Department of History

Message from the Head of Department

Dear Young Friends,

By nature, human beings are curious about the past—primarily their own history and the society they live in, but also the history of every living and non-living entity they interact with. History, as a science, examines this human curiosity within a scientific framework and brings it to light. Past events and the traces they left behind are analyzed through a scientific method, specifying time and place within a framework of cause-and-effect relationships. Holding a vital position among the social sciences, history is an essential discipline that not only illuminates the past but also helps us make sense of contemporary social and political events and contributes to planning for the future. The rapid transformation the civilized world has undergone, particularly in recent centuries—along with the positive and negative experiences during this shift—will shed light on the new wave of transformation in today’s world. Consequently, it is imperative for modern individuals to consider these past transformations and experiences when designing programs for the future. To achieve this, it is inevitable to value the findings regarding the past that history establishes through scientific methods.

The Department of History within the Faculty of Letters at Erzurum Technical University aims to help you—our future students—internalize the meaning and general principles of history as presented above. One of our department's priorities is for students joining our university to view history not merely as a popular hobby or a collection of past heroic tales, but as a discipline bound by specific rules and principles. We aim for our students to grasp that understanding and interpreting the past realistically is only possible through specific research methods. Furthermore, by including regional, national, and international history courses in its curriculum, the Department of History aims to raise researchers, academics, and prospective teachers who know their past, interpret the present, and can set goals for the future.

With my best wishes for a bright future and permanent success.