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Question: Modern day historians / Greek mythology!?
- People who are historians today, what kind of work do they do!? If they want could they just focus on one main part of history that interests them!? also, what kind of courses / paths should I follow in order to do this kind of work!?

- Do universities do courses on Greek mythology!? Or is this just something I should solely look at for leisure!? I do like it muchies!.

If you know anything about what I ask, please share it with me!.
Thankyou so much! ~Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Most historians specialize in one subject area!. There are a few who write general histories or syntheses!. Most academic historians have doctorates in history!. There are non-academic historians, of course, usually with backgrounds in journalism or something else!.

On Greek mythology and religion, the giant in this field is Walter Burkert!. For ancient Greek and Roman history in general, Michael Grant was an academically trained and highly popular historian!.

Some modern day "classics" dealing with the Greek myths are Mythology by Edith Hamilton and THe Greek Myths by Robert Graves!.

Academic historians of classical Greece will, of course, have a good knowledge of the ancient Greek language and its variations (Homeric, Ionian, Athenian)!. Serious historians will usually need a reading knowledge of German, French and possibly modern Greek, as much scholarship is published in languages other than English (especially in German)!.

I hope this helps!. Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Historians are expected, at the undergraduate level, develop a broad knowledge of history with perhaps a specialty!. You can't just decide to only study Greece, for example, as an undergraduate!. Most colleges have an undergraduate program that gives you a background in writing history, American history, Western Civilization, African history, Asian history, and Latin American history!.

Once you've accomplished a basic understanding of those, normally in about seven courses, you can start to specialize!.

Graduate school is where you really start to specialize!. Many or most graduate programs require their history students to learn the languages which they've chosen to specialize in!. For example, you'd probably have to learn Ancient Greek and maybe Latin as well, since your actual masters degree may be in "Ancient History!."

Historians do not just KNOW History, they write it!. They have to spend time examining the actual old primary sources of history!. Most graduate programs will expect you to spend time in the area you're specializing in!.

One field you might want to consider is Classics!. It seems to be where lots of people who study the ancient languages and literature end up!. (J!.R!.R!. Tolkien and J!.K!. Rowling both studies classics, I believe!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com