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The academic discipline concerned with researching, presenting, and interpreting the human past.
Sie studiert Geschichtswissenschaft an der Universität Heidelberg.
She is studying history at Heidelberg University.
The word is a typical German compound. It consists of 'Geschichte' (history), the linking 's', and 'Wissenschaft' (science/academic discipline). So it literally means 'history science'.
Die Geschichtswissenschaft erforscht vergangene Epochen.
History studies past eras.
The word follows a pattern for many academic disciplines that end in '-wissenschaft' (-science/academic discipline). If you recognize this pattern, you can also more easily understand other subjects such as 'Sprachwissenschaft' (linguistics) or 'Politikwissenschaft' (political science).
Er interessiert sich für Politikwissenschaft und internationale Beziehungen.
He is interested in political science and international relations.
In an academic context, the word is often combined with verbs like 'studieren' (to study), 'lehren' (to teach), or 'forschen' (to research). People also speak of an 'Institut für Geschichtswissenschaft' (institute of history).
An unserer Universität kann man Geschichtswissenschaft im Bachelor und Master studieren.
At our university, you can study history at bachelor's and master's level.
story / history
'die Geschichte' and 'die Geschichtswissenschaft' both have to do with the past. 'Geschichte' can mean the past events themselves, but also the school subject or the topic of the past in general. 'Geschichtswissenschaft' more specifically means the academic study of history, that is, researching, checking, and interpreting sources. Learners may confuse the words because 'Geschichte' is sometimes also used for the discipline. In everyday life and at school, people usually say 'Geschichte'. For university, research, or an academic field, 'Geschichtswissenschaft' is more precise.
An der Universität beschäftigt sich die Geschichtswissenschaft mit alten Quellen und Dokumenten.
At university, history deals with old sources and documents.
Für die Prüfung habe ich viel über die Geschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts gelernt.
For the exam, I learned a lot about the history of the 20th century.