History

A people without history is like wind on the buffalo grass - Lakota saying

History inspires us to understand our world and find our place in it. It examines the daily lives, conflicts, thought, relationships, work, and beliefs of men and women over time. From ancient tribes to modern nation-states, virtually all groups have appointed bards, historians, or chroniclers to be the keepers of collective memory. History was among the first subjects taught in universities, and it has retained a central place in higher education ever since.

History is, indeed, an argument without end - Pieter Geyl

Historians seek to understand the totality of human endeavor. Students of history seek to know with sophistication the politics, economics, religion, material culture, science, art, music, philosophy, medicine and even psychology of the men and women of a particular time and place. Hence history is a discipline both intrinsically broad and inherently deep.

The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there - L.P. Hartley

The Department of History at Fairfield seeks to introduce to each student the richness of history, and the skills of reading, writing, and analysis of historical materials. Our courses range from introductory surveys to advanced seminars, covering all regions of the world and all periods of history, from ancient to contemporary.

Through small classes, close work with an active and dynamic faculty, and collaborative efforts with your peers, you'll analyze primary historical documents, do original research, and learn to write analytically. You'll be taught to sift through large amounts of information, to distinguish between important ideas and superficial ones, and to dissect arguments and assess evidence: in short, to hone the skills and outlook needed to succeed as global citizens in an information age.