Department of History

This course will explore the writing of history from two organizing principles: first, as a theoretical and historical subject that raises complex questions of epistemology and even political philosophy, and secondly, as a craft with its own set of techniques and tools that must be practiced to be mastered. From the former perspective, we will examine history historically, consider how the very meaning of the term has evolved, look at the changing ways historians have presented the past and ask what made their accounts believable at the time, take a particularly close look at the many different ends to which history has been put, consider the postmodern challenges to objectivity, causation, and historical “truth” that have rocked the very foundations of the profession in our time, and sample and evaluate some of today‟s leading approaches to the past. At the same time, we will study and practice history as a set of technical skills, as the craft of determining “facts” from primary sources, and deriving from those facts true and meaningful conclusions about the past. Requirements include energetic class participation, weekly reading and written summaries, and a final paper and presentation. MAT students must register under CEG 523.