Historians: which language has served you best?

[CountArach]

It depends on which area you want to focus on. English is an obvious must and Latin is pretty much a requirement if you want to go beyond just a degree in History (at the University I go to knowledge of one ancient language is a requirement for an Ancient History Honours degree). If you want to focus on classical languages (particularly Latin), German is important, but it is absolutely not necessary. With Medieval history I would imagine it depends on what region you want to focus on - if, for example, you want to study French history, then learn French instead of German. Really though, English and Latin would get you through without a problem.

[Centurion1]

Everythings in english now. But I know latin (I don't want to say fluent but pretty good) and everything from romans on is going to be latin up until the 18th to 19th century. Personally my school has a fabulous classics program and I really wanted to brance out and go for greek to round out but I'm going for an economics degree with a minor in a science like physics or something of that ilk and I think I'm going to choose a more realistic contemporary language like mandarin.

Seriously though think very hard about majoring in history, the only highly successful history majors I know are proffessors authors and retired military officers who are technically qualified for other jobs like my father. And there are a lot of history majors all thinking they will be profeesors and end up teaching high school.

Actually megas philosophy is not an easy degree to get.