From a business perspective, Western Europe thrived during the Cold War period, whereas the communist East stagnated . Four reasons to learn about history. In contrast, while turmoil throughout Europe’s Western world was typically responded to with constructive intervention, disturbances in Eastern Europe were brutally crushed . 1. If you’re interested in the past and wish to know the ways it can shape the future of our species, then take a look at taking up a course in the field of the history of our time. The conflict was "cold" because the two superpowers could not battle directly due to the very high likelihood of mutual destruction during the nuclear age. 33 Instead, both sides was primarily a economically and diplomatic war, providing governments of other countries with support in the political arena and financial aid in exchange for loyalty.

34 The war was restricted to proxy wars in that US and Soviet Union US and USSR offered troops or supplies to sides fighting in local battles (e.g. The field of history is multifaceted which will enhance your understanding of your culture as well as your moral knowledge of the world that we are living in. Korea, Vietnam). When you study history, you’ll develop many transferable abilities such as informed citizenship and critical thinking, through to general awareness and research. Contemporary Europe. Additionally, the information acquired through studying historical subjects is applicable to numerous fields and may provide a wide range of opportunities for employment. Since the end of the Cold War, which ended by the collapse of the USSR, Western tensions with Russia have been easing . Here the associate professor of History Dr.

In post-Soviet Eastern Europe has faced severe issues, including corruption unemployment inflation, as well as civil war. Tony Joel, from Deakin University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences gives four reasons why studying the history of our time will lead to an exciting and lucrative career. But, many Eastern European nations have become truely democratic since the end of the Cold War, though Russia remains an oppressive regime . 1,42,54. More to the story of history goes beyond being aware of dates and times. From WWI until the conclusion at the end of Cold War, cheap much of the Slavic-speaking area of the Balkans was united into one nation, Yugoslavia ("land of the South Slavs").

It’s a popular misconception that studying the past is just keeping track of events, people that are important, dates, places , etc. The 1990s saw the fracturing of the region into smaller states was the most bloody European conflict in post-Cold war era. The who whom, what, when, and where type of questions are only the beginning.

The war (which was primarily fought by Croats, Serbs, and Bosnians) occurred across both ethnic and political boundaries, and was particularly brutal throughout the area of Bosnia . The historians are much more interested in examining the questions of how and why and interpret the events in order to comprehend how they happened and why they took place. On the bright side The 1990s saw the establishment of the European Union , a political/economic alliance comprised of European states. Thus, historians usually come to consensus on the main "facts" regarding an historical event but could interpret events in a very different manner. The first step towards it was known as The European Economic Community (aka European Common Market) that was created in the aftermath of WWII to coordinate the national industries like steel and coal. "Take, for instance the assassination by US the president John F. In the end, the European Union brought the continent’s economic integration to new heights.

Kennedy’ Dr. It included the common European currency as well as central banks. 1,40. Joel declares. 1 1 "Europe" Encarta 2004. 2 – "Congress of Vienna", Encyclopedia Britannica. "Everyone knows that he had been shot in a motorcade outside of Dallas on November 22, 1963. Accessed in March of 2010.

3 3 "Congress of Vienna", Encarta 2004. 4 – "Serbia", Encyclopedia Britannica. But did Lee Harvey Oswald the perpetrator? If yes was he the sole shooter or was there an additional shooter? Or was Oswald just a "patsy" to be part of an elaborate cover-up? Historical scholars spend the majority of their lives discussing (or disputing!) with each other.’ The site was accessed in February 2010.

5 5 "Europe", Encyclopedia Britannica. Put your knowledge of the past to the test by taking this test. Accessed February , 2010. 6 6 "Napoleonic Wars", Encyclopedia Britannica.

History is more in demand than you might believe. Accessed February 2010. 7 7 "Great Great Britain", Columbia Encyclopedia.

History is always popular. Accessed May 2010. 8 8 "France", Columbia Encyclopedia. It’s among the "traditional" disciplines within the humanities, and has gained a reputation over time as the cornerstone in an undergraduate degree called the Bachelor of Arts.

Accessed May 10, 2010. 9 — "France" Encarta, 2004. 10 10 "Prussia", Columbia Encyclopedia. In the present, studying history is the most popular subject. Accessed in May 2010.

11 Accessed May 2010. 11 "Industrial Revolution", Encyclopedia Britannica. Indeed, year after année history is as one of the most sought-after fields that are offered to students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts graduates. Accessed February 2010.

12 12 "Industrial Revolution", Columbia Encyclopedia. It’s also extremely sought-after as an elective option with students from the entire college. Accessed February 10, 2010. 13 Accessed February 2010.

13 "Germany", Columbia Encyclopedia. Dr. Accessed in May 2010. 14 The 14th of May "Austria", Columbia Encyclopedia. Joel notes that, despite being studying nursing, engineering sciences or law, commerce or something else, lots of students like to play some historical knowledge as part of their curriculum.’ Accessed May 2010. 15 Accessed May 2010.

15 "Fascism", Columbia Encyclopedia. "It appears that, even whether they’re in nursing, engineering, science commerce, law or any other field, many students like to play some historical knowledge in their courses.’ Dr. Accessed in May 2010. 16 — "Russia", Columbia Encyclopedia. Tony Joel, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University. Accessed May 10, 2010.

17 17 "Russian Revolution", Encyclopedia Britannica. The study of history can help you find amazing jobs. Accessed May 10, 2010.

18 19 "Soviet", Encyclopedia Britannica. A major in history can lead to all sorts of jobs. Accessed May 10, 2010. 19 19 "Russian Revolution in 1905", Encyclopedia Britannica. The most popular possibilities include government positions (e.g.

Accessed May 10, 2010. 20 – "European exploration", Encyclopedia Britannica. Departments like Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Aboriginal Affairs) and any kind of non-profit organization such as teaching, journalism, the media, heritage consultancy, tourism, planning museums, libraries and historical archives and public histories, and even project administration. Retrieved February 10, 2010. 21 22 "Africa", Columbia Encyclopedia.

The top business leaders of the world have shared a similar experience of taking classes in history at universities. Accessed May 2010. 22 Accessed May 2010. 22 "Slavery", Encyclopedia Britannica.

Examples of this include: Ken Chenault, the CEO of American Express, completed a history degree at the college level; Carly Fiorina, a former CEO of Hewlett-Packard was awarded an academic degree in medieval studies in Stanford; Lloyd Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, studied history at Harvard; Brian Moynihan, the CEO of Bank of America, studied history at Brown University; Susan Wojcicki who is the CEO of YouTube, was a history student at Harvard as was Westpac’s CEO Brian Hartzer majored in European history in his bachelor of Arts before he entered the finance industry. Accessed May 10, 2010. 23 – "Balkan Wars", Columbia Encyclopedia. Some of the most famous politicians and celebrities with degrees in history includes documentary director Louis Theroux (Oxford), Prince Charles (Cambridge), George W Bush (Yale) and actor Edward Norton (Yale), actor and "Borat" creator Sacha Baron Cohen (Cambridge) Former British premier Gordon Brown, and comedian Steve Carell. Accessed May 2010. 24 – "Dreyfus Affair", Encarta 2004. 25"United Kingdom", Encarta 2004 "United Kingdom", Encarta 2004.

26"Opium Wars "Opium Wars", Columbia Encyclopedia. Experts in history can have an immense effect on world. Accessed in May 2010. 27 — "World Wars I", Encarta 2004.

If questions are asked about the lessons we can gain from our past, it usually will lead to the philosopher George Santayana’s aphorism that is often quoted: "Those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat that past".