
Studying history allows you to engage with and help create the narratives that determine who we are in our contemporary society.
In our semi-secular democratic society, history often lies at the heart of a lot of contemporary political and social discourse. Lacking a clear set of unified beliefs, we tend to argue based on our past. Debates range from the intentions of the authors of our constitution to the use or mis-use of the past to define contemporary nation-states. Even white supremacists use a distorted version of the European medieval past to argue for the naturalness of their ideologies. Historical narratives ultimately form the backbone of discussions about who we are and how we should shape our future as a society. Studying history allows us to better critique these narratives and ultimately play a direct role in guiding the discourses that shape our modern world.
Sample Plans
News & Events

Geoffry Brown Puts Monologue Series Online
“Quintessential Americans” available free of charge for download and use by history and drama students.
NEH Grant Supports New Certificate Program
Data Humanist Certificate program draws important links between humanities and sciences.
Conserving Vermont’s Historic Legacy
Alumni Tracy Martin ’85 and Alex Tolstoi ’12 recently found themselves working together on the Senator Justin Morrill State Historic Site in Strafford, Vermont.