Should We Commemorate Conquerors?

Note to Attendees: Please consider making a $5 donation to contribute to the running costs of this Meetup.

Throughout history, conquerors have been celebrated as founders, nation-builders, and military geniuses. Statues, monuments, and place names have long honoured figures who reshaped borders and forged empires through conquest.

Yet the legacy of these individuals is increasingly contested. Many of the same leaders once praised for their ambition and vision are now criticised for the suffering, displacement, and destruction that accompanied their victories.

The Duke of Wellington famously observed, “The history of the world is but the biography of great men.” But if history often celebrates those who seized power, should modern societies continue to commemorate them?

At our next Gold Coast meetup, we’ll explore whether conquerors should still be honoured in public memory — and what our monuments reveal about the values we choose to preserve.

The questions we will address are:

1. Should military conquerors be remembered primarily for their achievements or for the human cost of their actions?
2. Is removing monuments an attempt to erase history, or a legitimate way for societies to redefine their values?
3. Is the “Great Man” view of history valid, or does it exaggerate the role of powerful individuals in shaping events?
4. Should modern moral standards be applied when judging historical figures who lived in very different times?

This event will be held at SOPO Brewing Co. on the Gold Coast.
After the discussion, we’ll stay on for a meal and a drink together — a chance to continue the conversation in a more relaxed setting and support the venue.

PLEASE NOTE:
Please support the venue by purchasing a drink or meal during the event.
This is intended to be a good-natured but robust discussion. Please be respectful and prepared to have your ideas challenged. If you are easily offended, this event may not be for you.