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Studies & Degrees in Ancient History

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Ancient History Study Programs

Level: Undergraduate Bachelors     Location: Villanueva de la Cañada

The study of Ancient History is not only for the purpose of satisfying one’s curiosity of the past; it is also an important process in learning the past to understand the present. For students who are taking or will be taking Ancient History, you will find the course interesting and rather enjoyable especially when looking for evidences about the past peoples and how, with their primitive technology, they responded and solved the challenges of their times. Critical thinking and analysis are the few but probably the most important skills that a student will develop should he/she take this course.

Ancient History is studying about the past, but what exactly would students do should they take this course? An example curriculum showed three content areas which are the focus of the curriculum framework:

Historical thinking and methodology is one content area. Students taking Ancient History should develop an understanding of historical thinking, skills and processes: mainly to inquire, analyze, and present. Students are expected to construct an historical inquiry in order to formulate their own historical narratives and accounts. They should be able to understand the ethical requirements of an historical investigation, develop inquiry skills, and be able to construct sound arguments about the past. Interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing information based on historical inquiry is also an important activity in studying Ancient History. Finally, they should be able to communicate their findings according to purpose and audience. Communication and presentation skills are necessary, also the skills in arranging the data gathered and closing in on a sound conclusion.

Another content area is working with ancient historical narratives. Students are expected to examine a range of historical narratives to learn and understand the chronology of a time period. They are to examine the defining characteristics of certain societies, key peoples, ideas, and events that are the forces of change for that period. Students are expected learn about the elements of a society at the start of the period, forces of change for the period, and the consequences of continuity and change over the period.

Last content area is historical explanation and representation. Through evidence analysis, historical narratives, and debates, students will develop an understanding about the knowledge the past holds. Students are to examine and study the explanations and representations of past people, ideas, and events so that they can go beyond the mere explanation of historical fact; they become the actual narrator. Students will develop an understanding of the different perspectives about the past that can be reflected in the present, through shared and prevailing values, beliefs, traditions and experiences of an individual or a group. Students also learn, by studying the range of perspectives about the past, the importance of historical empathy and why there is a need for many perspectives for an historical event, why some perspectives are often challenged, reconstructed, and then further endorsed later on.

Students who study Ancient History will be well equipped with the necessary skills that will help them adapt in a changing world. Skills like research, critical thinking, analysis, communication, and presentation are very important and valuable in effectively preparing them in any career including, but not limited to: lawyer, journalist, diplomat, researcher, archaeologist, anthropologist, teacher, and many occupations in the travel and tourism industry.