How many actual historians/academics here?

[Intranetusa]

The totalwar-EB forums are composed of a diverse group. I was wondering how many of you are actual historians/academics/scholars/etc?

[blitzkrieg80]

Keep in mind that becoming an actual historian is a selective process.

You have take the Trial of History, aka hysterectomy and be blessed by the Pope of History in order to be considered a true "historian," but it also involves several years of pederastry and loyal "service" to history.

Yeah, I know, I'm sad, I just spammed my bad joke from the other thread of similar appropriateness.

[bovi]

Count me out, I'm a computer engineer.

[Azazel]

I know it doesn't mean much, and I'm certainly not qualified to make any statements about history, but my major in college is History. I know it takes much more to a good historian and years of studying, but yeah. I'm trying :juggle2:

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Worthless B.A. in History reporting for duty! :laugh4:

[Intranetusa]

Count me out, I'm a computer engineer.

lol, that's good. What my question really meant was anyone who had expertise in the field relating to EB's production - programming, history, etc.


"Worthless B.A. in History reporting for duty!"

XD

[kalkwerk]

im a historian, but not ancient history.

[mcantu]

Worthless B.A. in History reporting for duty! :laugh4:


Same here! :2thumbsup:

[Horst Nordfink]

Chemistry pays my mortgage.

[russia almighty]

Probably will be my minor . A hard science backed by something artsy looks good cause they think you can write well .

[abou]

Probably will be my minor . A hard science backed by something artsy looks good cause they think you can write well .
And you're out there to prove them wrong, right?

Give 'em hell, man!:laugh4:

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Second year of my History Bachelor is coming up right now. (:

Edit: Specializing in Ancient History and with a minor in Ancient Culture.

[russia almighty]

Abou not really. I've had college professors tell me I communicate written ideas well and with few problems . A lot of people will look at a person with only a BS and think they only know book solutions . Throw in an art which requires something thinking to accomplish and viola . You look like science man who can think on there feet .

[abou]

Bah, you ruin my fun.

PS. I'm a Biology major and will have minors in Chemistry and Latin.

[russia almighty]

*passes a columbian doobie .*

That makes up for it .

Why latin for a minor ? Is it a for fun minor ?

[Atilius]

What my question really meant was anyone who had expertise in the field relating to EB's production - programming, history, etc.

I'm a software engineer. I was at academic at one time, though my field was Nuclear Theory.

[Geoffrey S]

Working on it. Second year of my B.A. now, focusing on the rise of the West in relation to the rest of the world.

[Moros]

Starting History this October, hopefully...

[keravnos]

Athens Law school grad. Seemed like a good Idea at the time. (TM)

[Tellos Athenaios]

Starting "Computer Science" - gah, that's a real bad name to describe the thing - in September.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

Second year of my History Bachelor is coming up right now. (:

Edit: Specializing in Ancient History and with a minor in Ancient Culture.
Oh you poor poor sod. :wall: I hope you are either really really good or independently wealthy. :laugh4:

[QwertyMIDX]

I also hope you're doing Latin and Greek in there...

[Teleklos Archelaou]

If trends like this start up (paying more for business school or other fields where you will make a lot more), then we could study ancient history for free! :laugh4:
http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/blog.cfm/higher_tuition_for_some_majors

[spirit_of_rob]

BA Ancient History and a working as a graphics desginer for an advertising company.... been waiting to sneak this into a thread hehe

[abou]

*passes a columbian doobie .*

That makes up for it .

Why latin for a minor ? Is it a for fun minor ?
When it comes down to it - pretty much just for enjoyment. Although, the amount that I've taken from it is impossible to measure. Everyone should study at least a language regardless of what it is.

[NeoSpartan]

If trends like this start up (paying more for business school or other fields where you will make a lot more), then we could study ancient history for free! :laugh4:
http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/blog.cfm/higher_tuition_for_some_majors

Thats actually a REALLY good idea. I like the article.


As for me....
Transfering to the University of MD in the Spring to major in "International Relations" and get a minor in "History". (I'll do the Arts on my own, since I don't like art history).

I "should" be graduating in June of '08, but due to R.L. B.S :furious3: I will be graduating in 2010 :shame:

[Tellos Athenaios]

Heh, it's quite the opposite here: you pay more if you're following alpha (arts) courses than if you take up beta (science) courses. For something such as (classical) history (gamma) you would be located in between. (Business studies fall under gamma all the same.)

Mostly, because the Uni's can get more external funding for the scientific research; and the government would like to see more people (science isn't exactly regarded as teh cool over here) graduating in those fields. Coupled by relatively low costs in terms of books & equipment for certain study's such as Mathematics & Computer Science...

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Oh you poor poor sod. :wall: I hope you are either really really good or independently wealthy. :laugh4:

If I understand correctly, you mean I either get money from the government, or have wealthy parents to pay for the education? Or do you mean I picked the wrong education to make a living? haha

I'm from the Netherlands and if you're from a low-income family like myself, you get about 500 euro a month for living and studying from the government. Way too little, so I work part-time as well. I can manage.


I also hope you're doing Latin and Greek in there...

I'm actually doing Hebrew and Greek in my minor. My interests lie (next to lots of other stuff in antiquity) in the Bible area's and, well, I thought it would be cool to be able to read the book in its original form. Greek is useful anyway, and perhaps I might somewhere along the way pick up Latin. I dunno, Romans aren't my first interest.

[keravnos]

I'm actually doing Hebrew and Greek in my minor. My interests lie (next to lots of other stuff in antiquity) in the Bible area's and, well, I thought it would be cool to be able to read the book in its original form. Greek is useful anyway, and perhaps I might somewhere along the way pick up Latin. I dunno, Romans aren't my first interest.


That is a most noble reason to learn Koine greek if I ever heard one. Just bear in mind that the language you hear in EB is mainly Attic Greek, with some sprinkles of Ionian and Dorian Greek thrown in for good measure. The language had changed by the time Jesus was born, and was a good deal simplified (especially in sounds used for it) than what you will hear in EB.

[Ice]

2nd year Finance Major at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)

I'll probably go for a law degree after undergraduate.

[Arkatreides]

PhD in Particle Physics here ... very relevant ~;)

[I of the Storm]

I have a masters degree in medieval history and am currently working on my doctoral thesis in the same field. Specialization in religious orders and historiography. I had contemporary history and german literature as minors.

Edit: Not of much relevance to EB though...

[Kham]

Master in Economics and starting the second year of the PhD-program in the same field.

Specialization in german high school (Gymnasium) on history which would probably amount to something like a minor in a B.A. But that was unfortunately only about the time starting with the French Revolution. Much to my distress as I had been fascinated by Romans and the Middle Ages for as long as my memory goes back.:furious3:

[Tiberius Nero]

PhD in Classics here, but I slowly realise that I really wanted to be a lumberjack instead.

[Intrepid Adventurer]

That is a most noble reason to learn Koine greek if I ever heard one. Just bear in mind that the language you hear in EB is mainly Attic Greek, with some sprinkles of Ionian and Dorian Greek thrown in for good measure. The language had changed by the time Jesus was born, and was a good deal simplified (especially in sounds used for it) than what you will hear in EB.

I never thought about that, that's actually too bad. I was hoping to be screaming along with the new EB in a year or two, haha. But I suppose learning Attic Greek, after you've learned Koine Greek, is not too big a step? Or are they really two different languages?

[Tellos Athenaios]

The other way around would be much, much easier. The main reason is the Koine is simplified Attic/Ionic - and Ionic can be described as simplified Attic.

Hence if you go for Attic first, you won't be bothered by any knowledge about Koine disagreeing with the Attic you study yet. Then, most Hellenistic sources are NOT in Koine (because Koine only came into being with the decline of the Hellenistic world - being taken over by the Romans and such).

Finally, if you combine Attic with Ionic Greek (which isn't too hard: most of it is the same, and dictionaries usually feature both dialects, one form next to the other) you will be able to understand Koine without much effort. Also, you may wish to consider the fact that most easy going dictionaries (aimed at teaching classical Greek) might not feature Koine. They may or may not include a bit about language, but in all likelihood you will find Homeros' dialects among the entries sooner than you will find any Koine.

On the other hand, the Bible is the kind of source (just like the Illiad is) too have speial dictionaries written for it.

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Well, I'm not sure which dialect we'll be getting. I wouldn't be surprised if it starts with Koine and expands into Attic, or something. It'll be another year, before I take the subject, though. We'll see. ^_^

Teleklos Archelaou, I would still love to hear your explanation about your comment from the previous page. (:

[I of the Storm]

He probably meant that there isn't much money in being a historian. Plus, in most cases it is a lifelong struggle to get an employment (which you will find only in the public sector in most cases). Therefore you have to be really good in your field and be able to make the right acquaintances at the right time or you have be wealthy so you don't need an employment. :beam:

Becoming a historian is comparatively easy. Working as one is not. Believe me. You have to be really dedicated to it to stand a chance.

Based on my experience, that's what he probably meant, but I don't want to anticipate.

[Zaknafien]

Im a military officer, but yes, I have the worthless BA in History (Classical Antiquity) and another wortless one in English!

[Philip of Massalia]

I went to university before standard international diploma system was introduced.

I have graduate+4 year study in law, +5 in political science and something equivalent with +3 in history.

Besides I worked extensively on Ancient Military History when I was involved in figure wargaming (pre-DBM days...)

[Intrepid Adventurer]

He probably meant that there isn't much money in being a historian. Plus, in most cases it is a lifelong struggle to get an employment (which you will find only in the public sector in most cases). Therefore you have to be really good in your field and be able to make the right acquaintances at the right time or you have be wealthy so you don't need an employment. :beam:

Becoming a historian is comparatively easy. Working as one is not. Believe me. You have to be really dedicated to it to stand a chance.

Based on my experience, that's what he probably meant, but I don't want to anticipate.

Yeah, that's what I thought. There's a large shortage of teachers in the Netherlands though, I'll prolly look there if I can't find anything else.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I seriously don't know of any job you could take with a B.A. in Ancient History. No one anywhere would hire you for anything remotely related to that field with just that. My B.A. is in History and in Political Science, but if you want to be in this discipline, being able to teach (primarily) the languages is about the only way to get a job. Even higher degrees don't guarantee you much. I probably could have got one with an M.A. in Classics, but went on past that. Even then the jobs are not anything to write home about, though you get to work on things you love.

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Oh my M.A. will probably be Ancient Culture as well, minor's a good preparation for that. On top of that, there are very little Ancient History students at my uni, I'll get lots of attention and the chances of a (teacher's) job are somewhat than average, I would think.

[geala]

Therefore I did not dare to study history although I am interested in it since I was about 10 years old (long, long ago :sweatdrop: ). Instead I chose something else and only additionally made a few semesters in the history of law.

[Cash Staks]

I would love to pursue a degree in history if I could do something with it. I did take a Classical Greek Culture class which I found fascinating, as I do with most classical history. So instead of history I am a fourth year Accountancy major at California State University, Sacramento.

[NeoSpartan]

I seriously don't know of any job you could take with a B.A. in Ancient History. No one anywhere would hire you for anything remotely related to that field with just that. My B.A. is in History and in Political Science, but if you want to be in this discipline, being able to teach (primarily) the languages is about the only way to get a job. Even higher degrees don't guarantee you much. I probably could have got one with an M.A. in Classics, but went on past that. Even then the jobs are not anything to write home about, though you get to work on things you love.

Yep that is true. The same thing goes with most Liberal Arts majors, things like literature, art history, etc. Usually the public sector is the main employer of Liberal Arts (as well as physical and social sciences), and teaching is a very common option.
Interestingly, artists and photographers have it a bit easier, becasue they can work for themselfs thus never go hungry.

[Swordmaster]

I work in a warehouse.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

I dropped out of college. Then I worked in a chocolate factory (yes, I'm an Umpa-Lumpa). Now, I'm going back to school.
So I ain't exactly one of them there academics.

[Intranetusa]

I dropped out of college. Then I worked in a chocolate factory (yes, I'm an Umpa-Lumpa). Now, I'm going back to school.
So I ain't exactly one of them there academics.


Ooompa Loompa Ooompity Dooo

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Well, I suppose the European job-climate might be somewhat friendlier than the American one. I'm not worried at all about finding a job, really. I'm just doing what I really love doing and it took me some time before I realized that was a good thing.

Btw, I see I've become a member! Cool!

Edit: What's up with those bigger, extra avatar pictures? Can you edit those as well? Although I kinda like my current, much better than the vague Japanese thing I used to have before (and I love Japanese history and culture... oh well).

[Intranetusa]

^ Europe is being overrun by Islamic fundies. America is being overrun by Christian fundies...

sigh

[pezhetairoi]

Still only an amateur historian, but in about nine months I'm going to start undergraduate studies in History at York. That count for anything among you illustrious others? xP

[Maeran]

I work in a warehouse.

So do I!

Do you ever tire of the glamour?

[Ludens]

I am a masterstudent neurobiology, hoping to go for a PhD next year.

[blitzkrieg80]

awww, nobody has been blessed by the Pope of History?~:mecry:

[Horst Nordfink]

Therefore I did not dare to study history although I am interested in it since I was about 10 years old (long, long ago :sweatdrop: ). Instead I chose something else and only additionally made a few semesters in the history of law.

The same reason I did Chemistry instead of History, even though I've loved History since as far back as I can remember.

I have a reasonably well payed job through my Chemistry, but I always regret that I didn't study History, and especially Ancient History.

[GodEmperorLeto]

I got a BA in history, and am not getting my MA. My focus is classical. I can read Latin and French well enough, but my Ancient Greek sucks, and my German is all but nonexistent.

Ironically, I speak and read pretty good Japanese.

I'm currently writing a thesis on Mycenaeans and late Bronze Age piracy in the Eastern Mediterranean. My specialty is military history during the ancient period. My influences range from Victor Davis Hanson to N.G.L. Hammond to Theodor Mommsen. I love comparative history and am also a fan of medieval Europe, feudal Japan, and Han China. I sometimes daydream about armies of Japanese samurai and medieval knights charging at each other and drenching battlefields in blood and gore, much to my overly-realistic advisor's chagrin, who feels a 28-year-old should be keeping his feet on the ground more often.

I've also read tons of other stuff from Adam Smith, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes all the way to Jacques Derrida (hated it) and Michel Foucault (mindblowing), but I generally dislike postmodernism and deconstruction.

I'm probably not going back for my PhD for 3 to 5 years, though. I have a lot of debt to pay off, and I want to go to Japan first.

I loved Gladiator and HBO's Rome. Thought Troy should have been more accurate, but liked Pitt as Achilles. I imagine The Last Legion is going to suck big time.

If that doesn't peg me as an academic or historian type, I dunno what will.

[Intrepid Adventurer]

I have a reasonably well payed job through my Chemistry, but I always regret that I didn't study History, and especially Ancient History.

That is exactly why I'm doing it. (:

[Geoffrey S]

The same reason I did Chemistry instead of History, even though I've loved History since as far back as I can remember.

I have a reasonably well payed job through my Chemistry, but I always regret that I didn't study History, and especially Ancient History.
Heh, I'm just about the opposite. I almost chose a science subject, which I was good at, but went for history because I know that's what I'm better at and enjoy it far more. Haven't looked back since.

I've also read tons of other stuff from Adam Smith, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes all the way to Jacques Derrida (hated it) and Michel Foucault (mindblowing), but I generally dislike postmodernism and deconstruction.
Postmodernism tends to get a bad rep, but I've found that it has made me think more about the way things are written and the way I write; more sceptical than before, at least. Indeed, I found Foucault fascinating.

[The_Mark]

PhD in Particle Physics here ... very relevant ~;)
Just about as relevant and a lot less impressive, I'm a freshman in physics at University of Helsinki.

EB is being overrun by physicists.

[mAIOR]

The same reason I did Chemistry instead of History, even though I've loved History since as far back as I can remember.

I have a reasonably well payed job through my Chemistry, but I always regret that I didn't study History, and especially Ancient History.


The same reason that took me to Astronomy! I see it's not just in Portugal that you can hardly make a living out of history.

Cheers...

[Intrepid Adventurer]

Just about as relevant and a lot less impressive, I'm a freshman in physics at University of Helsinki.

EB is being overrun by physicists.

I suppose all those formula's do help when coding or scripting, right? ;)

[Tellos Athenaios]

Yeah they did end up doing all the laborious coding. ~;)

[Atilius]

EB is being overrun by physicists.Repeat after me:

(1) The flux of any vector field integrated over a closed surface is equal to the divergence of that field integrated over the volume contained within the surface.

(2) Any symmetry exhibited by the Lagrangian of a system implies the existence of a conserved charge. (God bless Emy Noether)

[abou]

Oh man, those two semesters of engineering physics are coming back to me now... freaking hate Gauss and his stupid law.

[bovi]

Repeat after me:

(1) The flux of any vector field integrated over a closed surface is equal to the divergence of that field integrated over the volume contained within the surface.

(2) Any symmetry exhibited by the Lagrangian of a system implies the existence of a conserved charge. (God bless Emy Noether)
I can repeat it but don't have a clue what it means. Not entirely unlike executives repeating buzzwords in my business.

[The_Mark]

Repeat after me:

(1) The flux of any vector field integrated over a closed surface is equal to the divergence of that field integrated over the volume contained within the surface.

(2) Any symmetry exhibited by the Lagrangian of a system implies the existence of a conserved charge. (God bless Emy Noether)
(1) The flux of any vector field integrated over a closed surface is equal to the divergence of that field integrated over the volume contained within the surface.

(2) Any symmetry exhibited by the Lagrangian of a system implies the existence of a conserved charge. (God bless Emy Noether)

Easy-peasy.

I know, I know, I'm not a physicist per se yet. But I strive to be.

[mAIOR]

Hurray for Maxwell!!!

and Boltzman!!

Oh and Schrödinger, go play with your cat you fu***** bastard!!


Cheers...

[The_Mark]

Oh and Schrödinger, go play with your cat you fu***** bastard!!
As long as Schrödinger stays away from beer (http://angryflower.com/schrod.gif), I'm cool.

[abou]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/science/6dff/

[NeoSpartan]

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/science/6dff/


Hum..... I think I just learned something today.... I think :dizzy2:

[mAIOR]

You might have learnt or you might not. if you observe, you'll disrupt the experiment therefore, you've learnt something and you haven't! you have both possibilities happening as we speak.
Therefore, you learned but, you didn't.

After typing this I feel like Pinochio in Shreck 3.


Cheers...

[abou]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=4W9tHxtsGys

This is an hysterical clip if you get it.

[russia almighty]

gauss , goebel's and all of them can hang themselves .

[NeoSpartan]

You might have learnt or you might not. if you observe, you'll disrupt the experiment therefore, you've learnt something and you haven't! you have both possibilities happening as we speak.
Therefore, you learned but, you didn't.

After typing this I feel like Pinochio in Shreck 3.


Cheers...

No I am not talking about the posibility I am not sure if the description writen on that site was actually a "good" explenation or not. IF it is a good explenatio then I did learn something, if its not then I didn't.

[mAIOR]

It's ok. It serves it's purpose. It basically shows that quantum mechanics is not an exact science.

Cheers...