History - History (HIS) Courses
HIS-110 Western Civilization to 1000 3 credits
An investigation of the history of Western civilization exploring selected topics related to human freedom and the liberal arts educational tradition.
HIS-111 Western Civilization to 1800 3 credits
An investigation of the history of Western civilization exploring selected topics related to human freedom and the liberal arts educational tradition.
HIS-112 World Civilizations to 1800 3 credits
An investigation of the comparative history of selected World historical civilizations focusing on topics related to human freedom and the liberal arts educational tradition.
HIS-200 Introduction to the History of the United States 3 credits
An introduction of the basic themes, issues and personalities of American history from precolonial times to the present.
HIS-210 History of Modern East Asia 3 credits
An introduction of the basic themes, issues and personalities of Asian history from 1800 to the present.
HIS-220 History of Modern Europe 3 credits
An introduction of the basic themes, issues and personalities of European history from the era of the French Revolution until the present.
HIS-230 History of Modern Latin America 3 credits
An introduction of the basic themes, issues and personalities of Latin American history from 1800 to the present.
HIS-280 Historical Research: Historiography & Methods 3 credits
Required of sophomores majoring in history. An introduction to select topics in the study and writing of history, including fundamentals of social scientific inquiry, historical research methods and sources, and historiography and the evaluation of evidence.
HIS-294 Independent Study 1 - 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
Reading or research in history as approved by the instructor. See independent study guidelines.
HIS-300 The United States Since 1945 3 credits
An analysis of the social, political, economic, and cultural history of the United States during the postwar boom of the 1950s, the turbulent civil rights and student movements of the 1960s, and the conservative reaction of the 1980s.
HIS-301 History of American Ideas 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
An analysis of movements of continuing influence in American social and political thought from the colonial period to the 20th century.
HIS-302 History of U.S. Foreign Policy 3 credits
A study of American foreign policy from 1776 until the present.
HIS-303 The Terror: Radicalism, Language and Violence in the French Revolution, 1789-1795 3 credits
A study of rhetoric and reactionary politics in France during the Revolution. The course will focus on the conditions and culture that led to the transformative instances of revolutionary violence that have come to define the French Revolution.
HIS-304 The American Westward Movement 3 credits
An introduction to the political, diplomatic, social, economic and cultural events and consequences that occurred between 1607 and the present as Americans moved west.
HIS-306 The American South Since 1865 3 credits
A study of the American South from the defeat of the Confederacy in 1865 until the election of a Southern president in 1976. The course will also examine the history of African-Americans in the South from emancipation until the civil rights movements of the 1960s.
HIS-308 The War in Vietnam & America in the 1960s 3 credits
A study of the diplomacy and conduct of America's military involvement in Southeast Asia, 1956-1975. The course will also include a study of the domestic turbulence caused by that involvement, specifically focusing on the antiwar movement.
HIS-309 The American Civil War 3 credits
An introduction to the causes, conduct and consequences of the rebellion of the South, 1861 to 1865.
HIS-310 The 1850s 3 credits
An examination of the explosive politics and cultural achievements in the United States on the eve of the Civil War.
HIS-311 To Kill a King: The English Civil War 1638-1659 3 credits
An examination of the English political crisis leading from the popish plot and constitutional breakdown to the beheading of Charles I and the rise of the Commonwealth and Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell.
HIS-320 Ancient Latin Language & Literature I 3 credits
An introduction to the basics of Latin grammar and syntax with emphasis on translating classical Latin literature.
HIS-321 Ancient Latin Language & Literature II 3 credits
Prerequisites: HIS-320
A study of the basics of Latin grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. Students will translate passages from ancient Latin authors as well as read several Latin literary works in translation. Such selections may include Ovid, Vergil, Cicero, and Tacitus. Consideration will also be given to Latin history, art history, and society.
HIS-322 Latin Readings 1 credit
Prerequisites: HIS-320
Reading and translation of Latin texts selected to meet student needs and interests. May be repeated for credit.
HIS-325 Ancient Greek Language & Literature I 3 credits
(Same as REL-325) A study of basic Classical and Hellenistic (Koine) Greek grammar and syntax, with primary involvement in the Greek New Testament.
HIS-326 Ancient Greek Language & Literature II 3 credits
Prerequisites: HIS-325 or REL-325
(Same as REL-326) A continuation of HIS-325 or REL-325 with a focus on the translation of selected Greek texts and the use of textual criticism.
HIS-327 Greek Readings 1 credit
Prerequisites: HIS-325 or REL-325
(Same as REL-327) Readings and translation of Greek texts selected to meet student needs and interests. This course is designed to maintain and improve student proficiency in Greek. May be repeated for a total of 4 credits.
HIS-331 Ancient Greece 3 credits
A study of the political, economic and cultural development of the Greek world with readings from Greek authors in translation.
HIS-332 Ancient Rome 3 credits
A study of the history of Rome through the Republic and the Empire.
HIS-334 19th Century Europe: The Industrial Nation & its Discontents 3 credits
An examination of European history in the years between 1815 and 1914. Special attention is given to politics and modern thought in France, Germany and Italy as nations struggled to achieve both industrial growth and domestic stability.
HIS-337 Modern Russia & the USSR 3 credits
An introduction to Russian political and social history from 1815 to the present.
HIS-338 Modern India 3 credits
An introduction to the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent from 16th century Moghul domination to the modern experiences of the world's largest democracy. Special attention will be given to the impact and legacy of British rule and the response of an ancient eastern cultural and social system to the stresses of modernization.
HIS-339 National Socialism & the Final Solution 3 credits
An investigation of the political and racial theories of the Nazi Party, which led to the creation of the extermination camps in Europe, 1939 to 1945.
HIS-340 Pre-Modern Chinese History 3 credits
This course will examine the political, economic, and social history of the Chinese empire from its founding until the Ming dynasty.
HIS-341 The Great Depression 3 credits
An examination of the causes and consequences of the stock market crash of 1929 and the ensuing depression. The course will also investigate the social and political consequences of the Great Drought of the 1930s.
HIS-343 Religion & the State in Late Imperial China 3 credits
This course explores the complex relationship between the Chinese state and Chinese religion during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Over the course of the semester, we will examine the formation and operation of the state cult; the history of institutionalized traditions such as Buddhism and Daoism; the special problem of so-called "popular" religion; and the emergence of sectarian movements such as the Eight Trigram, Taiping, and Boxer rebellions. No prior coursework on China is required, although prior coursework in history or religion is strongly recommended.
HIS-344 Medieval Europe 3 credits
A study of the Medieval world focusing on political, religious and economic change from the waning years of the Roman Empire until the end of the 100 Years War in 1453.
HIS-345 Modern China 3 credits
An introduction to the history and cultures of China from the White Lotus Rebellion of 1796 to disintegration of Maoist-style communism in the 1980s. Emphasis will focus on the challenges of Western imperialism and ideas and the response of an ancient social and cultural system to the pressures of modernization.
HIS-346 Reformation of the 16th Century 3 credits
(Same as REL-346) An examination of the tumultuous changes that rocked Europe between 1517 and 1648, focusing on the interactions between theological, economic, political and personal factors that split the Christian church and changed the Western world.
HIS-347 18th Century Europe: The Fall of the Old Regime 3 credits
An examination of European history in the years between 1688 and 1815. Special attention is given to politics, ideology and social change in France, the Germanic principalities, and the Netherlands as they evolved the military and governmental structures of the modern nation-state.
HIS-348 20th Century Europe: The Trials of Modernity 3 credits
An examination of European history in the years between 1914 and 2000. Special attention is given to the successes and failures of European experiments with democracy, the formation of corporatist means of governing, and the postwar movement toward European unity, especially emphasizing developments in France, Germany and Italy.
HIS-349 Modern European Intellectual History 3 credits
A survey of European intellectual history from the rise of German idealistic philosophy in the early 19th century, through scientific and social scientific developments, to the linguistic turn of the later 20th century.
HIS-350 The British Empire 1756-1960 3 credits
An examination of the rise and fall of the British Empire from the founding of white settlement colonies in the eighteenth century and the rise of tropical imperialism in the nineteenth to the process of de-colonization in the twentieth century. Emphasis will fall on the culture of empire and its corrosive effects.
HIS-352 England to 1688 3 credits
A study of the development of English political, social, religious and cultural institutions from Stonehenge to the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
HIS-353 Modern Britain 3 credits
A study of British political, social and cultural institutions since 1688. Particular attention is given to the growth of nationalism, empire, democracy, and the welfare state as the United Kingdom developed into a modern nation.
HIS-354 History of Southeast Asia 3 credits
Southeast Asia is one of the world's most culturally diverse regions, home to Buddhist, Muslim, Confucian, and Christian civilizations. It boasts ancient monuments of surpassing grandeur and complexity, and today it boasts some of the world's fastest-growing economies. This course offers an introduction to Southeast Asian history starting from the earliest civilizations, continuing through the colonial conquests, and ending with the various struggles for independence. No prior knowledge of Southeast Asia is required.
HIS-355 Women in Modern East Asian History 3 credits
The objective of this course is to introduce the histories of modern China and Japan as they were experienced by a handful of women in each of those cultures. Readings for the course will consist largely of autobiographical materials that were written or spoken by Chinese and Japanese women, although secondary sources will also be introduced periodically.
HIS-356 Asian Immigrants and the Americas 3 credits
An examination of Asian immigrants in the Americas from the early nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. This course will compare and contrast migration patterns, labor systems (including indentured servitude), immigrant communities, and anti-Asian movements in Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and the United States.
HIS-357 Popular Culture in Modern Chinese History 3 credits
This course examines different aspects of popular culture in modern Chinese history, including food, ritual, architecture, entertainment, social organization, and so forth. No prior knowledge of China is assumed.
HIS-358 People's Republic of China 3 credits
This course will examine the rise of the Chinese Communist Party and the history of the People's Republic of China. Topics will include the communist revolution, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the 1989 democracy movement. No prior knowledge of China is assumed or required.
HIS-359 Pre-Modern Japan 3 credits
This course will explore the history of Japan from its beginnings to the Tokugawa unification in the seventeenth century. No prior knowledge of Japan is assumed or required.
HIS-363 The Rise of Christianity 3 credits
(Same as REL 363) An analysis of the origins of Christianity within the Roman Empire. Special attention will be given to theological development and church-state relations between the second and fourth centuries.
HIS-368 Jewish History 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
(Same as REL-368) This course will serve as an introduction to the history of the Jewish people from the First Revolt against Rome in 66 A.D. until the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Students will also study the theological, literary and legal texts of the Diaspora (the Jews in Exile, 132 to 1948).
HIS-377 Women in the Americas 3 credits
A comparative history of women's experiences with emphasis on expressions of feminist consciousness and the evolution of gender ideologies in Latin America and the United States from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. Topics will include struggles for political and economic rights, sexuality, constructions of femininity and masculinity, marriage, and reproduction.
HIS-378 Liberation Theology 3 credits
An examination of the Liberation Theology Movement from the 1960s to the present in Latin America. The course will examine the historical context of the movement and consider its impact on the Americas.
HIS-379 Latin America & the Age of Imperialism 3 credits
A study of Latin America from 1789 to 1914. The course will examine independence movements, nation-building, Liberalism and Conservatism, export-oriented economic growth, and relations with Western Europe and the United States.
HIS-380 Colonial Latin America 3 credits
A study of Latin America from the conquistadors to independence movements. The course will examine social and ethnic groups, cultural practices, and institutions of colonial Latin America.
HIS-381 Military & Society in Latin America 3 credits
An examination of the military since the colonial period with emphasis on the twentieth-century. The course will investigate international and domestic concerns including the impact of the Cold War and the confrontation of military governments confrontations with various sectors of society, including peasants, labor, and women.
HIS-382 Modern Mexico 3 credits
A study of Mexico from the war of independence to the present. Special attention is given to political and social struggles over land, resources, and identity, Mexico's relationship with the United States, the revolutionary period, and the institutionalization of the Revolution.
HIS-383 Modern Brazil 3 credits
An examination of Brazil from independence to the present. Special attention is given to the development of the African-Brazilian culture, the search for political identity, and the economic struggle for the nation's natural resources.
HIS-384 Modern Japan 3 credits
This course studies modern Japan since the Tokugawa period. It will focus primarily on social, political, economic, and diplomatic events. Special attention will be given to Japan's cultural foundation, the Meiji reform, economic development, the rise of militarism and nationalism, World War II, the American Occupation, and postwar growth.
HIS-386 Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica 3 credits
Focusing on the cultural region that includes parts of present day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador, this course will examine major sedentary societies and empires of Mesoamerica. Through an examination of anthropological, archeological, and historical sources, the course will explore the growth, expansion, decline, and cultural legacies of the Olmec, Mayan, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, and Aztec civilizations.
HIS-387 Modern Cuba 3 credits
A study of Cuba from the colonial period to the present. Topics will include Cuba's emergence as the most important sugar economies of the nineteenth century, the slave-led revolutionary emancipation movements, Cuban nationalism and ideology as expressed by Jose Marti confrontations with the U.S., and the 1959 Revolution and its aftermath.
HIS-388 Comparative Slavery in the Americas 3 credits
A historiographical examination of slavery in the Americas from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century in the greater Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States. Topics will include economic structures of slavery, race and ideology, African diasporic communities, slave resistance, and emancipation.
HIS-389 Latin American-U.S. Relations 3 credits
An examination of the political and economic relationship between Latin America and the United States from the 1820s to the present. Particular attention will be paid to representations of Latin America in the U.S., popular and political ideologies that shaped U.S. policies, as well as Latin American nationalistic and revolutionary responses.
HIS-399T Special Topics in History 1 - 3 credits
Topics not offered in the regular curriculum. See courses listed below.
HIS-399T.2 Tudor England 3 credits
This course will explore the various political, religious, and cultural changes which England experienced under the reign of the Tudor monarchs. Emphases will include domestic and international political conflicts, England's involvement in the European Reformation, and the rising importance of theater in English society during the sixteenth century.
HIS-399T.5 Modern Tibet 3 credits
The primary objective of this course is to provide an introduction to modern Tibetan history. While much of our attention will be focused on the political history of Tibet during the twentieth century, we will also spend a considerable amount of time examining the social and cultural dimensions of traditional Tibetan life. Over the course of the term, we will cover topics such as nomadic society, Tibetan religion, the Tibetan empire, the rule of Dalai Lamas, the Chinese administration of Tibet, and the Tibetan independence movement.
HIS-400 Seminar in Historical Methods 3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior standing
An introduction to select topics in the philosophy of history and historiography. Students will also prepare a major primary-source based research project. This examination will be designed to measure the full range of the history majors' knowledge and analytical skills.
HIS-480 Senior Thesis: historiography 2 credits
Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission
Students will research a major area of historical study and write a substantial evaluative essay on its historiography. The department must approve the topic.
HIS-481 Senior Honors Thesis: monograph 4 credits
Prerequisites: HIS-480
Students will research, write and present a scholarly paper on a topic of their choosing.
HIS-494 Independent Study 1 - 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
Reading or research in history as approved by the instructor. See independent study guidelines.
HIS-497 Internship 1 - 3 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
Individually arranged work designed to provide practical experience. An extended analysis of the experience is required and periodic reports may be assigned. See internship guidelines.
HIS-499T Special Topics in History 1 - 3 credits
See courses listed below.
HIS-499T.1 Research Seminar: Anglican Foreign Missions and the British Empire 2 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
This course will operate as an advanced-level research seminar. Students will work in primary sources, both printed and manuscript, to write and present short pieces of original research centering on the creation of religious and imperial ideologies of expansion, social transformation, race and rule in the British Empire, 1850-1920.
HIS-499T.2 Reading Seminar: Imperialism in Modern East Asia 2 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
This course will operate as an advanced-level readings seminar. Students will engage in intensive readings of some of the more influential secondary literature on imperialism in China, Japan, and Korea during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Students will be required to read at least one monograph each week and provide written and oral presentations on the readings.
HIS-499T.3 Reading Seminar: Society & Culture in Modern China 2 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
This course will operate as an advanced-level readings seminar. Students will read some of the more influential secondary literature on the social and cultural history of modern China. Students will be required to read at least one monograph each week and provide written and oral presentations on the readings.
HIS-499T.4 Reading Seminar: Society & Culture in Modern Japan 2 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
This course will operate as an advanced-level readings seminar. Students will read some of the more influential secondary literature on the social and cultural history of Japan from the Edo period through the early twentieth century. Students will be required to read at least one monograph each week and provide written and oral presentations on the readings.
HIS-499T.5 Reading Seminar: The Body in Chinese History 2 credits
Prerequisites: Permission
This course will operate as an advanced-level readings seminar. Students will engage in intensive readings of some of the more influential secondary literature on gender, medicine, and the body in Chinese history. Students will be required to read at least one monograph each week and provide written and oral presentations on the readings.