor of world history, I would love a link or reference to your source. Not just for your historical "facts" but more importantly to the empirical evidence of this once great, technologically advanced, extinct society of which refer!
The word bloke came up and I stopped reading
Wow sorry to hear that mate... Where I come from the word is commonly employed to refer to a person of the male gender in casual conversation.
I'm originally from Australia, and while I learned American English as a Second Language at times I do slip up and use real English words. So yeah, sorry mate, didn't realise you were the sort of bloke whose word tolerance is so weak you have physical reactions to words you encounter on web pages.
Glad we got that sorted. You have a great day mate!
Cheers!