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The University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510-4699
570-941-7625
From the Blog
Phi Alpha Theta Inductees
Next meeting of the RHS
Phi Alpha Theta Application
Next Meeting for the Royals History Society
Historic Images on St. Thomas Third Floor
From the History Dept. Blog
This Day In History
May 18, 1920: Pope John Paul II born
On May 18, 1920, Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in the Polish town of Wadowice, 35 miles southwest of Krakow. Wojtyla went on to become Pope John Paul II, history's most well-traveled pope and the first non-Italian to hold the position since the 16th century. After high school, the future pope enrolled at Krakow's Jagiellonian University, where he studied philosophy and literature and performed in a theater group. During World War II, Nazis occupied Krakow and closed the university, forcing Wojtyla to seek work in a quarry and, later, a chemical factory. By 1941, his mother, father, and only brother had all died, leaving him the sole surviving member of his family
From the History Channel
History Department
“History illuminates the human condition.”
It is the memory of human experience. “As a field of study, history provides the context with which we define our relationship with our local community, nation, and the world. Without the careful study and analysis of history, the past ‘remains an impenetrable wilderness.’ History offers an ordered account of past experiences and their significance to our present lives. It transforms obscure, contradictory and confusing events into meaningful occurrences. Analysis of how positive changes have been achieved and how evil has been confronted give us the hope to strive for a better future.
“The past affects and shapes everyone’s lives. Its study connects peoples together and provides a measure by which our actions, ideas, goals, and conduct can be evaluated. Knowledge of the past and an understanding of current events enable us to see cause and effect, to perceive what we must maintain or change, and to better analyze political, social, cultural, and economic events to their greatest advantage.
“The awareness and incorporation of history into our daily lives foster personal growth, professional competence, and civic responsibility. Students who undertake study in history develop a frame of reference with which to master other disciplines and build a strong foundation for a career in any field.”
At the University of Scranton, the Department of History offers two major programs--History and International Studies--that provide students with a foundation for successful careers that require sound knowledge of the past, present, and possible future of the nation and world.
