Philosophy - Why should I study History?

History helps us understand how people, ideas, and choices have shaped the world we live in today. It provides a powerful frame of reference, enabling us to better understand ourselves and others, and to make more informed decisions about the present and future.

Through historical inquiry, we develop strong critical thinking skills. We analyse sources, explore cause and consequence, consider multiple perspectives, and identify patterns of continuity and change over time. We come to see that history is not a single, settled story, but an ongoing conversation shaped by evidence, context, and point of view. In so doing, we develop a more nuanced understanding of complexity, contingency, and interpretation. 

History also offers empirically grounded wisdom about how the world actually works. This is something increasingly valuable in an age where information spreads faster than it can be verified and persuasive claims often outpace reliable methods. By studying real historical cases, we learn how power operates, how societies change, and how unintended consequences emerge. Indeed, the core methods of History such as researching, evaluating evidence, questioning sources, recognizing bias, and weighing competing claims, are essential for navigating a world saturated with AI-generated content. These skills enable us to assess reliability and to question authoritative-sounding answers with independence and judgment, rather than accept them at face value. In doing so, we become more active, discerning participants in the creation and use of knowledge. 

Course Content - What will I be studying?

The History course at CIS is structured around three main areas of study, each aligned with a different form of historical inquiry.

Focused Studies (Paper 1). Students examine the theme of Conflict and Displacement, exploring how war and political change have shaped human movement and experience. Case studies include post-war displacement in Europe (1945–1960) and the Indochina refugee crisis (1975–1990). The topics show how war and political upheavals forced millions to rebuild their lives in new places, helping us connect past refugee crises to to the migration and conflict stories shaping our world today. These studies emphasize source evaluation, contextual understanding, and the synthesis of perspectives. 

Thematic Studies (Paper 2). Thematic studies enable students to examine broad historical patterns and concepts across different contexts. CIS has selected the theme of Authoritarian Rule, explored through case studies of the USSR under Lenin and Stalin (1917–1953), Germany under Nazi rule (1933–1945), and Communist China under Mao (1949–1976). Through these examples, we analyse the causes, characteristics, and consequences of authoritarian systems, and compare how power has been established, maintained, and challenged. 

Regional Studies (Paper 3 – Higher Level only). Higher Level students do an in-depth regional study focused on Asia and Oceania. At CIS, this includes the Independence of India (1857–1964) and the Emergence of Modern China (1910–1949). These topics provide rich opportunities to explore themes such as nationalism, independence, modernization, revolution, and state formation, and to evaluate diverse historical perspectives within their regional contexts. We also gain insight into two countries that play a tremendous role in global culture, economics and international relations of today's world.

In addition to these externally assessed components, all students complete an internal historical investigation, in which they independently formulate a research question, analyse selected sources, and synthesize evidence to construct a historically grounded response.

Assessment - How will I be assessed?