HIST201 Historical Thought
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Aliye Fatma Mataraci
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to introduce students into the study of history. The main subject is the methodological framework within which historians work: Concepts such as the definition of history as an academic discipline, historical facts and their relationship to past realities, the notions of memory, tradition and sources, the historian’s role in constructing the past, narrative and analytical approaches to historiography, images, concepts and tropes for history, the status of history as a (social) science and the social functions of history will be discussed. This course also aims at teaching the “historian’s craft”, that is, providing practical skills such as using libraries, preparing bibliographies, consulting handbooks and scientific encyclopedias, using maps, getting an overview over secondary literature, assessing sources critically, evaluating source editions and translations and at giving an overview over working in archives. Students are going to watch documentaries and movies, and read primary sources concerning the topic of the week in order to enhance their understanding and critical thinking. Furthermore, there will be special classes and tours in order to develop the practical skills mentioned above.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Vincent, John. (2006). An Intelligent Person’s Guide to History. London: Duckworth Overlook Peter Stearns, “Why Study History”, American Historical Association Jeremy Black &Donald M. MacRaild, “History and Time” and “The Relativity of Time and Change”, in Studying History. New York: Palgrave, 2000, pp. 14-19. Hartog, François, “The Invention of History: The Pre-History of a Concept from Homer to Herodotus”, History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 3. (Oct., 2000), pp. 384-395. Bloch, Marc. Ch. 2: “Historical Observation”, The Historian's Craft. New York: Knopf, 1963. pp. 60-78. Carr, Edward Hallett. Ch. 1: “The Historian and His Facts”, What is History? London: Penguin, 1990, pp. 7-30. Tosh, John. Ch. 7: “The Limits of Historical Knowledge”, The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods, and New Directions in the Study of Modern History. New York: Longman, 2002, pp. 175-212. Evans, Richard J. Ch. 6: “Society and the Individual”, In Defence of History. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000, pp. 139-164. Ludmilla Jordanova. History in Practice. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 34-58. Breisach, Ernst. “The Era of the Polis and Its Historians” Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 12-26. Fernand Braudel, “History and the Social Sciences: The Long Term”. In The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present. Ed. Stern, Fritz Richard. New York: Vintage Books, 1973.
Additional Literature
Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern, Ernst Breisach, 2nd ed., Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. Studying History, Jeremy Black and Donald M MacRaild, London: Macmillan Education UK, 2016. Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to the Postmodern Challenge, Georg G Iggers, Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2005. The Houses of History: A Critical Reader in Twentieth-Century. History and Theory, Anna Green & Kathleen Troup Manchester: Manchester University Press cop. 2015Teaching Methods
Lectures
Class discussions
Quizzes
Screenings
Written assignments and class presentations.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to the course, expectations and requirements | |
| 2 | Why Study History? | Peter Stearns, “Why Study History”, American Historical Association Peter Stearns “Why Study History” American Historical Association |
| 3 | Time: The Past and the Present | Jeremy Black &Donald M. MacRaild, “History and Time” and “The Relativity of Time and Change”, in Studying History. New York: Palgrave, 2000, pp. 14-19. |
| 4 | Story, Myth and History | Hartog, François, “The Invention of History: The Pre-History of a Concept from Homer to Herodotus”, History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 3. (Oct., 2000), pp. 384-395. |
| 5 | Sources: Evidence | Bloch, Marc. Ch. 2: “Historical Observation”, The Historian’s Craft. New York: Knopf, 1963. Pp. 60-78. |
| 6 | Historians and Their Facts | Carr, Edward Hallett. Ch. 1: “The Historian and His Facts”, What is History? London: Penguin, 1990, pp. 7-30. |
| 7 | Objectivity and the Limits of Historical Knowledge | Tosh, John. Ch. 7: “The Limits of Historical Knowledge”, The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods, and New Directions in the Study of Modern History. New York: Longman, 2002, pp. 175-212. |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Kinds and Methods of History | Ludmilla Jordanova. History in Practice. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 34-58. |
| 10 | History of Historiography: When Does History Begin to Be History? | Breisach, Ernst. “The Era of the Polis and Its Historians” Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 12-26. |
| 11 | Social History: History and the Social Science | Fernand Braudel, “History and the Social Sciences: The Long Term”. In The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present. Ed. Stern, Fritz Richard. New York: Vintage Books, 1973. |
| 12 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. |
| 13 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. |
| 14 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. |
| 15 | Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 5
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Mid-term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Research Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
Written Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Quiz
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
Home Study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Written Assignment
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
Midterm Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (1 week × 15 h)
Final Exam Study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Research Paper
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Presentation
5 hours ⏳ (1 week × 5 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [HIST201] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| HIST201 | Historical Thought | 3 | 0 | 6 | Monday 12:00-14:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Aliye Fatma Mataraci | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Currently not available |
|||||||
| amataraci@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The aim of this course is to introduce students into the study of history. The main subject is the methodological framework within which historians work: Concepts such as the definition of history as an academic discipline, historical facts and their relationship to past realities, the notions of memory, tradition and sources, the historian’s role in constructing the past, narrative and analytical approaches to historiography, images, concepts and tropes for history, the status of history as a (social) science and the social functions of history will be discussed. This course also aims at teaching the “historian’s craft”, that is, providing practical skills such as using libraries, preparing bibliographies, consulting handbooks and scientific encyclopedias, using maps, getting an overview over secondary literature, assessing sources critically, evaluating source editions and translations and at giving an overview over working in archives. Students are going to watch documentaries and movies, and read primary sources concerning the topic of the week in order to enhance their understanding and critical thinking. Furthermore, there will be special classes and tours in order to develop the practical skills mentioned above. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Vincent, John. (2006). An Intelligent Person’s Guide to History. London: Duckworth Overlook Peter Stearns, “Why Study History”, American Historical Association Jeremy Black &Donald M. MacRaild, “History and Time” and “The Relativity of Time and Change”, in Studying History. New York: Palgrave, 2000, pp. 14-19. Hartog, François, “The Invention of History: The Pre-History of a Concept from Homer to Herodotus”, History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 3. (Oct., 2000), pp. 384-395. Bloch, Marc. Ch. 2: “Historical Observation”, The Historian's Craft. New York: Knopf, 1963. pp. 60-78. Carr, Edward Hallett. Ch. 1: “The Historian and His Facts”, What is History? London: Penguin, 1990, pp. 7-30. Tosh, John. Ch. 7: “The Limits of Historical Knowledge”, The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods, and New Directions in the Study of Modern History. New York: Longman, 2002, pp. 175-212. Evans, Richard J. Ch. 6: “Society and the Individual”, In Defence of History. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000, pp. 139-164. Ludmilla Jordanova. History in Practice. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 34-58. Breisach, Ernst. “The Era of the Polis and Its Historians” Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 12-26. Fernand Braudel, “History and the Social Sciences: The Long Term”. In The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present. Ed. Stern, Fritz Richard. New York: Vintage Books, 1973. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures, class discussions, quizzes, screenings, written assignments and class presentations. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to the course, expectations and requirements | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Why Study History? | Peter Stearns, “Why Study History”, American Historical Association Peter Stearns “Why Study History” American Historical Association | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Time: The Past and the Present | Jeremy Black &Donald M. MacRaild, “History and Time” and “The Relativity of Time and Change”, in Studying History. New York: Palgrave, 2000, pp. 14-19. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Story, Myth and History | Hartog, François, “The Invention of History: The Pre-History of a Concept from Homer to Herodotus”, History and Theory, Vol. 39, No. 3. (Oct., 2000), pp. 384-395. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Sources: Evidence | Bloch, Marc. Ch. 2: “Historical Observation”, The Historian’s Craft. New York: Knopf, 1963. Pp. 60-78. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Historians and Their Facts | Carr, Edward Hallett. Ch. 1: “The Historian and His Facts”, What is History? London: Penguin, 1990, pp. 7-30. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Objectivity and the Limits of Historical Knowledge | Tosh, John. Ch. 7: “The Limits of Historical Knowledge”, The Pursuit of History: Aims, Methods, and New Directions in the Study of Modern History. New York: Longman, 2002, pp. 175-212. | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Kinds and Methods of History | Ludmilla Jordanova. History in Practice. London, New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, pp. 34-58. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | History of Historiography: When Does History Begin to Be History? | Breisach, Ernst. “The Era of the Polis and Its Historians” Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994, pp. 12-26. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Social History: History and the Social Science | Fernand Braudel, “History and the Social Sciences: The Long Term”. In The Varieties of History: From Voltaire to the Present. Ed. Stern, Fritz Richard. New York: Vintage Books, 1973. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Schools of History | Breisach, Ernst. Historiography: Ancient, Medieval & Modern. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994. | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | 2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1,2 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid-term Exam | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Research Paper | 1 | 20 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Written Assignment | 1 | 10 | 2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Quiz | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Home Study | 3 | 15 | 45 | Written Assignment | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Midterm Exam Study | 15 | 1 | 15 | Final Exam Study | 20 | 1 | 20 | |||
| Research Paper | 10 | 1 | 10 | Presentation | 5 | 1 | 5 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||