History

Course summary

To paraphrase John H. Arnold, there are many reasons to study History. Firstly, one should study History for enjoyment. There is pleasure in studying the past. Secondly, History teaches us to think. Studying History necessitates taking oneself out of one’s present context and exploring alternate worlds. Lastly, we study History to think differently about ourselves. We learn how we have come about and are made aware of the possibility of doing things differently. There have always been many courses of action and many ways of being. History arms us with the ability to act and think critically; it provides the tools to challenge dogma. History is for students who enjoy investigating the events, leaders, peoples and beliefs of the past. History explains why the world is the way it is, whilst suggesting what it could be. At its heart History teaches students to identify and challenge bias, understand cause and consequence and analyse the decisions people made and their effects.