It is an ongoing dialogue between the present and the past, about how the past should be understood and interpreted, about what meaning we should assign to the past. The significance of past events changes with the passage of time, and history must continuously be rewritten. It is not the past that changes, but the present. Because history explains the present, it furnishes us with insight into the future. Just as memory is the basis for individual identity, so History is the basis for group and communal and national identity.
History is thus crucial in defining directions for the future.
History at The University of Queensland seeks to draw students into dialogue with the past in order to position the present, to define identity, to know ourselves and the world in which we live - through revealing the extraordinary experiences, the passion and cruelty, the valour and achievement, of humankind. Apart from this nationalistic approach, you may study History thematically - including through gender, race, sexuality, the environment and heritage, popular culture, historical theory and so on. This handbook is your guide to these courses. In this way we provide a rational progression of courses to suit the qualifications and experience of all students. If you are interested in obtaining a Major, you may choose to concentrate on one area in depth, or you may prefer a broader approach through studying a variety of countries and periods.