Course Descriptions

HIST 104 The Ancient Mediterranean World (1)
Ancient civilizations through the fall of Rome.HSS; Cross Listing : CLAS 104; Staff

HIST 105 Medieval and Early Modern Europe (1)
European civilization from the Middle Ages to the early modern period. Topics include the spread of feudalism, Christianity, struggle between papacy and empire, Renaissance humanism, the Protestant reform movement, development of nation states, the scientific revolution. HSS; Staff

HIST 106 Modern Europe (1)
Modern Europe. Topics include the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, industrialization, imperialism and nationalism, to the eve of World War I.HSS; Staff

HIST 107 Twentieth-Century Europe and the World (1)
This course will examine the development of European politics, society, and culture in the twentieth century. It also focuses on the impact of Europe on other continents, especially within the framework of imperialism and decolonization. The claims of competing ideologies, the development of culture in the age of Cold War, and the challenges of globalization are among the major themes of the course.E.Sencer;

HIST 113 Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (1)
Comparative study of the three major monotheistic traditions in the West: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Selections from the classical texts of each tradition are studied, as well as the ways in which those texts have been interpreted through law, theology, and ritual practice. HSS; DV; Cross Listing : RELS 113; P.Gold; J.Thrall;

HIST 120 Perspectives on War (1)
Rather than a history of warfare, this course first considers how war has been analyzed by such thinkers as Thucydides, Augustine, Hobbes and Clausewitz. The second and longer part of the course considers the experience of those who lived through war, beginning with Stendhal and Tolstoy and going on to Vera Brittain and the great poets of World War I who were combatants. HSS; S.Bailey;

HIST 121 Introduction to Latin American History (1)
An introduction to Latin American history, from 1492 to the present. Topics include nationalism and revolution, political and economic conditions, racial and cultural diversity, and Latin America's relation to Europe and the United States. HSS; DV; Cross Listing : LAST 121; C.Denial;

HIST 122 American Biography (1)
This course introduces first-year students to the study of history at the college level by examining the life and times of a prominent figure in American history, and in the process learn how historians use documents--letters, edited papers and the like--to arrive at conclusions. Students are required to use published documents in a series of short writing assignments, geared toward teaching basic skills of historical reading and interpretation. The course focuses upon one individual per year, the identity of whom changes periodically. HSS; K.Hamilton;

HIST 133 Introduction to Middle Eastern History (1)
An introduction to the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the late 20th century. While the core of the course will focus on the "Islamic" Middle East, Islam's interaction with other religions and cultures will also be covered.DV; E.Sencer;

HIST 140 Introduction to East Asian Civilization (1)
An introductory survey of the history and culture of China, Japan and Korea to 1800. The course explores common themes in East Asian history (the influence of Chinese philosophy, imperial political systems, the establishment of aristocratic classes) while highlighting the distinctive social structures and cultural achievements of the separate traditions. HSS; M.Schneider;

HIST 141 Introduction to Chinese Civilization (1)
This course is a preliminary introduction to Chinese civilization, beginning with the archaeological record and extending to the nineteenth century. This course will focus on a few themes and a few approaches instead of providing a comprehensive survey of the history of Chinese civilization. The purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the development of Chinese tradition and the complexity of its culture by looking in depth the following questions: what forces came together to produce Chinese civilization and how did they contribute to the formation of the notion of “Chineseness” over time? What were the roles of intellectual or philosophical thinkers in the development of Chinese cultural tradition? How can literature reveal details of the way people lived, the values they held and the ideas they followed? Cross Listing : ASIA 141; W.Du;

HIST 142 Introduction to Japanese and Korean Civilizations (1)
This course surveys the history and culture of the Korean peninsula and the Japanese archipelago to 1700. It examines the two distinct political entities and two distinct civilizations that arose in these areas, as well as the shared history of cultural interaction and adaptation. Reading and analysis of primary sources will draw on the rich mythological, religious, philosophical, and literary traditions. Cross Listing : ASIA 142; M.Schneider;

HIST 145 Introduction to African Studies (1)
An interdisciplinary introduction to African history and culture, with considerations given to the philosophies, religions, politics, economics, education, and the arts of African peoples. Beginning with the African contribution to classical civilization, the course explores the early African presence in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, traditional African philosophies and religions, the impact of Islamic and European slavery, the experience of colonialism, neo-colonialism and apartheid, and the ideas of twentieth-century leaders. Alternate years. HSS; Cross Listing : BKST 145; F.Hord;

HIST 160 American History I to 1865 (1)
American history from its beginning to the Civil War. Emphasis is on political and institutional elements; economic factors, intellectual and cultural activities and achievements are also studied. HSS; C.Denial; K.Hamilton;

HIST 161 American History II: 1865 to Present (1)
A continuation of HIST 160. American history from 1865 to the present. Primarily political and institutional in orientation, but considerable emphasis is on the great post-Civil War economic changes and their consequences. HSS; K.Hamilton; C.Denial;

HIST 200 Greek Civilization (1)
A close reading of selected Greek authors from Homer to Aristotle is supplemented by lectures on the historical and artistic context in which the works were written. The thematic focus of the course is the attitudes and values that contributed to the greatness of Athens, and, at the same time, led to its decline. HUM; Cross Listing : CLAS 200; Staff

HIST 201 Ancient Rome (1)
Roman culture and society from Romulus and Remus (753 BCE) through Marcus Aurelius (180 CE). This course will call upon both literary and visual texts to trace the development of Roman social and cultural institutions from the city's beginnings as a small settlement on the Tiber to its dominance over the Mediterranean world. HUM; Cross Listing : CLAS 201; Staff

HIST 202 History of Education (1)
An examination of the ways in which humans across time have addressed issues such as educational aims, opportunity, curriculum and pedagogy. The relationship between socio-political contexts and education, the trends and processes of educational change, and linkages between past and current educational practices are also considered. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; W; Cross Listing : EDUC 202; S.Schroth;

HIST 213 Archaeology and the Study of History (1)
An overview of archaeology, with special emphasis on understanding and appreciating artifactual remains as a primary source. The course will focus on several well-documented archaeological sites and how their archaeology has contributed to our understanding of history (the Egyptian workmen's village of Deir el-Medina, Pompeii, Machu Picchu, and early America, for instance), and will include an examination of how archaeology has adapted in light of recent movements toward cultural repatriation. Although this course has no prerequisites, prior coursework in history, anthropology, or classics is suggested.D.Fatkin;

HIST 220 History of Christianity (1)
This course narrates the social, institutional, and intellectual history of Christianity, paying particular attention to the experiences of Christian men and women living in specific places and times. Through a study of both individuals and institutions, the course looks at several points of dialogue, and often tension, between Christian communities and broader cultures, between official Christian teachings and popular beliefs, and between Christian traditions and forces of reform. The course also considers the roles Christianity has played in key world events, and builds awareness of Christianity’s expanding diversity as a global faith. Cross Listing : RELS 220; Staff

HIST 221 The European Enlightenment, 1660-1789 (1)
Readings from key figures of the European enlightenment (e.g. Locke, Bayle, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Smith) set against the background of historical developments. Alternate years. HSS; Prereq : HIST 105 or HIST 106 or permission of instructor; G.Steckley;

HIST 227 The Black Image in American Film (1)
Since the beginning of the American film industry, white, black and other filmmakers have used the black image to interrogate American identity. This course focuses upon the often contentious dialog between white and black filmmakers, critics, and activists over the creation and control of the black image - a struggle that has been a fundamental component of the American film industry since its creation. Examination of this artistic conflict helps students to explore the larger social struggles and issues surrounding race in American society, as well as to experience the richness of African American culture and the vibrant history of American film and criticism. Above all, students learn to see the political, social and economic context in which film is created, viewed, and understood. Some of the issues to be discussed include: the black aesthetic; representations of the black family, religion, and gender/sexuality by Hollywood vs. independent black films; the changing black image in film over time; the business and economics of filmmaking. Cross Listing : AMST 227, BKST 227, FILM 227; M.Roy-Fequiere; K.Hamilton;

HIST 228 Environmental Racism (1)
This course focuses upon issues of environmental quality, and how the cost to human health and access to environmental benefits is often distributed according to race and poverty. Proposals devised by environmental and civil rights groups working within the growing environmental justice movement are also explored. The goal is to help students understand more fully how decisions affecting the health of neighborhoods, regions, and groups of people are made, and what individuals can do about it. The link between environmental issues and past and present discrimination is examined from an interdisciplinary perspective, requiring students to do work in both the natural and social sciences. Fieldwork will also be required.DV; Cross Listing : BKST 228, ENVS 228; P.Schwartzman; K.Hamilton;

HIST 230 England, 1066-1660 (1)
A survey of English history from the Conquest to the Restoration with emphases on the development of medieval society, the Henrican and Elizabethan reformations, and the Puritan Revolution. Alternate years. HSS; Prereq : HIST 105 or HIST 106 or permission of the instructor; G.Steckley;

HIST 231 England From 1660 (1)
A survey of English history from the Restoration with emphases on the Revolution of 1688 and the experiences of industrialization, reform, imperialism, and modern war. HSS; Prereq : HIST 105 or HIST 106 or permission of the instructor; G.Steckley;

HIST 235 Germany in the Nineteenth Century (1)
A survey of German history from the end of the Napoleonic Era to the outbreak of the First World War. It covers the impact of industrialization, nationalism, unification, and the drive for European dominance. Major themes include the late nineteenth-century transformation of the society, class conflict, and cultural pessimism.E.Sencer;

HIST 236 Germany in the 20th Century (1)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the major events and issues in German history from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present. Main areas of focus will be the two world wars, the Nazi era, and divided Germany in the Cold War.E.Sencer;

HIST 237 World War I (1)
An introductory course on the history of the First World War. The course will take a global approach to the Great War, examining it as a transformative event in European and world history.E.Sencer;

HIST 238 World War II in Europe (1)
This is an introductory course on the European theatre of the Second World War. It covers the causes, different stages, and the implications of the war, and focuses on the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the conflict. Prereq : sophomore standing or permission of the instructor; E.Sencer;

HIST 241 Modern China (1)
A survey of political, social, economic and intellectual history of China since 1800 with emphasis on the twentieth century. Topics include the changes in late imperial society, Western imperialism, the concept of revolution, the response of major world powers to China as a revolutionary power, and the struggles of contemporary Chinese society. HSS; Prereq : one course in history; HIST 141 is recommended; Cross Listing : ASIA 241; M.Schneider;

HIST 242 Modern Japan (1)
The emergence of Japan as a world power. A survey of the political, social and intellectual trends in the history of Japan since 1800. Topics include the collapse of the Tokugawa system, the beginnings of industrialization, Japan's relations with China and the Western powers, the Pacific War, postwar reconstruction and the making of an economic superpower. HSS; Prereq : one course in history; HIST 142 is recommended; Cross Listing : ASIA 242; M.Schneider;

HIST 245 International History (1)
An exploration of the theoretical and methodological problems historians confront when writing histories of international and intercultural relations. Topics will include cross-cultural encounters in world history, the role of women in international history, gender analysis of the international system, trade and economic integration, mass culture and informal diplomacy. Prereq : IIS 100 or PS 210 or one course in history is recommended; M.Schneider;

HIST 248 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

HIST 250 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

HIST 251 History of Modern Africa (1)
This course examines Africa's history and social political development since colonization (1900-). Beginning with the Berlin Conference, we focus on colonial policies, nationalism and nation-building, and Africa's international affairs. Prereq : BKST/HIST 145 recommended; Cross Listing : BKST 251; Staff

HIST 259 America in the 1960s (1)
The 1960s was one of the defining periods in American history, when great conflict served to reveal fundamental elements of the American character. American values and practices regarding sex and race, poverty and justice, apathy and activism, violence and peace, drugs, music, and other issues all came under intense scrutiny during this era. This class immerses students in the "sixties experience" - the events, ideas, values, sights and sounds of this exciting and important decade - and asks what this era reveals about America's past, present and future.HSS; DV; HSS; Cross Listing : AMST 259; K.Hamilton;

HIST 263 Slavery in the Americas (1)
This course surveys the experiences of Africans enslaved in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. It is designed to introduce students to the complex history and issues of slavery in the Western Hemisphere. Slavery is examined both as an international system with global impact, and through comparative analysis of individual slave societies. Subjects addressed include European economic motivation and gain; slave revolts and abolition movements; African cultural retention; racist ideology and race relations. This course serves as the first half of the African-American history series, and as one of the required courses for the major in Black Studies. HSS; DV; Cross Listing : BKST 263; K.Hamilton;

HIST 267 Great American Debates (1)
This course examines the way in which debate has informed American history - the issues that inhabitants of the continent have found pressing; the means by which they have articulated and advanced their perspectives; and the consequences of their successes and failures over time. By focusing on one broad issue - such as women's rights, election to political office, or abolitionism - this course examines debate as a cultural creation and explores connections between present-day debates and those of the past. Course may be repeated for credit; Cross Listing : AMST 267; C.Denial;

HIST 269 U.S. Women's History (1)
This course examines American history from the vantage point of women, and considers the impact of gender on economic, cultural, social, and political issues over time. Alternate years.HSS; Cross Listing : GWST 269; C.Denial;

HIST 271 Topics in the History of Religion (1)
Topics will vary year to year, focusing on a specific area within the history of religion.HSS; Prereq : sophomore standing, previous course work in history or permission of the instructor; may be repeated for credit.; Cross Listing : RELS 271; Staff

HIST 273 Topics in Women's and Gender History (1)
See description for GWST 273. Prereq : sophomore standing, previous coursework in history, or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : GWST 273; C.Denial; P.Gold;

HIST 276 Topics in Ancient History (1)
Topics will vary year to year, focusing on a specific aspect of ancient history. May be repeated for credit; Staff

HIST 280 Topics in British History (1)
A specific problem of British history as interpreted by historians past and present. The topic in any given year is chosen from the following: the English reformation; the English civil war; the revolution of 1688; Ireland and England; the age of reform, 1832-1884; British imperialism; England and the Great War. HSS; Prereq : one of the following courses: HIST 105, HIST 106, HIST 230, HIST 231; or permission of the instructor; may be repeated for credit; G.Steckley;

HIST 281 Key Issues in American Indian History (1)
This course examines the ways in which the history of American Indian people in the United States has been ignored, appropriated, changed, and distorted, as well as reclaimed and re-evaluated over time. We will pay attention to both the past and the present, to oral and written sources, to the varied opinions of academics and tribes, and to art, museum exhibits, and film. Most of the time will be spent exploring the history of the Great Plains region since 1870, but there will be opportunity for students to pursue individual interests as the term progresses. Alternate years. HSS; C.Denial;

HIST 283 Social Life of Food (1)
The historical dimensions of the production, distribution and consumption of food in the modern period. More than a history of food, this course examines the cultural, ideological and political uses of food in our society. Topics include the rise of modern consumption, taste and aesthetics under capitalism, food and cultural expression, and the historical sources of contemporary attitudes toward the science of food. HSS; Prereq : sophomore standing; M.Schneider;

HIST 285 The Historian's Workshop (1)
An introduction to the study of history. Intensive study of a single historical topic introduces students to the importance of interpretation in the writing of history. Research methods, library skills and theoretical approaches to the past are discussed. Topics vary from term to term. Prereq : two courses in history, including one 100-level course; Staff

HIST 295 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of History not covered in the usual curriculum.Staff

HIST 321 The European Enlightenment, 1660-1789 (1)
See HIST 221. Students who enroll in HIST 321 complete a research paper in addition to meeting most of the requirements for HIST 221. Prereq : HIST 105 or HIST 106 and HIST 285, or permission of instructor; W; G.Steckley;

HIST 333 France, 1939-45: Defeat, Occupation, Liberation (1)
France's fate in World War II is the stuff of Greek tragedy: after the agony and victory of 1914-18, the French nation is plunged into a new war even more devastating (at least morally) than the first, in which France's democratic institutions are dismantled by rogue politicians, and the national honor is sacrificed through collaboration with a brutal and avaricious occupier. Through the analysis of recent scholarship and primary sources, this course traces France's wartime nightmare from the collapse of the Third Republic to the ignominy of collaboration to the redemption found in a popular movement of resistance. Prereq : HIST 285, or permission of the instructor; Cross Listing : FREN 335E; B.Davis;

HIST 336 Contemporary German Culture (1)
The course examines contemporary German society and culture in an historical context. Topics include the political legacies of Nazism, East German communism, and the Student Movement of 1968; the role of religion in public life; Germany in a united Europe; immigration and changing concepts of Germanness; changing attitudes towards family, gender, and sexuality. Materials include scholarly essays, fiction, and film. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of instructor; W; Cross Listing : GERM 336E; Staff

HIST 338 Nazi Germany (1)
The purpose of this course is to explore the origins, development, and collapse of Nazi dictatorship in Germany. It will focus on the main arguments offered by major historians about this era of German history, and allow students to conduct research and write a peper on an area of their own interest within that period. Prereq : HIST 285; W; E.Sencer;

HIST 339 Weimar Republic (1)
This course focuses on the history of the First German Republic, 1919-1933. It will examine the establishment and slow destruction of democracy in Germany in the interwar years, along with the social and cultural changes of this period. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; W; E.Sencer;

HIST 340 Culture and Diplomacy in Modern East Asia (1)
East Asian international relations from the early twentieth century to the present, focusing on the relationship between China and Japan, between these nations and the Western powers, the course of the major wars (Russo-Japanese, Sino-Japanese and the Pacific wars), and the influence of internal forces and developments on foreign policy decisions in China and Japan. Alternate years. Prereq : HIST 241, HIST 242, and HIST 285, or permission of the instructor; W; Cross Listing : ASIA 340; M.Schneider;

HIST 345 International History (1)
See description for HIST 245. Students who enroll in HIST 345 write a research paper in addition to completing the requirements for HIST 245. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of instructor; W; M.Schneider;

HIST 347 Public History (1)
This course will analyze the possibilities and practicalities of the practice of 'public history' in the United States. We will consider the history of the field; the purpose and ideals of the profession; the limitations placed upon public historians by money, audience, space, and time; and the impact of good and bad public history on American culture. Students will have the opportunity to visit local historic sites and museums, and will be expected to research, build and present their own exhibition on some aspect of local (or locally) connected history by the end of the term. Alternate years. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; C.Denial;

HIST 348 Teaching Assistant (1/2 or 1)
Prereq : Permission of instructor; May be graded S/U at instructor's discretion; Staff

HIST 350 Independent Study (1/2 or 1)
Staff

HIST 361 The American Civil War (1)
Political and social disintegration during the 1850s; the causes and nature of the Civil War. Students are expected to write a long paper. Prereq : HIST 285 and junior standing or permission of the instructor; W; Staff

HIST 363 The Great Society (1)
This research seminar offers students an in-depth examination of some of the most daring and innovative social programs created by the federal government in the 1960s. Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs like VISTA, Head Start, the Community Action Program (CAP), public broadcasting, and others will form the core of class readings and discussions. Conservative and radical critiques of the Great Society will be discussed, as will the intellectual and political arguments from the 1960s to the present over poverty, race, education, community development, and the role of the federal government in making social policy. Students will be required to participate in classroom discussion and independent research. Prereq : at least one of: HIST 259, HIST 266, EDUC 201, PS 235, or ANSO 215; and HIST 285; W; K.Hamilton;

HIST 366 The American Civil Rights Movement (1)
This course covers the period of the Black Freedom Struggle generally referred to as the Civil Rights Movement--beginning with the Brown decision in 1954, and ending with Bakke decision in 1978. This is not a survey course, however. Students are expected to immerse themselves in some of the considerable scholarship on this period, and to discuss significant issues in class. Some of the topics covered include: the nature of mass social movements--origins, dynamics, strategies and tactics; the significance of black leadership and institutions; black separatism vs. coalition-building; the role of the federal government and political parties; the persistence of racism in American life; black militancy and white liberalism; radical and conservative critiques of the Civil Rights Movement. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; DV; W; Cross Listing : BKST 366; K.Hamilton;

HIST 371 Topics in the History of Religion (1)
See HIST 271. A major component of HIST 371 will be a long research paper based on primary sources. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; DV; W; may be repeated for credit; Cross Listing : RELS 371; Staff

HIST 373 Topics in Women's and Gender History (1)
Topics vary year to year. Current topics include: "Women, Gender and the American Revolution" - analyzing the form and function of gender in the revolutionary era; and "Women's History through Autobiography" - the history of women in Europe and America from the 17th century through the 20th using autobiographies written by women. Course may be repeated for credit. Prereq : HIST 285, GWST 280, or permission of the instructor; W; HIST 373B is DV; Cross Listing : GWST 373; C.Denial; P.Gold;

HIST 380 Topics in British History (1)
See HIST 280. Students who enroll in HIST 380 write a research paper in addition to completing the requirements for HIST 280. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; may be repeated for credit; W; G.Steckley;

HIST 381 The Meaning of Time and Place in American Indian Cultures (1)
This course examines the importance of multiple understandings of time and place to the study of American Indian history. By concentrating on the inhabitants of one geographic region, we will aim to approach the history of that region from an indigenous perspective, analyzing the intertwined concepts of spirituality, landscape, place-naming, cross-cultural contact, and social change. Alternate years. Prereq : HIST 285 or permission of the instructor; W; C.Denial;

HIST 392 Oral Presentation (.0)
History majors usually fulfill the speaking competency in the course of taking a 300-level research course. Students wishing to do this should consult the course instructor at the beginning of the term to be sure that appropriate oral presentation assignments are set up. Once these presentations have been successfully completed, the instructor issues a grade of "P" in the 0-credit HIST 392 course. Prereq : HIST 285; Staff

HIST 395 Special Topics (1/2 or 1)
Courses offered occasionally to students in special areas of History not covered in the usual curriculum.Staff

HIST 400 Advanced Studies (1/2 or 1)
See College Honors Program. Staff