Philosophy - Why should I study History?

An embracing, thoughtful engagement with the content of History makes us more discerning, creative social and political animals. Humans have engendered many modes of understanding the world and our place in it, and have applied that understanding in many ways. At times, that application has brought out the very best in us; at times, the very worst. From all of it, we can learn.

The study of History at CIS exercises skills of discernment and argumentation, and the dispositions of curiosity and open-mindedness. Students learn to gather, sort and evaluate historical evidence; recognize historical processes and their relationship to human experience, activity and motivation; and organize and express historical ideas and information. Students are taught to apply sound reasoning and rigorous empiricism when evaluating the strengths and limitations of the primary and secondary sources on which History is based, and when generating their own claims about the meaning to be made from those sources. In the process, students come to appreciate the relative nature of historical knowledge and understanding, as each generation reflects its own world and preoccupations and as more evidence emerges.

An important concomitant of the study of History in this manner is an enhanced appreciation of the diversity of human attitudes and opinions over time and in different societies. Such an intellectual stance is vital for personal and professional success in the increasingly complex, globalized interactions of the world in which we live.

Finally, Diploma History aims to enhance students’ own historical identity through the study of the historical experiences of different cultures. The content of History gives ballast, a frame of reference. It helps contextualize our lives so we can make decisions, and enhance our self-awareness as we better understand why, as individuals and as communities, we make the choices we do.

Course Content - What will I be studying?

Currently at CIS, the focus is on 20th century History. There are two “Prescribed Topics”, one “Prescribed Subject”, and a Higher Level “Regional Option”.

The first Prescribed Topic is ‘Evolution and Development of Democratic States’. Democratic systems in the 20th century faced political, economic and social threats to their existence from internal and external sources. In some cases the democracies copied successfully; in other cases not. The performance of democratic states in relation to such pressures forms the basis of our inquiry into the Weimar Republic (1919-33), and India under Nehru (1947-64).

The second Prescribed Topic is ‘Origins and Development of Authoritarian States’. We investigate Russia/USSR under Lenin and Stalin, Germany under Hitler, and China under Mao. It is instructive that, excepting Stalinist USSR, these states emerged from the breakdown of democratic regimes under pressure. Coverage of these two Prescribed Topics enables students to perform broad and deep comparative analyses of the economic, political and social challenges that produce, overturn or uphold regimes of various types.

We also study The Prescribed Subject ‘Rights and Protest’. This focuses on two case studies: the US civil rights movement of 1954-65 and the apartheid era in South Africa from 1948-64. For these case studies we examine the nature and characteristics of discrimination; the nature, successes and limitations of protests and action in pursuit of civil rights; and the role and significance of key groups and individuals. This Prescribed Subject, combined with the other topics listed above, ensures cultural inclusiveness in a History curriculum for a multi-national student population. These topic choices also ensure that reflection on what constitutes the pillars of just, equitable and sustainable society is always part of the historical knowledge generated in the class.

There is an additional set of topics on “The History of Asia and Oceania” for Higher Level students only. The modern histories of India (“Nationalism and independence in India 1919–1964”) and China (“China and Korea 1910-1950”, and “The People’s Republic of China 1949–2005”) are fertile case studies in which the urgent issues pertaining to just and sustainable political, social and economic activity can be examined, and so are exceptionally relevant to the concerns and tasks confronting us all today. Themes of independence (and interdependence), globalisation, nationalism, democratization, authoritarianism, and the domestic policies associated with these concepts and “isms” form the core of our investigations for this Higher Level examination paper.

Assessment - How will I be assessed?

Prerequisites - What do I need to know before choosing History?

For students choosing to study History at HL, a ‘5’ in any MYP Humanities course or a 7/8/9 in an I/GCSE course would be a useful pre-requisite. For those planning to study it at SL, a ‘4’ in any MYP Humanities course or a 5/6 in an I/GCSE Humanities course would be useful. Although you do not need to have previously studied History to be able to do well in DP History, if you are aiming for the highest grades, a willingness to read widely and an ability to write fluently will certainly be useful prerequisites.

What will allow me to be successful?

Read widely! Read the news, to be able to see links between past and present (cause and effect), and to determine how/why things change and how/why continuity can also be present over time.

Read historical fiction, so you can develop historical imagination, understand how narratives are constructed, and cultivate empathy for the challenges humans of the past have faced.

Read history books, so you can acquire a broad and sound base of knowledge for contextualising the particulars we will study.

What can I do with History in the future?

This intellectually rigorous course is an excellent way for students to develop highly sought after and transferable skills. These include being able to effectively communicate complex ideas, the ability to research, analyse and evaluate information, both orally and in writing, and the capacity to make substantiated judgements, all whilst developing independent work skills.

A History related degree is useful for a number of careers, including diplomacy, international relations, politics, the law, teaching, librarianship, banking and commerce, publishing, museums and art galleries and a wide variety of social and charitable work.

History is required by almost all Danish universities if you wish to study any Humanities subject.