Profession historian
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and present the past of human societies. They analyse documents, sources, and traces from the past in order to understand the past societies.
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Knowledge
- History
The discipline that studies, analyses, and presents the events of the past related to humans.
- Scientific research methodology
The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
- Periodisation
The categorisation of the past into defined blocks of time, called time periods, in order to make researching history easier.
- Historical methods
The methods, techniques, and guidelines that historians follow when researching the past and writing history, such as the use of primary sources.
- Source criticism
Process of classifying various informational sources into different categories such as historical and non-historical, or primary and secondary, and evaluating those sources on the basis of their content, material features, authors etc.
Skills
- Research the past in recorded sources
Analyse recorded sources such as government records, newspapers, biographies, and letters in order to uncover and interpret the past.
- Consult information sources
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
- Perform scientific research
Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
- Write scientific papers
Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
- Apply scientific methods
Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
- Do historical research
Use scientific methods to research history and culture.
Optional knowledge and skills
teach history assess conservation needs archive documentation related to the work search historical sources in archives conduct public presentations conservation techniques art history create collection conservation plan archaeology advise on historical context interview people compile library lists manage tourist groups supervise projects for the conservation of heritage buildings escort visitors to places of interest consult iconographic sources provide technical expertise study a collection museum databases reconstruct modified documents develop scientific theories determine authorship of documents write research proposals provide tourism related information maintain museum records document interviews manage digital archives cultural historySource: Sisyphus ODB