There have always been histories -- stories told to keep a record of what happened to people, nations, and rulers. Yet those stories have not always been told "scientifically," with claims at representing a historical era to readers or viewers. It was, in fact, German scholars who initiated today's scientific study of history (including art history, philology, archaeology, and history proper).

This course will introduce you to the problem of history and history-writing: what kinds of histories are possible, what purpses histories can be used for, histories preserved in monuments, paintings, and landscapes, and how history is reconstructed (especially in philology and archaeology).

Readings for the course will come from several sources: writings from the founders of German history-writing (e.g. Ranke), current essays discussing history, and some case studies on historical representations (memorials [Schama], museums, and history-painting from Germany).

This course will fulfill the University's requirements for a course with a Significant Writing Component.

• 8- one-page précis assignments (the first few as worksheets; due approximately one per week for the first 9 weeks of the semester)
• 1 five-page paper synthesizing readings on what it means to write history (due ca. week 10 of semester; 1 eight-to-ten-page rewrite applyhing these perspectives to a museum/exhibition website (URLs to be provided; due final on final date)