Designed to explore history as a discipline and a form of knowledge. It examines the process and the structure of how human societies have interpreted, ordered and used historical inquiry. Major theoretical/philosophical traditions and their historians are analyzed. Special attention is paid to modern rational history with its focus on the notion of progress and the challenges brought about by the claims of postmodern interpretationbased history with its emphasis on language, race, ethnicity, gender, and environment. Furthermore, it explores history's impact on other disciplines including philosophy, literary criticism, biology, physics, and religious studies. Combines weekly readings with selected guest lectures that explore the ways in which history is understood in History and in other disciplines.