History Buffs

WintryFrenchie · 05-13-2005, 10:41 AM

I am in my Junior year of Highschool and I plan to at least get a minor in History. Though I don't know what I want to do quite yet, I know that it will involve communicating (writing, speaking, etc.), so I figure: A) I really, really enjoy history. B) Historical examples/precedence is one of the best ways to prove a point. C) Even if I don't have a use for a history major/minor, it sure would be fun to get.

I have studied various areas of history, though I focus particularily on Japanese history (particularily the culture, military and poetry/art of the "Feudal Age" of Japan), WW2, Rome, Greece and some European history (during the "Medieval Ages"). I hope to increase the span of my knowledge to a broader scope of history (including Ancient History of Isreal, Egypt, the Celts and civilizations that were otherwise wiped off the face of the planet).

As such, I figure that I can start up conversation on this thread again by asking those of you who have a much better expertise in history than I these questions: "What is the best way to prepare for a degree in History? Which authors/sources do you recommend to us aspiring students? Any particular author/source to be wary of?"

I would appreciate any help you could afford.

-The Crazy "French" guy...

P.S. I'm not really French.

jfahler03 · 05-15-2005, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WintryFrenchie

As such, I figure that I can start up conversation on this thread again by asking those of you who have a much better expertise in history than I these questions: "What is the best way to prepare for a degree in History? Which authors/sources do you recommend to us aspiring students? Any particular author/source to be wary of?"

While I'm not a "real" history major (my major at Kent State Univ. is Education (grades 7-12) with an emphasis on Integrated Social Studies with an emphasis on History), I can answer the first question for me... "What is the best way to prepare for a degree in History?"... and that (as corny and cliche as it sounds) is first by loving it. Second, prepare for it by become a good writer of formal, boring crap, and third, get a good understanding of everything you learn. If it's arts and humanities or music, it'll fit into teaching/writing about history in the future. If it's math and science, it'll allow you to understand the enormous feats of Newton, Bacon, et al. Just knowing a little about this or that will get you pretty far... my personal studies of religion help me out a lot for example by letting me in on how the people viewed the world in x region at y time.

Authors/sources? 1st question:

Personally I'm just getting into that now. I really enjoy reading primitive histories like those of Thucydides and Herodotus, although they're limited. On contemporary authors it depends on the subject and I really can't list any all-inclusive sources.

Primary sources (recordings from whatever time period you may study) are very valuable and often accruate as well.

2nd:

Watch out for "Christian" views of secular history as well as Christian/church history. Same thing with anything... just make sure the source is bound and determined to be objective... the second that it's from y political party or x religion you have to question everything that is states. Too many people try to rewrite history (ie by making the nation a "Christian" nation... please use another thread if that statement bothers you to debate me) and the idea of rewriting history and not questioning anything frankly scares me. Other sources to be wary of include anybody accused of plagarism, etc. Sometimes it depends... while I wouldn't say to be weary of him (as the book of his I have The Heritage of World Civilizations is pretty good), Albert M. Craig (Yale I think) is kind of strange... in that he doesn't include Darwin in his latest edition (?!).

-Josh

Typing this makes me want to crank open a copy of my Ohio History text for my final on Tuesday. Wicked. (wow I'm a dork)

KateV · 05-23-2005, 10:42 PM

I think I'm going to major in either history or political science in college which is coming up in two years for me. My favorite time period is by FAR the American revolution.

Wheatmeister · 05-27-2005, 11:07 PM

Middle Eastern history became my de facto minor as an undergrad...though I never declared it, I had the hours on my transcript for it. That's still continuing in grad school, though I'm also interesting in World War II. My grandfather was in Patton's 5th Army and was part of the artillery that "softened" targets during the Battle of the Bulge. Also, American history during and after the Cold War...McCarthyism, the Civil Rights movement...Great stuff.

Recently, I've been getting into Baptist history because I think a lot of Baptists have completely forgotten their roots, but that's another rant for another topic in another forum.

RhythmicAndy · 07-31-2005, 04:44 PM

History is prbably the one subject I look forward to. So far I have already gained 9 credit hrs. of history in highschool and I hope to take plenty of military history in college. I am going to be in Army ROTC so it will help and I enjoy it.
My favorite period is probably WWII and I enjoy various world history. Gives a sense of unbound knowledge I suppose. My college major will probably be International studies rather than history so I can get foreign language work towards becoming fluent in Spanish. But will allow plenty of history classes.

jfahler03 · 08-24-2005, 05:15 PM

Quote:

...Patton's 5th Army and was part of the artillery that "softened" targets during the Battle of the Bulge

Sorry to bring this up Wheatmeister, but just to let you know, Patton was in command of Third Army.

I have a friend who was in an artillery batallion during the Bulge... the 176th FA Bn. Lots of AMAZING stories come from that 80+ year old man...