The history program helps our students better understand the relationship of the past to the world in which they live by introducing them to a variety of historical narratives. In our history classes, students consider how the larger social, political, and economic significance of historical events affected the lives of the people about whom they are learning. Our students deepen their skills of analysis, inquiry, and verbal and written expression by reading primary sources and scholarly works, by writing analytical and response papers, and by participating in frequent seminar-style discussions. By connecting the past to the present, our students grasp the commonality of experience between themselves and the history they are studying. The students are therefore better able to strengthen their capacity for understanding the views of others and for fostering greater compassion for each other and those they may encounter.