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HIST 201 HISTORICAL THOUGHT
Full Course Title:
Historical Thought
Historijska Misao
Course Code:
HIST 201
Course Level/BiH cycle:
1st Study Cycle
ECTS credit value:
6 ECTS
Student work-load:
For the whole semester:
Lectures
Presentations
Screenings
Assignment
Individual
learning
TOTAL
45
20
5
20
60
150
Length:
Spring 2015
Faculty/School/Department:
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Course leader:
Assist. Prof. Dr. Aliye F. Mataracı
Contact details:
Office:
Room F2.20
e-mail:
amataraci@ius.edu.ba
Office hours:
Mondays: 15:0016:00; Wednesdays:
14:00-15:00 and by
appt.
Phone:
+387 33 957 317
Social and Political Sciences Program
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Office:
e-mail:
Office hours:
Phone:
Site:
Lectures: IUS main building – A F2.13
Host Study Program:
Social and Political Sciences
FASS Elective Faculty Course
Course status:
Elective Faculty Course for Social and Political Sciences Program
Optional for other IUS programs as faculty course
Pre-requisites:
None
Access restrictions:
I cycle students only
Assessment:
Attendance, Assignments, Midterm Exam, Final Exam
Date validated:
February 2013
Course aims:
Learning outcomes:





To introduce students with the key terms and concepts related to the study of history
To ensure that students develop analytical skills in examining historical events
To introduce students to different schools of history and historiography
To introduce students to varying methods of research in the field of history
To teach the “historian’s craft”
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Explain and use the key terms and concepts related to the study of history
2. Analyze historical events comparatively and critically
3. Explain the various traditions and analytical tools of historical writing
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Indicative syllabus content:
4. Conduct research in the field of history
5. Discuss the status of history as a (social) science and the social functions of history
The aim of this course is to introduce students into the study of history. The main subject is the
methodological framework within which historians work: Concepts such as the definition of history
as an academic discipline, historical facts and their relationship to past realities, the notions of
memory, tradition and sources, the historian’s role in constructing the past, narrative and analytical
approaches to historiography, images, concepts and tropes for history, the status of history as a
(social) science and the social functions of history will be discussed. This course also aims at teaching
the “historian’s craft”, that is, providing practical skills such as using libraries, preparing
bibliographies, consulting handbooks and scientific encyclopedias, using maps, getting an overview
over secondary literature, assessing sources critically, evaluating source editions and translations
and at giving an overview over working in archives. Students are going to watch documentaries and
movies, and read primary sources concerning the topic of the week in order to enhance their
understanding and critical thinking. Furthermore, there will be special classes and tours in order to
develop the practical skills mentioned above.
Learning delivery:
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods (interactive lecturing, case studies,
written assignments, presentations, peer presentation analyses, essays, group discussions, article
analysis, class exercises, film screenings, museum visits). Students have three hours interactive
lectures. Students are expected to prepare two different assignments and one term project.
Learning will consist of knowledge acquisition and its application. Students’ independent learning
and activities will greatly influence the achievement of learning outcomes. Consultations with staff
should be used to its maximal potentials since individuals have different background and learning
styles. Weekly class exercise assignments will guide students’ individual learning and students’
progression in acquiring required knowledge and knowhow will be additionally checked through
quizzes and midterm and final exams.
Assessment Rationale:
Final exam is given at the end and will cover all the learning outcomes. In order to attract the
attention of the students into the offered course during the semester, class exercises, quizzes and
midterm are given and also some assignments are asked. Quizzes and midterm will be assessed
based on weekly readings, discussions and film screenings. These exams will encourage the students
to study harder during the semester time.
Class Participation 10%
Presentation 10%,
Assessment Weighting:
Assignment 10 %
Midterm Exam 30%
Final Exam 40%
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Essential Reading:
Vincent, John. (2006). An ıntelligent Person’s Guide to History. London: Duckworth Overlook
Peter Stearns, “Why Study History”, American Historical Association
Jeremy Black &Donald M. MacRaild, “History and Time” and “The Relativity of Time and Change”, in
Studying History. New York: Palgrave, 2000, pp. 14-19.
Hartog, François, “The Invention of History: The Pre-History of a Concept from Homer to Herodotus”,
History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 3. (Oct., 2000), pp. 384-395.
Bloch, Marc. Ch. 2: “Historical Observation”, The Historian's Craft. New York: Knopf, 1963. pp. 60-78.
Carr, Edward Hallett. Ch. 1: “The Historian and His Facts”, What is History? London: Penguin, 1990,
pp. 7-30.
Tosh, John. Ch. 7: “The Limits of Historical Knowledge”, The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods, and
New Directions in the Study of Modern History. New York: Longman, 2002, pp. 175-212.
Evans, Richard J. Ch. 6: “Society and the Individual”, In Defence of History. New York: W.W. Norton,
2000, pp. 139-164.
Ludmilla Jordanova. History in Practice. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 34-58.
Breisach, Ernst. “The Era of the Polis and Its Historians” Historiography: Ancient, Medieval &
Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 12-26.
Fernand Braudel, “History and the Social Sciences: The Long Term”. In The Varieties of History: From
Voltaire to the Present. Ed. Stern, Fritz Richard. New York: Vintage Books, 1973.
Recommended readings:
Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1994.
Intranet web reference:
Course Policies:
Assignments: Each student should complete their assignment on time. Assignments must be the
original work of the student. Sources must be acknowledged and cited. Plagiarism will result in an
immediate fail. According to the assignment, students take help from the lecturer on her office
hours.
Academic Integrity: Any cheating on examinations or quizzes or offering the work of another as
one's own in an assignment is regarded as a serious offence to the academic integrity and will lead
to a ZERO for the assignment grade, or serious disciplinary actions, including possible suspension.
Important dates:
Assignment : 6th Week
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Midterm Exam: 8th Week
Presentations: 12th, 13th and 14th Weeks
Final Exam: 15th Week
Quality assurance:
Student surveys, discussion with students on course, student appeals, e-mails, direct (formal)
feedback at the end of the semester by students, assistants and other colleagues
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Course schedule:
Week Lesson
/ Date
1
2
Topics to be covered
Class activities
Introduction to the course, expectations
and requirements
Discussion of the course content, course requirements,
mutual expectations and wishes
Why Study History?
Lecture & Class Discussion
Lab
activities
Problems/
Readings Learning objectives
Assignments
(After this lesson
(Homework)
student will be able to:)
Peter
Stearns,
“Why Study
History”
American
Historical
Association
3
Time: The Past and the Present
Lecture & Class Discussion
Jeremy
Black
&Donald M.
MacRaild,
“History
and Time”
and “The
Relativity of
Time and
Change”, in
Studying
History.
New York:
Palgrave,
2000, pp.
14-19.
4
Story, Myth and History
Lecture & Class Discussion
Hartog,
François,
1.
Define history as an
academic discipline
2.
Define historiography
1.
Discuss the
significance of history
for individuals and
society
2.
Explain and discuss
the skills required for
historical studies
3.
Explain kinds of history
1.
Define and discuss
differing
conceptualizations of
time
2.
Discuss the relativity of
time and change
3.
Explain and discuss
the significance of time
for history
4.
Compare and contrast
Anachronism and
Historicism with
examples
1.
Define and compare
Story, Myth and History
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“The
Invention of
History:
The PreHistory of a
Concept
from Homer
to
Herodotus”,
History and
Theory,
Vol. 39, No.
3. (Oct.,
2000), pp.
384-395.
Lecture and Class Discussion on historical research
based on “The Return of Martin Guerre”
5
Sources: Evidence
Film Screening:
“The Return of
Martin Guerre”
2.
Explain the relationship
between Story, Myth
and History
3.
Discuss the
discrepancy between
fact and fiction and its
reflections on historical
writing
Bloch,
Marc.
1.
Explain the nature of
historical evidence
Ch. 2:
“Historical
Observatio
n”, The
Historian's
Craft. New
York:
Knopf,
1963. pp.
60-78.
2.
Discuss the
significance of
evidence for history
writing
3.
Discuss historical
sources in “The Return of
Martin Guerre”
1.
6
Historians and Their Facts
7
as different genres of
narration
Objectivity and the Limits of Historical
Knowledge
Written
Assignment
Carr,
Edward
Hallett.
Ch. 1: “The
Historian
and His
Facts”, What
is History?
London:
Penguin,
1990, pp. 730.
Tosh, John.
Ch. 7: “The
Limits of
Historical
Knowledge”,
The Pursuit
2.
3.
1.
2.
Define and discuss what
counts as a historical
fact.
Differentiate between
historical fact and fiction.
Compare and contrast
history writing and
historical fiction.
Discuss objectivity
within social sciences.
Discuss objectivity
within the field of
History.
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of History:
Aims,
Methods,
and New
Directions in
the Study of
Modern
History. New
York:
Longman,
2002, pp.
175-212.
8
Midterm Exam
Ludmilla
Jordanova.
History in
Practice.
London,
New York:
Oxford
University
Press, 2000,
pp. 34-58.
9
Kinds and Methods of History
10
History of Historiography: When Does
History Begin to Be History?
11
Social History: History and the
Social Science
Museum Visit
1.
2.
Breisach,
Ernst. “The
Era of the
Polis and Its
Historians”
Historiograp
hy: Ancient,
Medieval &
Modern. 2nd
ed. Chicago:
University of
Chicago
Press, 1994,
pp. 12-26.
1.
Fernand
Braudel,
“History and
the Social
1.
2.
3.
2.
Compare and contrast
varying kinds of history
writing
Compare and contrast
varying methods of
history writing
Differentiate between
history and
historiography
Explain and discuss
history of historiography
Discuss what makes
History
Discuss the place of
History within Social
Sciences
Compare and contrast
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Sciences:
The Long
Term”. In
The
Varieties of
History:
From
Voltaire to
the Present.
Ed. Stern,
Fritz
Richard.
New York:
Vintage
Books,
1973.
12&13
Student presentations of different schools of history
Discussions, peer and professor evaluations of
presentations
Student
Presentations
Schools of History
14
General review of the topics covered by the course
Questions
Review
Student evaluations of the course
Suggestions for the future
15
Final Exam
Breisach,
Ernst.
Historiograph
y: Ancient,
Medieval &
Modern. 2nd
ed. Chicago:
University of
Chicago
Press, 1994.
History with other fields
within Social Sciences
Explain, compare,
contrast and discuss
varying schools of
history.