A Historian has the fascinating job of studying and interpreting the past. When people need detailed, nuanced information about the past, they go to historians to get the facts. These individuals write history books about all kinds of topics, times, people, and places. From ancient history, to a specific decade, to even one specific historical event, historians will study and fact-find in order to share that information with the public.

Historians also get to study different languages and manuscripts. They have to study the language and translate what is written in the ancient documents that they are studying. Hence, they have to be really good at the language because those documents can contain vital information.

There are many different types of historians, each with a specialty or a specific area of study in which they are experts. These specialties range from a specific time period, country, or region. For example, a historian could specialize in U.S. history with a particular mastery of 1960's pop culture. Another example of a specialization could be South African history with a concentration on apartheid. Historians may also specialize in history type, such as the history of women, or science. However, even though many historians specialize in one topic, it is expected that they have a general base of history knowledge.

Historians study written records of history, this is where they get the support and evidence to back up their interpretation of the event or time period in question. It is their job to pore over all of the written documents they can find, and then piece together all of the information they gather to form some kind of historical narrative. They are then able to answer the questions of what happened, who was involved, why, etc.

The duties of Historian includes to gather historical data from various sources, including archives, books, and artifacts and analyze and interpret historical information to determine its authenticity and significance. They also trace historical developments in a particular field and engage with the public through educational programs and presentations.

They also archive or preserve materials and artifacts in museums, visitor centers, and historic sites and provide advice or guidance on historical topics and preservation issues and write reports, articles, and books on findings and theories.

Types Of Historians

• Archaeologists: Archaeologists study human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains.
• Cultural Historians: Cultural historians focus on the study of cultural phenomena such as art, literature, music, and social customs to understand the past societies and their development.
• Economic Historians: Economic historians explore the economic aspects of the past, including trade, commerce, financial systems, and economic policies that have shaped societies.
• Political Historians: Political historians specialize in the study of political events, leaders, and systems throughout history, often examining the impact of political decisions on societies.
• Social Historians: Social historians analyze the lives of everyday people, including their customs, lifestyles, and societal structures, to gain insights into the social dynamics of different periods.
• Military Historians: Military historians focus on the study of wars, battles, and military strategies, as well as the impact of warfare on societies and cultures.
• Environmental Historians: Environmental historians investigate the interactions between human societies and their natural environments, including the impact of environmental changes on history.

Work Environment

• The workplace of a Historian is one of focus and quiet. Many historians spend most of their time in offices at colleges or universities, in libraries, or in classrooms. They may do some travel to historical sites or archives for research purposes.