300
Our thematic consideration of the Renaissance begins in Italy slightly before a deadly round of plague in 1348, and ends c. 1600, as we follow its spread across Europe. Rather than confining the Renaissance to a particular set of dates, we will consider the people and forces that shaped this tumultuous time, from popes and kings, to condottieri, artists, and humanists. Through texts and images, students will discover a dynamic time of great art; new ideas; busy mercantile centers, encounters with new peoples and places; religious turmoil; warfare; love; and political upheaval.
Two Reformations, one Protestant the other Catholic, and a host of explorers occupy our study in this course as we look critically and analytically at the people, events, ideas, values, cultures, and perspectives of this turbulent and fascinating time in history. We will consider carefully the objections and the goals of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, Martin Luther, John Calvin and a number of others in their calls for reforms. We will venture beyond the confines of Europe in an attempt ascertain what might be learned about both the Europeans and those they encountered from a wide array of travel narratives. We will consider the use of maps as both ideological statements and navigational tools, and we will conduct our own search for the elusive Prester John.
An interpretative course which investigates a number of significant themes in the history of nineteenth century Eu-rope. Revolution, liberalism and nationalism, industrialization, the question of class, diplomacy and imperialism are among the subjects to be examined.
This course will examine the history of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union, from its origins during and after World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The political, ideological, economic, and strategic aspects of the conflict will all be closely examined. While much of the focus will be on the diplomatic tensions between the superpowers that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, the various impacts of the Cold War on Europe, Asia, and the rest of the globe will also be explored, helping to uncover the ways in which the Cold War's legacy continues to shape our world today.
While feminism, masculinity, and gender as fields of study within the discipline of history are relative newcomers, complex and varied interactions among people have existed since our first human ancestors. Beginning with a short introduction to the science of sex and gender we consider the possibility that while there may be two chromosomal sexes, constructs of gender are more complex and nuanced. Throughout the semester we will consider the many ways in which notions of women, men and gender are shaped by a broad range of forces including history, culture, religion, and place, as well as how gender norms and expectations have shaped the world and its peoples. Utilizing a wide variety of sources including scholarly texts, art, literature, social media, and film, we will together consider questions of feminism and masculinity, the body and sexuality, marriage, faith and much more as not only integral to a better understanding of history but also part of conversations currently taking place among people all over the world.
This course traces the rise and development of Britain over the past three centuries, covering the major social, political, economic, and cultural developments of this influential part of the world. Topics will include the evolution and disintegration of the British Empire, the Industrial Revolution, the development of parliamentary institutions and the changing constellations of political rights, British foreign relations (including war and diplomacy), and the quest for a post-imperial role.
Brian Boru, St. Patrick, Gerry Adams, Ian Paisley, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the Irish Republic Army are all part of the history of this tiny island, some inhabitants descendants of the first arrivals to this land over 9,000 years ago, others immigrants from England centuries later. By 600, those living in Ireland had developed a unique Christian culture alongside of the traditional one of their ancestors. In the seventeenth century English settlers arrived, and despite the passage of time, retained their identity, as well as their Protestant faith. By the end of the first half of the 20th century, both British and Irish lived on an island divided by politics, economics, and religion. In the south rose the independent Republic of Ireland, while the north continued to be a part of Britain. In all, this volatile region of competing identities continues to fascinate and remains, in the words of WB Yeats, "a terrible beauty..."
French Revolutions, 1789 to present: French History
For centuries, France was the most populous and powerful European state between Russia and the Atlantic Ocean, with a cultural and intellectual impact to match. This course covers topics of importance in French history from the late 18th century to the present, starting with the world-changing Revolution and Napoleon, proceeding to the crises and modernization of the 19th century, and finishing with the disasters and successes of the 20th century and today's challenges of national integration and terrorism. The course will be organized as a set of student research projects combined with common readings and short lectures.
Modern Germany: From Blood and Iron to Nazis and Communists A history of modern Germany from 1815 to the present, covering the unusual path that Germany has taken to achieve modernity and find its place in the world. After covering the failed liberal revolutions of 1848 and Bismarck's authoritarian solution to German unification, the course illuminates the two world wars and the Cold War from the German perspective and delves into the recurrent questions of German unity, political functioning, militarism and economic development that bedeviled Germany, Europe, and the world.
Interwar Europe: From Versailles to Hitler A wide ranging study of Europe between World War I and World War II, 1919-1939. Special emphasis is placed upon political, intellectual, social cultural, economic and military developments during a critical phase of modern European history.
An examination of the destruction of European Jewry within Nazi-dominated Europe. The origins of, development of and response to the Holocaust will be assessed using a variety of resources.
Russia has become a major player once again in the political affairs of the world, generating controversy through its annexation of territory, its intervention in foreign conflicts such as Syria, its resurgent anti-Western nationalism, and its attempts to influence elections in the leading Western democracies. Understanding the dramatic sweep of Russia's history helps us to understand the challenges the country faces and poses today. This course will begin with Tsar Alexander II's authoritarian attempts to modernize Russia in the 1860s, explore the Russian Revolution and the resulting coercive utopian project of the Soviet Union, and then study the solutions Russia has embraced to find a post-Communist identity. The 300-level students will be expected to develop their research and argumentation skills by writing a research paper that brings new information and interpretations to the class, showing they can evaluate primary source documents. The 300-level students will also be expected to develop their own ideas about historical connections and comparisons. 300-level students will be excused from taking quizzes, but will be expected to attend six discussion sessions and will mentor 200-level discussions. Students not meeting these requirements are encouraged to take the crosslisted course,
HI 230 (students can't take or get credit for one course if they have taken the other).
The Civil War was the gravest crisis the United States has ever faced and remains to this day the deadliest war in American history, having taken over 600,000 American lives. Even now, 150 years since the end of the war, historians still debate the major questions surrounding this compelling period in American history. This course will examine the major political, economic, and social developments that led to the American Civil War, the military, political, and social aspects of the war itself, and the 12-year period of Reconstruction following the war. Major questions to be explored include,was the war inevitable or could it have been avoided? Why did the North win and the South lose-could the result have been different? How exactly should Reconstruction be defined and remembered, and how do its failures and successes continue to shape American life today?
A critical examination of the political, social, and economic forces that have shaped the United States since the 1980. Themes will include the "Reagan Revolution," end of the Cold War, politics and culture during the 1990s including the Lewinsky scandal, disputed election of 2000, the attacks of September 11, 2001, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the successes and failures of the Obama presidency.
An analytical survey of major developments and trends in United States diplomacy from the 1898 to the present. Major issues include American imperialism, the World Wars, Cold War, and War on Terrorism.
This course will explore the four major wars fought by the United States in Asia in the modern era in the larger context of America's changing role in the world as it rose to superpower status: the Philippine-American War, the Pacific War against Japan, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Examining each of these conflicts will help students appreciate the ways in which both the United States and Asia have changed since the turn of the twentieth century.
This course will explore the history of games (card and board games and games of chance) from thousands of years ago to modern times. The objectives of the course are to introduce the important features (history, cultural context, strategy, style, and economic correlations) of games. The aim is to focus on larger themes and trends rather than merely having you memorize rote facts. By the time you leave this course you will be able to actively engage major concepts and issues related to a number of games.
This course will explore the history of the modern Olympics from the late 1800s to the present. The objects of the course are to introduce the important economic, geographic, political, and cultural trends that have influenced modern Olympic history. The aim is to focus on larger themes and trends rather than merely having you memorize rote facts. By the time you leave this course you will be able to actively engage major issues related to the Olympics
World War II was the most destructive conflict in human history. By the time the guns fell silent in 1945, approximately 60 million people had been killed worldwide. What can possibly explain the extent of such bloodshed? While a comprehensive answer may require us to explore some of the most diffi - cult existential questions about what it means to be human, history offers us a clear guide as to why this conflict occurred when it did, the ways in which it unfolded, and how it came to an end. This course will explore the historical origins of World War II in both Europe and the Pacific, the major political and military turning points of the conflict, and issues related to the war's lasting impact, including the Holocaust. We will also seek to balance the stories of some of the more compelling personalities of the war (e.g., Hitler, Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt) with the experience of the millions of everyday soldiers and civilians who endured unspeakable suffering during this most terrible war.
Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.