It’s safe to say that the results of Tuesday’s presidential election came as something of a surprise to many Americans, no matter whom they backed. President-elect Donald Trump soundly defied the polls to pull out a victory, despite a campaign that shocked and alienated large swaths of the country.

In the wake of the news, TIME History asked a variety of experts who have contributed to the section in the past to weigh in on one question: When historians of the future look back on this week, what do you think they will see? Below is a selection of the answers they submitted by email and phone:

http://time.com/4565025/future-historians-election-week/?xid=newsletter-brief

Read more:

Trump and the demise of the American global order

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-economics-breakingviews-idUSKBN13626C

This one predictable trend will emerge from Donald Trump’s shock election victory

http://www.scmp.com/business/article/2044436/one-predictable-trend-will-emerge-donald-trumps-shock-election-victory

The Making of President Donald Trump - TIME

http://time.com/4564440/donald-trump-wins-2/?xid=homepage&pcd=hp-magmod