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{{Spoiler|HM|MA|HL}}
 
{{Class infobox
 
{{Class infobox
|name=History of Magic
+
|name = History of Magic
  +
|image = B2C9M1 Cuthbert Binns on the Chamber of Secrets.png
|image=[[File:HistoryofMagic.png|255px]]
 
|professor=[[Professor]] [[Cuthbert Binns]]
+
|professor = *[[Cuthbert Binns]]<ref name="PS8"/>
  +
*[[Jakub Gorski]]<ref name="MA">{{MA|2}}</ref>
|classroom=*[[Class 72]]
+
|classroom = *[[Class 72]]
*[[Classroom 4F]]
 
|required textbooks=''[[A History of Magic]]'' by [[Bathilda Bagshot]]
+
*[[History of Magic Classroom|Classroom 4F]]
  +
|required textbooks = ''[[A History of Magic]]'' by [[Bathilda Bagshot]]<ref name="PS5">{{PS|B|5}}</ref>
|required equipment=
 
  +
|required equipment = *[[Book]]s<ref name="COS9"/>
|first=''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]''
 
  +
*[[Parchment]]<ref name="COS9"/>
|latest=''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' (mentioned)
 
  +
*[[Quill]]<ref name="COS9"/>
|last=
 
 
}}
 
}}
  +
{{Quote|History of Magic by common consent the most boring subject ever devised by Wizard-kind. Professor Binns, their ghost teacher, had a wheezy, droning voice that was almost guaranteed to cause severe drowsiness within ten minutes, five in warm weather.|[[Harry Potter]]'s description of the class|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
{{Quote|Time for History of Magic? Good, I've been needing a nap.|An unidentified Hogwarts student|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)}}
 
  +
'''History of Magic''' was a [[Hogwarts subjects|subject]] and core class taught at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]]. This class was a study of [[magic]]al history.<ref name="PS8"/><ref name="subjects">{{WW|hogwarts-school-subjects}}</ref> This was one of the subjects where the use of [[magic]] practically was not necessary. History of Magic was taught from the first year to the fifth,<ref name="subjects"/> and was completed with an [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] exam with only a written section.<ref name="OOTP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref>
   
  +
The professor of this subject, [[Cuthbert Binns]], taught at Hogwarts for many years before his death, and even after his [[death]] he continued teaching at Hogwarts as a [[ghost]].<ref name="PS8">{{PS|B|8}}</ref>
'''History of Magic''' is a required [[Hogwarts subjects|class]] for all students attending [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. The class is a study of magical history. History of Magic is taught from the first year to the fifth, with the option of [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] courses in the sixth and seventh years.
 
   
  +
==Class information==
The lesson plan usually consists of lectures on the 'History of Wizards and the Magical World' (in which [[goblin]] rebellions appear most memorably). This class is similar to the study of History in the Muggle World, as particular emphasis is placed upon remembering dates, names and events.
 
  +
{{Quote|My subject is History of Magic. I deal with facts, [[Hermione Granger|Miss Granger]], not myths and legends.|Professor Binns|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
 
The lesson plan usually consisted of lectures on the 'History of Wizards and the Magical World' (in which [[goblin]] rebellions appeared most memorably). This class was similar to the study of History in the Muggle World, as particular emphasis was placed upon remembering dates, names and events.<ref name="PS8"/>
   
The class is currently taught by the [[ghost]] of [[Professor]] [[Cuthbert Binns]]. According to Hogwarts folklore, Professor Binns has failed to notice that he is dead: he simply got up from his chair in the staff-room one morning and left his body behind.
+
The class was taught by the [[ghost]] of Professor [[Cuthbert Binns]]. According to Hogwarts folklore, Professor Binns had failed to notice that he was dead; he simply went to sleep by the [[Staffroom]] fire one night, then got up from his chair the next morning and left his body behind.<ref name="PS8" /><ref name="COS9">{{COS|B|9}}</ref>
   
As Professor Binns was very old at the time of his death, he is very set in his ways and students find him difficult to relate to. Binns' lessons consist of him reciting (or "droning", as many would put it) lectures to his students. He does not seem to mind (or notice) that the class rarely pays attention or even sleeps through his class (with the exception of [[Hermione Granger]], who alone "seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns' voice"). [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Harry Potter]] both find History of Magic terribly boring, and only manage to pass the class by borrowing Hermione's notes.
+
[[File:Professor Binns looking annoyed HM731.png|left|thumb|250x250px|Professor Binns lecturing in a monotone voice]]As Professor Binns was very old at the time of his death, he was very set in his ways and students found him difficult to relate to. Binns' lessons consisted of him reciting (or "''droning''", as many would put it) lectures to his students. He did not seem to mind (or notice) that the class rarely paid attention or even that they slept through his class (with the exception of [[Hermione Granger]], who alone "''seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns' voice''"). [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Harry Potter]] both found History of Magic terribly boring, and only managed to pass the class by borrowing Hermione's notes.<ref name="OOTP12">{{OOTP|B|12}}</ref>
   
When Hermione ventures a question, Professor Binns does not even remember her name calling her "Miss Grant," even though she is the only person in his class that pays attention. Professor Binns is also very dismissive of the [[Chamber of Secrets]] (Hermione's question) calling it "Legend" and maintaining that he teaches "Fact".
+
When Hermione ventured a question, Professor Binns did not even remember her name, calling her "''Miss Grant''," even though she was the only person in his class that actually paid attention. Professor Binns was also very dismissive of the legend of [[Chamber of Secrets]] when he responded to Hermione's question about it, calling it "Legend" and maintaining that he taught only "Fact".<ref name="COS9"/>
  +
  +
[[File:Rowan Khanna in History of Magic HM519.png|thumb|250x250px|[[Rowan Khanna]] practicing their teaching technique while Binns is lecturing]]
  +
During class, Binns sometimes fell asleep and students played and practised games. [[Peeves]] and other Hogwarts ghosts sometimes came in and lectured the class. Another, unofficial, lecturer was Rowan Khanna, who took advantage of Binns' frequent naps and inattention to practice their teaching technique as they aspired to be a professor after graduation. To mix up their lectures, Khanna sometimes brought in another guest lecturer of sort — a [[portrait]] of [[Rowena Ravenclaw]], allowing classmates to hear about the founding of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] directly from the memories of one of the founders.
  +
  +
==Location and time==
 
===[[Classroom]]s===
  +
History of Magic classes took place in [[Class 72]] on the third-floor and [[History of Magic Classroom|Classroom 4F]] on the first-floor. Classroom 4F was filled the room with [[Cuthbert Binns's books|books]] on history, with a [[Draconifors spellbook]] locked in a side-room, protected with minor magical defences.<ref name="POAG">{{POA|G}} - Console versions</ref>
  +
  +
===Lesson times===
  +
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" border="1"
  +
! width="25%" align="center" |Year
  +
! width="30%" align="center" |Day
  +
! width="50%" align="center" |Period
  +
|-
  +
|[[First year|First]]
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |Thursday
  +
| second
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Second year|Second]]
  +
|Second
  +
|-
  +
|Friday
  +
|Fourth
  +
|-
  +
|[[Third year|Third]]
  +
|Wednesday
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="3" |morning
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |[[Fourth year|Fourth]]
  +
|Tuesday
  +
|-
  +
|Friday
  +
|-
  +
|[[Fifth year|Fifth]]
  +
|Monday
  +
|first/second (first half)
  +
|-
  +
|[[Sixth year|Sixth]]
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |unknown
  +
| colspan="1" rowspan="2" |unknown
  +
|-
  +
|[[Seventh year|Seventh]]
  +
|}
   
 
==Curriculum==
 
==Curriculum==
 
===First year===
 
===First year===
  +
{{Quote|One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented Self-Stirring Cauldrons and they'd be free...|First year exam in [[1992]]|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone}}
*[[Gargoyle Strike of 1911]]
 
  +
*[[Gargoyle Strike of 1911]]<ref name="PSG">{{PS|G}}</ref>
*[[Soap Blizzard of 1378]]
+
*[[Soap Blizzard of 1378]]<ref name="PSG" />
*[[Werewolf Code of Conduct]]
+
*[[Werewolf Code of Conduct]]<ref name="PS16" />
*[[Emeric the Evil]]
 
*[[Uric the Oddball]]
+
*[[Emeric the Evil]]<ref name="PS8" />
  +
*[[Uric the Oddball]]<ref name="PS8" />
*[[Gaspard Shingleton]]
 
*[[Elfric the Eager]]
+
*[[Elfric the Eager]]<ref name="PS16" />
  +
*[[Self-Stirring Cauldron]]<ref name="PS16">{{PS|B|16}}</ref>
   
 
===Second year===
 
===Second year===
  +
{{Quote|Professor Binns opened his notes and began to read in a flat drone like an old vacuum cleaner until nearly everyone in the class was in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long enough to copy down a name or date, then falling asleep again.|A History of Magic lesson in [[1992]]|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets}}
*[[Medieval Assembly of European Wizards]]
+
*[[Medieval Assembly of European Wizards]]<ref name="COS9" />
*[[International Warlock Convention of 1289]]
+
*[[International Warlock Convention of 1289]]<ref name="COS9" />
   
 
===Third year===
 
===Third year===
  +
{{Quote|I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long — it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for.|[[Hermione Granger]] telling [[Harry Potter]] about her third year History of Magic homework|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
*[[Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless — discuss|Witch Hunts]]
+
*[[Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless — discuss|Witch Hunts]]<ref name="POA1">{{POA|B|1}}</ref>
   
 
===Fourth year===
 
===Fourth year===
  +
{{Quote|Meanwhile Professor Binns, the ghost who taught History of Magic, had them writing weekly essays on the goblin rebellions of the eighteenth century.|Professor Binns setting [[fourth year]] homework.|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire}}
*[[Goblin Rebellions]]
 
  +
*[[Goblin Rebellions]]<ref name="GOF15">{{GOF|B|15}}</ref>
*[[Giant Wars]]
 
   
 
===Fifth year===
 
===Fifth year===
  +
{{Quote|Today, they suffered an hour and a half's droning on the subject of giant wars.|A fifth year lesson|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix}}
*[[Giant Wars]]
 
  +
*[[Medieval Assembly of European Wizards]]<ref>{{HM|5|3|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Giant wars]]<ref name="OOTP12" /><ref>{{HM|5|5|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Goblin Rebellion of 1612]]<ref>{{HM|5|11|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Goblin Rebellion of 1752]]<ref name="HL-HM">{{HL|History of Magic Class}}</ref>
  +
*[[International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy|International Statute of Secrecy]]<ref name="OOTP31" /><ref>{{HM|5|15|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Witch-hunt|Witch Hunts]] of [[14th century]]<ref>{{HM|5|19|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Werewolf Code of Conduct]]<ref>{{HM|5|28|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[International Warlock Convention of 1289]]<ref>{{HM|5|32|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[International Confederation of Wizards]]<ref name="OOTP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref>
  +
*[[Goblin Rebellions]]<ref name="OOTP31">{{OOTP|B|31}}</ref>
  +
  +
  +
===Sixth year===
  +
*History of [[Wandlore]]<ref name="HM62hm">{{HM|6|2|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Uprising of Elfric the Eager]]<ref>{{HM|6|5|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Salem Witch Trials|Witch Trials of 1692]]<ref>{{HM|6|10|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Wendelin the Weird]]<ref>{{HM|6|15|hm}}</ref>
 
*[[Gargoyle Strike of 1911]]<ref>{{HM|6|18|hm}}</ref>
  +
*Dissolving of the [[Wizards' Council]]<ref>{{HM|6|22|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Rune|Ancient Runes]]<ref>{{HM|6|28|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Owl Airforce]]<ref>{{HM|6|33|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Uric the Oddball]]<ref name="HM637hm">{{HM|6|37|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[14th Century Wizarding Economic Bubble]]<ref name="HM643hm">{{HM|6|43|hm}}</ref>
  +
  +
===Seventh year===
  +
*[[Emeric the Evil]]<ref name="HM72hm">{{HM|7|2|hm}}</ref>
  +
* Famous and historical [[Duelling|duels]]<ref name="HM78A">{{HM|7|8|Duelling Mastery}}</ref>
  +
*[[Alchemy]] in [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] [[Europe]]<ref name="HM710hm">{{HM|7|10|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Broomstick|Broom]] history<ref name="HM710TR">{{HM|7|10|Transportation Regulation}}</ref>
  +
*Founding of [[St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries|St Mungo's Hospital]]<ref name="HM718hm">{{HM|7|18|hm}}</ref>
  +
*History of [[Dragon Pox]]<ref>{{HM|7|21|Dragon Pox}}</ref>
  +
*[[Warlocks' Convention of 1709]]<ref name="HM731hm">{{HM|7|31|hm}}</ref>
  +
*[[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] history<ref name="HM736A">{{HM|7|36|Stolen Goblin Treasure}}</ref>
  +
*[[Azkaban]] history<ref name="HM737AO">{{HM|7|37|Azkaban Orientation}}</ref>
  +
*Historical Mischief<ref name="HM739MM">{{HM|7|39|Mischief Management}}</ref>
  +
*[[Dai Ryusaki]]<ref name="HM757A">{{HM|7|57|Ryusaki's Fate}}</ref>
  +
  +
==Known professors==
  +
<gallery widths="105" position="center" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
PottermoreBinns.png|[[Cuthbert Binns]]<ref name="PS8" /><ref name="COS9"/>
  +
Professor Jakub Gorski MA.png|[[Jakub Gorski]]<ref name="MA" />
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Required textbooks==
  +
<gallery widths="105" orientation="portrait">
  +
A history of magic Pottermore.png|''[[A History of Magic]]'' by [[Bathilda Bagshot]]<ref name="PS5"/>
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
==Grades ==
  +
{| width="100%"
  +
| width="23%" valign="top" |
  +
===Passing grades ===
  +
*[[Outstanding]] [O]
  +
*[[Exceeds Expectations]] [E]
  +
*[[Acceptable]] [A]
  +
| width="23%" valign="top" |
  +
  +
===Fail grades===
  +
*[[Poor]] [P]
  +
*[[Dreadful]] [D]
  +
*[[Troll (grade)|Troll]] [T]
  +
|}
   
 
==Known O.W.L.s==
 
==Known O.W.L.s==
  +
<gallery widths="105" position="center" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
*[[Bartemius Crouch Jr.|Barty Crouch Jr]]
 
  +
PottermoreBinns.png|[[Cuthbert Binns]] †<ref name="professors">As Professors of this subject who taught the subject at Hogwarts, it seems extremely likely that they had formal qualifications in the subject.</ref>
*[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]
 
  +
DH promo headshot Bill Weasley.jpg|[[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]]<ref name="Weasley">{{COS|B|4}} - It is said that both [[Percy Weasley|Percy]] and [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]] earned twelve [[Ordinary Wizarding Level]]s, meaning they must have earned an O.W.L. in this subject.</ref>
*[[Hermione Granger]]
 
  +
Professor Jakub Gorski MA.png|[[Jakub Gorski]] {{C|possibly}}<ref name="professors"/>
*[[Percy Weasley]]
 
  +
Percy.jpg|[[Percy Weasley]]<ref name="Weasley"/>
  +
Hermione-Granger-harry-potter-18062501-968-1280.jpg|[[Hermione Granger]]<ref name="HBP5">{{HBP|B|5}}</ref>
  +
Nymphadora-tonks.jpg|[[Nymphadora Tonks]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Jacob's sibling generic.png|[[Jacob's sibling]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Andre Egwu HM8.png|[[Andre Egwu]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Badeea Ali HM8.png|[[Badeea Ali]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Barnaby Lee HM8.png|[[Barnaby Lee]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Charlie PM.jpg|[[Charles Weasley|Charlie Weasley]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Diego Caplan.png|[[Diego Caplan]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Ismelda Murk HM.jpg|[[Ismelda Murk]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Liz Tuttle HM8.png|[[Liz Tuttle]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Merula.png|[[Merula Snyde]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Penny Haywood HM8.png|[[Penny Haywood]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
Tulip Karasu HM8.png|[[Tulip Karasu]]<ref name="HM62hm"/>
  +
</gallery>
  +
*[[Rowan Khanna]] †<ref name="HM62hm" />
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
*As Binns became a ghost, he can no longer move beyond the [[veil]], and will remain earthbound for all eternity. This means that unless he resigned or was sacked, he would be the History of Magic teacher forever. This is probably the reason that the school has not sacked him thus far, despite his dreadful teaching technique.
+
*As Binns became a ghost, he could no longer move beyond the [[veil]], and would remain earthbound for all eternity. This meant that unless he resigned or was sacked, he would have been the History of Magic teacher forever. This was probably the reason that the school had not sacked him thus far, despite his dreadful teaching technique. Although it could be that sometime after the Second Wizarding War that a more engaging teacher took over from Binns, as it was crucial and necessary for more students to make the subject far more interesting and to increase the chance for students to at least achieve a passing grade on their O.W.L. exam.
*No student is known to have continued at N.E.W.T. level in this subject and so it is unknown exactly what the curriculum would be at this level. Hermione received an [[Outstanding]] O.W.L. and thus would have been automatically cleared to continue the subject, but she chose not to continue studying it, despite seeming to have somewhat of an aptitude for it. It is also unknown if any careers in the [[Wizarding world]] specifically require the study of this subject. When she, Harry and Ron were studying [[Careers Advice]], neither an O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. in History of Magic was mentioned as a specific requirement for any of the careers they studied.
+
* It is also unknown if any careers in the [[Wizarding world]] specifically require the study of this subject, since [[Careers Advice]] as shown in {{OOTP}} does not mention the subject as a necessary requirement for any wizarding professions, although it is possible that the subject is useful for [[Curse-Breaker]]s, or journalists/researchers.
  +
*[[Ancient Studies]] may be a specific specialised branch of this subject, which is only taught about in N.E.W.T.-level classes. It may have also been covered in [[Study of Ancient Runes]].
  +
*Aside from a brief mention in {{HBP|FA}}, Professor Binns and the class are omitted from the [[Harry Potter (film series)|film series]]. However, History of Magic is seen in some of the early [[Harry Potter video games|video games]], and Binns is included in the [[LEGO Harry Potter|LEGO video games]].
  +
* In {{HM}}, if players take [[Jacob's sibling]] to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an [[Acceptable]], even if they fail to answer every question.
   
==Appearances==
+
==Appearances==
  +
*{{PS}} {{1st}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' {{1st}}
 
  +
*{{PS|G}} {{C|GBC version only}} {{C|Mentioned in console versions}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)]]'' {{Comment|GBC version only}}
 
  +
*{{COS}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''
 
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)]]'' {{Comment|GBC version only}}
+
*{{COS|G}} {{C|GBC version only}}
 
*{{POA}} {{Mention}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''
 
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)]]'' {{Comment|Mentioned on [[Marauder's Map]]}}
+
*{{POA|F}} {{C|Mentioned on [[Marauder's Map]]}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)]]'' {{Mention}} {{Comment|PS2 version only}}
+
*{{POA|G}} {{Mention}} {{C|Console versions only}}
  +
*{{GOF}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
  +
*{{OOTP|G}} {{Mention}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)]]'' {{Mention}}
 
  +
*{{HBP}} {{Mention}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' {{mention}}
 
  +
*{{HBP|F}} {{Mention}}
* ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]'' {{Mention}}
 
  +
*{{DH}} {{Mention}}
* ''[[Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]''
 
  +
*{{TCG}}
* ''[[Pottermore]]'' {{Mention}}
 
  +
*{{PM}}
  +
*{{WW}}
  +
*{{HM}}
  +
*{{WU}} {{Mention}}
  +
*{{MA}}
  +
*{{HL}}
   
  +
==Notes and references==
 
{{Education}}
+
{{Reflist}}
  +
{{Hogwarts subjects}}
   
 
[[de:Geschichte der Zauberei]]
 
[[de:Geschichte der Zauberei]]
  +
[[es:Historia de la Magia]]
 
[[fi:Taikuuden historia]]
 
[[fr:Histoire de la magie]]
 
[[fr:Histoire de la magie]]
 
[[it:Storia della Magia]]
 
[[it:Storia della Magia]]
[[fi:Taikuuden historia]]
 
 
[[nl:Geschiedenis van de Toverkunst]]
 
[[nl:Geschiedenis van de Toverkunst]]
  +
[[pl:Historia magii]]
  +
[[ru:История магии]]
  +
[[uk:Історія магії]]
  +
[[Category:History]]
 
[[Category:Hogwarts subjects]]
 
[[Category:Hogwarts subjects]]

Latest revision as of 19:54, 1 March 2024

"History of Magic by common consent the most boring subject ever devised by Wizard-kind. Professor Binns, their ghost teacher, had a wheezy, droning voice that was almost guaranteed to cause severe drowsiness within ten minutes, five in warm weather."
Harry Potter's description of the class[src]

History of Magic was a subject and core class taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This class was a study of magical history.[1][5] This was one of the subjects where the use of magic practically was not necessary. History of Magic was taught from the first year to the fifth,[5] and was completed with an O.W.L. exam with only a written section.[6]

The professor of this subject, Cuthbert Binns, taught at Hogwarts for many years before his death, and even after his death he continued teaching at Hogwarts as a ghost.[1]

Class information

"My subject is History of Magic. I deal with facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends."
— Professor Binns[src]

The lesson plan usually consisted of lectures on the 'History of Wizards and the Magical World' (in which goblin rebellions appeared most memorably). This class was similar to the study of History in the Muggle World, as particular emphasis was placed upon remembering dates, names and events.[1]

The class was taught by the ghost of Professor Cuthbert Binns. According to Hogwarts folklore, Professor Binns had failed to notice that he was dead; he simply went to sleep by the Staffroom fire one night, then got up from his chair the next morning and left his body behind.[1][4]

Professor Binns looking annoyed HM731

Professor Binns lecturing in a monotone voice

As Professor Binns was very old at the time of his death, he was very set in his ways and students found him difficult to relate to. Binns' lessons consisted of him reciting (or "droning", as many would put it) lectures to his students. He did not seem to mind (or notice) that the class rarely paid attention or even that they slept through his class (with the exception of Hermione Granger, who alone "seemed able to resist the soporific power of Binns' voice"). Ron Weasley and Harry Potter both found History of Magic terribly boring, and only managed to pass the class by borrowing Hermione's notes.[7]

When Hermione ventured a question, Professor Binns did not even remember her name, calling her "Miss Grant," even though she was the only person in his class that actually paid attention. Professor Binns was also very dismissive of the legend of Chamber of Secrets when he responded to Hermione's question about it, calling it "Legend" and maintaining that he taught only "Fact".[4]

Rowan Khanna in History of Magic HM519

Rowan Khanna practicing their teaching technique while Binns is lecturing

During class, Binns sometimes fell asleep and students played and practised games. Peeves and other Hogwarts ghosts sometimes came in and lectured the class. Another, unofficial, lecturer was Rowan Khanna, who took advantage of Binns' frequent naps and inattention to practice their teaching technique as they aspired to be a professor after graduation. To mix up their lectures, Khanna sometimes brought in another guest lecturer of sort — a portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw, allowing classmates to hear about the founding of Hogwarts directly from the memories of one of the founders.

Location and time

Classrooms

History of Magic classes took place in Class 72 on the third-floor and Classroom 4F on the first-floor. Classroom 4F was filled the room with books on history, with a Draconifors spellbook locked in a side-room, protected with minor magical defences.[8]

Lesson times

Year Day Period
First Thursday second
Second Second
Friday Fourth
Third Wednesday morning
Fourth Tuesday
Friday
Fifth Monday first/second (first half)
Sixth unknown unknown
Seventh

Curriculum

First year

"One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented Self-Stirring Cauldrons and they'd be free..."
— First year exam in 1992[src]

Second year

"Professor Binns opened his notes and began to read in a flat drone like an old vacuum cleaner until nearly everyone in the class was in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long enough to copy down a name or date, then falling asleep again."
— A History of Magic lesson in 1992[src]

Third year

"I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long — it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for."
Hermione Granger telling Harry Potter about her third year History of Magic homework[src]

Fourth year

"Meanwhile Professor Binns, the ghost who taught History of Magic, had them writing weekly essays on the goblin rebellions of the eighteenth century."
— Professor Binns setting fourth year homework.[src]

Fifth year

"Today, they suffered an hour and a half's droning on the subject of giant wars."
— A fifth year lesson[src]


Sixth year

Seventh year

Known professors

Required textbooks

Grades

Passing grades

Fail grades

Known O.W.L.s

Behind the scenes

  • As Binns became a ghost, he could no longer move beyond the veil, and would remain earthbound for all eternity. This meant that unless he resigned or was sacked, he would have been the History of Magic teacher forever. This was probably the reason that the school had not sacked him thus far, despite his dreadful teaching technique. Although it could be that sometime after the Second Wizarding War that a more engaging teacher took over from Binns, as it was crucial and necessary for more students to make the subject far more interesting and to increase the chance for students to at least achieve a passing grade on their O.W.L. exam.
  • It is also unknown if any careers in the Wizarding world specifically require the study of this subject, since Careers Advice as shown in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix does not mention the subject as a necessary requirement for any wizarding professions, although it is possible that the subject is useful for Curse-Breakers, or journalists/researchers.
  • Ancient Studies may be a specific specialised branch of this subject, which is only taught about in N.E.W.T.-level classes. It may have also been covered in Study of Ancient Runes.
  • Aside from a brief mention in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Professor Binns and the class are omitted from the film series. However, History of Magic is seen in some of the early video games, and Binns is included in the LEGO video games.
  • In Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, if players take Jacob's sibling to the O.W.L. through an optional side quest, they will definitely gain at least an Acceptable, even if they fail to answer every question.

Appearances

Notes and references

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 8 (The Potions Master)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Year 2
  3. 3.0 3.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 5 (Diagon Alley)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 9 (The Writing on the Wall)
  5. 5.0 5.1 Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Hogwarts School Subjects" at Wizarding World
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 31 (O.W.L.s)
  7. 7.0 7.1 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Chapter 12 (Professor Umbridge)
  8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) - Console versions
  9. 9.0 9.1 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor)
  11. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1 (Owl Post)
  12. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 15 (Beauxbatons and Durmstrang)
  13. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 3 (Detention Before Extension) - History of Magic Lesson "Medieval Assembly of European Wizards"
  14. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 5 (Penny, Portraits, Peace, and Pressure) - History of Magic Lesson "Giant Wars"
  15. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 11 (Mundungus Fletcher) - History of Magic Lesson "Goblin Rebellion of 1612"
  16. Hogwarts Legacy, Side Quest "History of Magic Class"
  17. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 15 (Secrets and Lies) - History of Magic Lesson "International Statute of Secrecy"
  18. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 19 (The Unforgivable Curses) - History of Magic Lesson "Witch Hunts of 14th Century"
  19. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 28 (About Merula) - History of Magic Lesson "Werewolf Code of Conduct"
  20. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 5, Chapter 32 (The Trouble With Ben) - History of Magic Lesson "International Warlock Convention of 1289"
  21. 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 2 (Curses and Prophecies) - History of Magic Lesson "History of Wandlore"
  22. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 5 (Wherefore Art Thou, Weasleys?) - History of Magic Lesson "Uprising of Elfric the Eager"
  23. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 10 (Cloaks and Conflicts) - History of Magic Lesson "Witch Trials of 1692"
  24. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 15 (In the Deep End) - History of Magic Lesson "Wendelin the Weird"
  25. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 18 (Into the Forest) - History of Magic Lesson "Gargoyle Strike of 1911"
  26. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 22 (The Exchange Student) - History of Magic Lesson "Dissolving of the Wizards' Council"
  27. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 28 (Moving On) - History of Magic Lesson "Ancient Runes"
  28. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 33 (Imitation Game) - History of Magic Lesson "Owl Airforce"
  29. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 37 (Entering the Black Lake!) - History of Magic Lesson "Uric the Oddball"
  30. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 6, Chapter 43 (What's Next) - History of Magic Lesson "14th Century Wizarding Economic Bubble"
  31. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 2 (More Questions Than Answers) - History of Magic Lesson "Emeric the Evil"
  32. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 8 (Back to Hogwarts) - Assignment "Duelling Mastery"
  33. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 10 (The Wampus Cat's Out of the Bag) - History of Magic Lesson "Alchemy in Medieval Europe"
  34. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 10 (The Wampus Cat's Out of the Bag) - Assignment "Transportation Regulation"
  35. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 18 (Long Live the Doxy Queen) - History of Magic Lesson "Founding of St Mungo's Hospital"
  36. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 21 (Burning Up) - Assignment "Dragon Pox"
  37. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 31 (Circle Up) - History of Magic Lesson "Warlocks' Convention of 1709"
  38. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 36 (Impenetrable and Unplottable) Assignment "Stolen Goblin Treasure"
  39. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 37 (Lockdown) - Assignment "Azkaban Orientation"
  40. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 39 (The Aftermath) - Assignment "Mischief Management"
  41. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Year 7, Chapter 57 (The Final Battle) - Assignment "Ryusaki's Fate"
  42. 42.0 42.1 As Professors of this subject who taught the subject at Hogwarts, it seems extremely likely that they had formal qualifications in the subject.
  43. 43.0 43.1 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 4 (At Flourish and Blotts) - It is said that both Percy and Bill Weasley earned twelve Ordinary Wizarding Levels, meaning they must have earned an O.W.L. in this subject.
  44. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Chapter 5 (An Excess of Phlegm)
Hogwarts subjects
Core classes Astronomy · Charms · Defence Against the Dark Arts · Herbology · History of Magic · Potions · Transfiguration
Hogwartscrest
Elective classes Alchemy · Arithmancy · Care of Magical Creatures · Divination · Muggle Studies · Study of Ancient Runes
Extracurricular classes Apparition · Advanced Arithmancy Studies · Ancient Studies · Art · Flying · Ghoul Studies · Magical Theory · Muggle Art · Muggle Music · Music · Xylomancy · Field Studies
Former classes Beasts · Dark Arts
Examinations
First year exams · Second year exams · Third year exams · Fourth year exams ·
Ordinary Wizarding Level · Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test