History

Course summary

History is the study of the past. It examines the political, economic, social and cultural issues of different era and cultures. At its most ambitious, the subject is the study of everything. Of course, in A Level History you won’t be expected to learn everything from the Battle of Hastings in 1066 to the Cold War, but you will cover enough in breadth and depth to develop a good understanding of events in their historical context, and to develop an historian’s approach to the past. “Why was a particular course of action followed?” is a fundamental question underlying the study of History, and its primary purpose is not to judge but to comprehend. From an intellectual standpoint, A Level History is about the acquisition of vital learning skills: you need to be able to read and digest large amounts of information and to pick out what is and is not relevant to the question you are dealing with. History will teach you how to analyse, reflect and to argue clearly in class and in writing. By studying History, you will gain skills highly valued by employers and universities, such as analytical and critical reasoning, oral and written communication and research skills – History is a highly respected academic discipline, and those who have studied it have used it as launch pad for a wide range of careers in areas as diverse as the media, government, heritage organisations, conservation, teaching, archives, museums and galleries, the police and law.