Historical Sciences

We understand the study of History to be methodical research on the history of humankind as social beings, on the basis of a critically assured tradition (‘sources’). The study of History establishes witnessed historical circumstances, the contexts in which they occur, their interrelationships and effects, and then presents them in a way that is easy to understand and is as complete as possible. It adopts a methodological approach, takes a critical look at ideology and seeks to reveal the roots of the present through a dialectical process and to cast light on its historical structure. It enables us to better understand our own reality by tracing the origins of today’s political, social and cultural circumstances, and also enables us to experience quite different socio-political structures and manifestations of culture. It hones our awareness of historical continuities and discontinuities, and of the distinctiveness of our own age and other epochs.