Philosophy of History -PHHIST-1ST-1E

Course Contents For Mid Term Exam Spring 2026

Week 1

1.1 Understanding History, Historiography and Philosophy of History

1.2 Objectives of Philosophy of History

Week 2

1.3 Subject-matter and Scope

1.4 The Origins of Philosophy of History

Week 3

 2.1 Historiographical Tradition in Ancient Mesopotamia, Persia and Egypt

2.2 Historiography in Ancient China

  • Ssu-Ma Ch’ien—The Grand Historian of China & the First Philosopher of History

Week 4

2.3 Jewish-Hebrew Historiography: Theological-cum-historical Approach

2.4 Emergence of History-writing Tradition in Ancient Greece

  • Herodotus—The Father of History in Europe
  • Thucydides—The Father of Psychological History

Week 5

3.1 Important Features of Christian Historiography

Week 6

3.2 Saint Augustine—The Founder of ‘Christian Philosophy of History’

Week 7

4.1 The Quranic Concept of History

4.2 Origin of Muslim Tradition of Historiography

  • Sirah and Maghazi Literature: Early Writers
  • Ibn Ishaq, Al-Waqidi and Ibn Sa’ad

 

Week 8

4.3 Development of Muslim Historiography

  • Tabari—The First Muslim ‘World Historian’
  • Masudi—The First Muslim Philosopher of History
  • Ibn Miskawayh and Ibn Athir

4.4 Ibn Khaldun—The Historian, Philosopher of History & Founder of Social Sciences