Course Schedule

Fall 2012

100 Level Courses

HST 101A, 101B and 101C. Western Civilization to 1700 (3h). MWF 9:00-9:50, 11:00-11:50, 1:00-1:50. A-103. Dunwoody. This course examines the rise and path of Western civilization from the dawn of urban society in Mesopotamia and Egypt until around 1700. Starting with an examination of the Greco-Roman Mediterranean, we shall explore how the rise of Christianity, the barbarian invasions, the fall of Rome, and the rise of Islam all contributed to the new beginnings of European societies on the northern shores of the Mediterranean. We shall consider the Greek and Roman ways of life: their religions, social traditions, economies, political systems, and imperial adventures. And we shall see how Europeans adopted and adapted these ways of life to the new realities of their Middle Ages and the early modern period. Using a variety of primary sources, we will consider major topics in Western civilization including: competing models of political authority and the tensions between them; the contentious relationship between secular power and religious power in the West; religious violence and religious toleration in the Crusades and in Europe; the effects of urban revival and commercial development on notions of justice, on gender roles, and on everyday life; the gradual rediscovery of Europe’s Roman heritage before, during, and after the Renaissance; and Europe’s place in the wider world and the beginnings of global modernity.

HST 102A, 102B, and 102D. Europe and the Modern World since 1700 (3h). MWF 10:00-10:50, 11:00-11:50, and 1:00-1:50. B-117. Bobroff.  This course introduces students to the modern history of Europe and its interactions with the world around it.  Major developments in society, economy, technology, politics, war, and diplomacy will be analyzed.  A central theme of this exploration will be the relationship of state and society through these centuries.  Students will also be introduced to history as a subject of study.

HST 102C. Europe and the Modern World since 1700 (3h).  TR 12:30-1:45. A-103. Sinanaglou. This course offers an introduction to the history of Europe from the Old Regime to the early twenty-first century. We explore social, economic, political, cultural and intellectual history, engaging with themes such as the structures and functions of government and society, the role of international relations in shaping domestic, regional and global politics, the relationship of people to modes of production and consumption, the influence of ideas on political, economic and social life, and the position of individuals in relation to communities and states. Using both a textbook, which looks back from a distance and pulls together a coherent narrative, and primary sources, which are produced in particular historical moments, we track, analyze and debate that central concern of historical scholarship: change over time.

HST 102E and 102F.  Europe and the Modern World since 1700 (3h). MWF 12:00-12:50 and 2:00-2:50.  A-305. Staff.

HST 103A. World Civilizations to 1500 (3h).  TR 9:30-10:45 and 12:30-1:45.  A-208.  Zhang.  This course surveys the evolution of world civilizations from around 3500 BCE to 1500 CE.  Within a roughly chronological framework, it seeks to highlight the broad patterns of development among major human communities, especially those on the Eurasian continent and in Africa, with respect to their political and social institutions, economic life, values, intellectual traditions and religious beliefs. (CD)

HST 103B. World Civilizations to 1500 (3h). MWF 1:00-1:50. A-208. Lerner. The course surveys the social, political and cultural development of a variety of world civilizations from their inception to 1500.  The focus concerns a detailed analysis of those civilizations, which represent the most spectacular example of social formation: the relationship between the individual and deity as a religious expression; the relationship between society and nature as a philosophical dilemma; and the relationship between the individual and society as a cultural and political manifestation.  In each case, the unifying theme we shall explore is how these peoples organized themselves politically, economically, and socially as a response to their particular geographical and environmental condition.  We shall see that the legacy of these civilizations is one of cultural syncretism manifested in the diversity and complexity of their traditions and ideas. This section open to First Year Students only. (CD)

HST 103C. World Civilizations to 1500 (3h). MWF 2:00-2:50. A-208. Lerner. The course surveys the social, political and cultural development of a variety of world civilizations from their inception to 1500.  The focus concerns a detailed analysis of those civilizations, which represent the most spectacular example of social formation: the relationship between the individual and deity as a religious expression; the relationship between society and nature as a philosophical dilemma; and the relationship between the individual and society as a cultural and political manifestation.  In each case, the unifying theme we shall explore is how these peoples organized themselves politically, economically, and socially as a response to their particular geographical and environmental condition.  We shall see that the legacy of these civilizations is one of cultural syncretism manifested in the diversity and complexity of their traditions and ideas. This section open to First Year Students only. (CD)

HST 105A. Africa in World History (3h). TR 11:00-12:15. A-208. Plageman. While popular imagination suggests that the African continent has been isolated from history and historical events, this course examines Africa and Africans as central to the development of the wider world.  Throughout the duration of the semester, we will analyze how African peoples have influenced and were influenced by global events of the last 500 years, particularly in the regions of the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and expanding Atlantic World.  Major themes include the dynamic character of early societies in various regions of the continent; expanding networks of economic exchange; slavery, the Trans-Atlantic, Trans-Saharan, and Indian Ocean slave trades, and the creation of the African Diaspora; changing European-African interactions; and the recent developments that both link and separate the experiences of African peoples with those of African descent. (CD)

HST 108A, 108C, and 108D. The Americas and the World (3h). MWF 9:00-9:50, 10:00-10:50, and 12:00-12:50. A-208. Roberts. This course explores large-scale social, political, and economic trends that connected North and South America to the rest of the globe as well as the lives of individuals who experienced those changes. The course uses readings such as scholarly texts, historical documents, autobiographies, and other first-person accounts to examine how people understood and interpreted imperial expansions, slavery, revolutions, political power, work, human difference, environments, and the movements of ideas and materials. Ultimately, this course investigates the tensions between broad changes over time and individuals’ stories about those changes. Such an approach illuminates the diverse ways in which people viewed their world, their singular and collective power to change it, and the larger structures of power that limited or supported their actions.

HST 108B. The Americas and the World (3h). TR 9:30-10:45. A-305. Coates. This course explores the history of the Western hemisphere in global perspective since 1500. This includes the story of U.S. domination and Latin American resistance, especially in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. But we will focus even more on how global forces have shaped the development of North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean. How have political, economic, and cultural developments enhanced or inhibited the ability of individuals and groups to shape their own lives? Topics covered include the “first globalization” of goods, germs, and peoples; slavery, resistance, and emancipation; colonialism and independence; the industrial, market, and transportation revolutions; international migration; war (Cold, Civil and otherwise); the global 1960s; and the histories of development and neoliberalism. We will also think about how the very terms that people use to describe the region (e.g., the “New World,” the “Americas,” “Latin” or “Hispanic” America, etc.) reflect and make possible particular national goals and political projects.

HST 109A. Asia and the World (3h). TR 2:00-3:15. B-117. Rahman. Primarily focusing on South, Southeast, and East Asia, the aim of this course is to appreciate the diversity within Asia and understand the history of this continent as linked with global history. Although we cover different time periods, our focus largely remains confined to the last five centuries. What are the different societies and traditions within Asia? What have been their contributions? What historical incidents and trajectories have linked Asia to the rest of the world? Such questions are considered to explore the political, economic, social, and cultural history of Asia and its interactions with the outside world. Specific topics include different religious and cultural traditions, imperialism, global trade and commerce, the Indian Ocean, cross-cultural interactions, modernization, nationalism, and decolonization movements. (CD)

HST 110A & 110B. The Atlantic World since 1500 (3h). TR 9:30-10:45 & 11:00-12:15. A-102. Welland. This course examines the major developments that have linked the civilizations bordering the Atlantic Ocean from 1500 to the present. Themes include exploration; commerce; European colonization and indigenous responses; disease; religious conversion and revivalism; mestizo and creole culture; imperial warfare; enlightenment; revolution; slavery and abolition; extractive economies; nationalism; ‘scientific racism’; invented traditions; the black diaspora and negritude; decolonization; the Cold War; segregation and apartheid; dictatorship; neoliberalism; and globalization.

HST 132A. European Historical Novels (1.5H). T 2:00-3:15. Barefield. The role of the historical past in selected works of fiction.

200 Level Courses

HST 230. Russia: Origins to 1865 (3h). MWF 11:00-11:50. A-102. Rupp. Survey of the political, social and economic history of Russia, from its origins to the period of the Great Reforms under Alexander II.

HST 243. The Middle East since 1500 (3h). TR 11:00-12:15. B-117. Wilkins. Survey of Middle Eastern history from the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires to the late 20^th century. Topics include state and empire-building, the impact of European colonialism, the development of nationalism, Islamic reform, and contemporary social and economic challenges.

HST 256. The U.S. and the World, 1763-1914. TR 3:30-4:45. A-103. Coates. This first half of a two-part course analyzes American foreign relations—including diplomacy and war, but also trade, immigration, and the transmission of ideas and culture—from the end of the Seven Years War to the outbreak of World War I. To highlight global contexts, we will examine the U.S. experience through the lens of empire. From the American Revolution through Manifest Destiny, the Monroe Doctrine, and the diplomacy of the Civil War, to the emergence of the U.S. as a “Great Power” in 1898, American policymakers and citizens grappled with foreign empires (Britain, France, Spain) and with the idea of empire itself. Was the United States to be a democratic republic, an Empire of Liberty, a settler empire, or an imperial power? Where should its boundaries lie, and how should the rights of governments and individuals be defined within them? Through extensive use of primary source materials, we will examine how these debates themselves reflected the intersection of national and global forces, particularly war and trade.

HST 260. Premodern South Asia. TR 11:00-12:15. A-305. Rahman. An overview of the people and cultures of ancient and medieval India, this course delves into the rich history and traditions of one of the earliest human civilizations. We seek to learn about religions, scientific developments, literature, arts, empires, dynasties, cross-cultural interactions, and conquests and defeats in India’s premodern history. This class endeavors to understand the background of South Asia’s present by considering topics such as the Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedic Age, Hinduism, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Era, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagar Empire, and the Mughal Empire. We use a variety of sources including Sanskrit stories, religious scriptures, political treatises, autobiographical narratives, royal edicts, monuments, and paintings to explore the diverse cultures and traditions of India.

300 Level Courses

HST 311W. Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Ancient Mediterranean (3h). TR 9:30-10:45. B-117. Pace. In 1977 a song titled “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll” written by Ian Dury hit the airwaves and the song’s title entered the American pop culture lexicon. This triad has come to represent a certain attitude and lifestyle that is, on the one hand, hedonistic and seemingly lacking virtue while, on the other hand, it represents for many the ultimate in personality liberty. In this course, we will examine the textual and archaeological evidence for ancient attitudes and practices related to sex and sexuality, intoxicants and stimulants, and music in the region around the Mediterranean Sea in the time period stretching from the Neolithic to the Roman Period. Students enrolled in the course will be expected to think critically about the multiple roles played by sex, drugs, and music in ancient societies. At the end of the course, we will evaluate to what extent the “sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll” triad existed in the ancient Mediterranean world and whether it evoked the same positive and negative connotations as in modern American culture.

HST 312. Jews, Greeks, and Romans (3h). WF 11:00-12:15. A-208. Lerner.  Largely from a Jewish context, the course explores the political, religious, social, and philosophical values shaped by the collision between Jews, Greeks, and Romansfrom the Hellenistic Period to the Middle Ages.  The interaction brought about the end of antiquity, the rise of Christianity, and the establishment of a common culture that has largely defined the Western World: Judeo-Christian moral attitudes and Graeco-Roman civilization.  There is no prerequisite or assumed knowledge of the period, but students should be prepared to examine religion from a secular, intellectual point of view.

HST 327. Power and Profit in Britain (3h). TR 2:00-3:15. A-102. Welland. The years between Britain’s Glorious Revolution in 1688 and the outbreak of world war in 1914 were marked by the nation’s rise to global economic and imperial dominance. This course examines the economic ideas that buttressed these developments, their institutional expression, and their importance to British culture and civil society. It will also consider political economy’s transition from a branch of moral philosophy to a social science. Topics include connections between consumption and identity; the relationship of morals to markets; the role of gender and the household; knowledge, technology, and the industrial revolution; and the place of free trade in the political imagination.

HST 338. Gender, Race and Class since 1800 (3h). MWF 1:00-1:50. A-102. Caron. This course examines gender roles and relations from the early nineteenth century to the present.  We will analyze how political, economic and cultural changes impact the definitions of femininity and masculinity, the changing notions of sexuality, and the continuity and diversity of gender roles.  We will pay particular attention to race, class and ethnicity.  This class will be discussion-oriented. Students are expected to participate in class discussions based on these readings.

HST 339. Sickness and Health in American Society (3h). MWF 10:00-10:50. A-102. Caron. This course is a broad survey of American sickness and health from the pre-colonial period to the present.  Understanding the evolution of medical care provides a basis for comprehending the context of health care in the twenty-first century.  We will examine the indigenous healing methods of Native Americans; the introduction of European methods; the development of medical technology; the use of anesthesia; the professionalization of medicine; the rise of medical education; changes in childbirth procedures; health care during war time; the social and economic impact of diseases; the economics of health care; the ethics of human experimentation; sexually transmitted diseases; the continuing allure of homeopathic healing; and reproductive health issues.

HST 340. Social and Cultural Change in Urban Africa (3h). T/R 2:00-3:15. A-208. While popular imagination suggests that the African past is largely a rural one, many of the continent’s most explosive social and cultural innovations have taken place in its cities.  This course examines African cities in a historical perspective, with particular emphasis on how ordinary city residents—not just political or economic authorities—shaped and experienced some of sub-Saharan Africa’s most important historical transformations.  Major topics for the course include the social fabric of pre-colonial African cities, the uneven and unpredictable impact of colonialism on African towns, cities as sites of cultural revolutions and political independence, and the contemporary conditions and challenges facing contemporary urban residents.

HST 341. Africans in the Atlantic World, 1750-1815 (3h). T/R 12:00-1:45. A-305. Explores Africans’ experience in the Atlantic world (Africa, Europe, and the Americas) during the era of slave trade by examining their encounters with Indians and Europeans and their adjustment to slave traders in West Africa.

HST 358. Race and the Courts (3h). TR 12:30-1:45. A-102. Hopkins. This course will use the historical method to examine the impact of state and federal court cases upon the evolution of race relations in this country.  Beginning with Dred Scott, the historical context of each case will be placed in juxtaposition to the social and political realities for the given periods. Case law, scholarly articles, as well the Supreme Court Digest will provide a foundation for analyzing government intervention, inaction, and creative interpretation. Topics for consideration will include the impact of Dred Scott, Reconstruction, lynchings, and the emergence of the KKK; the analysis of civil rights during the Great Depression and the New Deal; separate but equal applications in American life; voting rights issues; and school desegregation before and after Brown and Seattle.   The goal of the course is to demonstrate the historical evolution of race relations in the United States which is predicated upon the judicial interpretation of the rights of its citizens.

HST 362. American Constitutional History (3h). TR 3:30-4:15. A-102. Zick. Origins of the Constitution, the controversies involving the nature of the Union, and constitutional readjustments to meet the new American industrialism.

HST 380. America at Work (#H). T/R 11:00-12:15. A-103. Gillespie. The history of working people in American is one of the most unique in the world.  The U.S. boasts some of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurial and industrial leaders in modern history, as well as some of the bloodiest, exploitative and divisive of labor relations.  This complex set of histories has always been and continues to be interconnected with global developments.  To look at the history of people in the American workplace and the meanings Americans have attached to leadership, management, and workers is to gain critical insight into political and social systems in the U.S. and the wider world.  This course will examine the history of people at work in America from multiple perspectives beginning with the 17^th century up to the present.

HST 381. Religious Utopias and the American Experience (3h). TR 12:30-1:45. B-117. Frank. Religious groups of many different origins — Moravians, Shakers, Rappites, Transcendentalists, Koreshans — have created settlements in North America that would embody their ideals. This course surveys a range of such 18^th and 19^th-century communities that raise provocative questions about the nature of community in America, the organization of a free society, and the role of religion in shaping human lives. The course examines the plan of daily life in these settlements – land use, building types, gender relations, children, labor, education, the arts, religious ritual and symbol, leadership and polity. We put their practices into critical conversation with the emerging dominant culture of America that has often dismissed them as merely “utopian” and thus overlooked what may be learned from their experience.

HST 390A. Research Seminar: Decolonization in the Twentieth Century (3h). T 2:00-4:30. B-116. Sinanaglou.   At the start of World War II in 1939, approximately one-third of the world’s population lived under European colonial rule. By the end of the twentieth century, that number had dropped to less than one percent. This research seminar will examine the process of decolonization in the twentieth century, comparing and contrasting the end of European empires in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Carribean. Themes addressed will include the roles of violent and non-violent resistance, European domestic politics and international agreements, cultural imperialism and post-colonial immigration. We will ask why decolonization was sudden in some places and protracted in others, consensual and relatively peaceful in certain territories and explosively divisive in others. The course will conclude with an examination of the legacy of empire and decolonization in the contemporary world, and of the persistence of imperialism in the twenty-first century.

HST 390B. Research Seminar: Stalinism (3h). W 2:00-4:30. A-104. Rupp. The course explores the political, socio-economic and cultural changes associated with the Stalinist era, with students writing a research paper on a topic of their choosing that focuses on some aspect of Stalinism.

HST 390C. Research Seminar: Race, Class, Gender and Resistance in the American South (3h). T 2:00-4:30. A-104. Gillespie. Students will design, research, and write an original paper (25-30 pp.) by examining institutions, movements, or social groups in the history of the American South that used resistance against enforced or established authority in pursuit of change.  Research topics might include resistance to slavery; oppositional strategies by apprentices and indentured servants from desertion to violence; protests for workers’ rights and the organization of unions; the rise of populism and other third party political movements; the celebration of Emancipation Day and the anti-lynching campaign; civil disobedience and protest during the Civil Rights Movement; the fight for the E.R.A.; the struggle for immigrant rights; neighborhood and community resistance movements; environmental activism aimed at changing local corporate practice; etc.

HST 390D. Research Seminar: Slavery, Memory, and Narrative (3h). R 2:00-4:30. A-104. Parent. Examines the narratives of ex-slaves and free blacks.  The seminar begins with readings on the methodology of memory, memoirs, and autobiography before moving to tutorials.  Students will be able to draw on several printed primary and Internet collections for their research papers.

HST 391A. Honors Seminar (3h). R 2:00-4:30. B-116. Escott. The Honors Seminar is required for majors in History who are seeking departmental honors.  It features intensive examination and discussion of important pieces of historical scholarship, and in this semester’s seminar the readings will focus on the history of slavery and segregation in the United States.  (Please note that this seminar is different from and in addition to the writing of an honors research paper.)

FIRST YEAR SEMINARS

FYS 100. The Sectional Crisis, 1820-1860. TR 9:30-10:45. A-103. Escott. This course focuses on the development of the sectional crisis in US politics between 1820 and 1860.  Important political developments will be covered along with key topics such as reform movements, economic development, and cultural divergence.  The course will challenge students to consider causes of the crisis, how it was handled, and social and institutional factors that affected its outcome.  Historians’ viewpoints will be used to frame the analysis of important questions.  Reading assignments will focus on both primary sources and arguments by historians.

FYS 100. Power and Dissent in Modern Arabic Literature.  TR 2:00-3:15. A-305. Wilkins.