A historian is a professional who deals with researching, analysing and interpreting historical events, time periods and developments. Historians work in various fields, including science, education, museums, archives and the media. Here are the main tasks and activities of a historian:

Main tasks of a historian

1. Research: Historians conduct extensive research to gather information about specific time periods, events, people or social structures. This includes analysing primary and secondary sources such as documents, books, articles and interviews.
2. Source criticism: They assess the credibility and relevance of historical sources and examine their history in order to identify distortions or bias.
3. Analysis and interpretation: Historians analyse the collected information and interpret it in the context of historical development. They consider causes and effects, the impact on society and how it has changed.
4. Writing: They write academic articles, books and dissertations in which they present their research findings and interpretations. In doing so, they follow specific scientific standards and citation styles.
5. Lectures and presentations: Historians give lectures or present their research findings at conferences, in seminars or in educational institutions. This enables exchange with other experts and the sharing of knowledge.
6. Teaching: Many historians work in higher education, where they give lectures, lead seminars and teach history to students.
7. Consultancy and expertise: Historians are often called upon as consultants in matters of historical research or the reappraisal of history in political or social contexts. They prepare expert opinions or statements on historical issues.
8. Public relations: They are involved in communicating history to the public, for example through co-operation with museums, exhibitions or educational projects. They often also produce popular science articles or documentaries.
9. Archive work: Historians can work in archives, where they collect historical documents, catalogue them and make them accessible for research.
10. Interdisciplinary collaboration: Historians often work with specialists from other disciplines, such as anthropologists, sociologists or political scientists, in order to develop a more comprehensive understanding of historical issues.

Conclusion

Historians play a crucial role in understanding and interpreting the past. Their work helps to understand social developments and cultural changes and to learn from history. Through research, teaching and public relations work, they help to raise awareness of historical issues and emphasise the importance of history for the present and the future.