Courses in History
Foundation Courses
U.S. History
A HIS 100/100Z American Political & Social History I (3)
Survey of American history from early times to the Civil War, with emphasis on the development of political, constitutional, economic, social, and cultural institutions. Only one version of A HIS 100 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 101/101Z American Political & Social History II (3)
Survey of American history from the Civil War to the present, with emphasis on the development of political, constitutional, economic, social, and cultural institutions. Only one version of A HIS 101 may be taken for credit.
T HIS 199 Go-Getters and Deadbeats: Success and Failure in U.S. History (3)
It is a central assumption of American life that anyone can succeed through a
combination of hard work, skill, and a bit of luck. In this course, we will
investigate this belief from multiple social positions and cultural perspectives
and examine the broader issue of what success and failure reveals about the
nature of the American democratic experiment. We will use a wide range of
primary and secondary sources, including biographies, fiction, and film.
Prerequisite(s): for Honors College students only.
European History
A HIS 130/130Z History of European Civilization I (3)
Survey of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the West from its origins to the 18th century. Only one version of A HIS 130 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 131/131W/131Z History of European Civilization II (3)
Survey of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the West from the 18th century to the present. Only one version of A HIS 131 may be taken for credit
World History
A HIS 144 (formerly A HIS 140) Latin America Since the Aztecs (3)
This course will introduce students to the history of Latin America. Covering the great empires of the Aztec, Maya and Inca through the golden age of Spanish colonization to the present, this course will introduce students to the history of the culture, geography, society, politics, and economics of a region that is critical to the United States today. Only one of A LCS 100/100Z, A HIS 140/140Z, and A HIS 144 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 158/158Z The World in the 20th Century (3)
The course explores the tremendous social, political, cultural and economic changes that shaped the world in the 20th century. Course content will emphasize the increasing interdependence between societies and regions and the forces which shaped the lives of people around the globe. The course also examines how the challenges of the 21st century are products of the 20th. Only one version of A HIS 158 may be taken for credit.
T HIS 158/158Z The World in 20th Century (3)
T HIS 158/158Z is the Honors College version of A HIS 158; only one version may be taken for credit.
A HIS 170 (= A LCS 102) Introduction to Caribbean History (3)
An introduction to the history of culture contact in the Caribbean from the pre-Columbian Arawaks and Caribs, through the infusion of European and African cultures, to the emergence of the leadership of the United States in 1898. Special emphasis on the social and economic development of the plantation system, the intercontinental trade system, slavery, and the struggle for abolition and self-determination. Only one version of A HIS 170 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 177/177Z (= A EAS 177/177Z) East Asia: Its Culture and History (3-4)
An introduction to the history and cultures of East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), their major institutions and their religious and philosophical traditions from ancient times to the present. Only one version of A HIS 177 may be taken for credit.
History Methods Course
A HIS 395 The Historian's Craft: Methods (3)
This seminar is a methods course that prepares students to succeed as they transition from foundational to advanced coursework in the History Department. It will teach students how to ask appropriate research questions, collect evidence using the university's research tools, and choreograph that evidence to advance a persuasive argument. Prerequisite(s): history major, completed foundational work, and A HIS 489Z.
History of the United States
A HIS 201 History and Future (3)
The 21st century will pose major challenges: human-caused global warming, the peaking of fossil-fuel production, and technological unemployment. At the same time, the 21st century will likely see a continuation of rapid technological change, continued reduction in warfare and violence, and growth in freedom and lifestyle choices. This course explores ways that historians can apply their skills, methods, and insights to address these and other future social issues. Several questions will be investigated, including: How can historians be relevant to today's policy debates? How can historical thinking enhance citizenship? How can we apply historical methods and skills to analyze probably futures and create preferred futures? Prerequisite(s): 3 prior or concurrent credits in History.
A HIS 220/220Y Public Policy in Modern America (3)
This course focuses on the history of four major domestic policies: welfare, civil rights, economic policy, and health policy. Students assess the relevance of history to current political debates and analysis of public policy. Group workshops and debates will enable students to engage in active learning while grappling with these larger questions.
T HIS 220Y Public Policy in Modern America (3)
T HIS 220Y is the Honors College version of A HIS 220Y; only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 221 (= A JST 221) The American Jewish Experience (3)
A general overview of the American Jewish experience. Examines historical developments in such areas of American Jewish life as religious expression, political activity, education, demographics, socio-economics, and secular intellectual and cultural activity. Assesses the impact on American Jewry of immigration from Europe and elsewhere, and such pivotal events as World War I and II, the Holocaust, and the founding of the State of Israel. Addresses the relationship between diverse segments of American Jewry and between Jewish and non-Jewish Americans. Only one version of A HIS 221 may be taken for credit. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 224 (= A DOC 224) Nonfiction Media Storytelling (3)
This course explores the use of narrative in books, films, and other works intended to present factual content to the general public. Students will watch, read about, write about, and discuss a range of work, developing tools for analyzing and evaluating nonfiction media in terms of both content and craft. Only one version may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): restricted to Documentary Studies Program and History Department majors and minors. Others may be admitted space permitting, and with permission from the instructor. This class is recommended for students planning to take A DOC 412.
A HIS 225 (= A JST 225) American Cinema and the Jews (3)
An examination of the history of Hollywood and the Jewish relationship to the American motion picture industry. Investigates a representative sample of films and movies and explores the impact of the fictionalized landscape of the Jewish mind on American culture and values. Only one version of A HIS 225 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 227 (= A DOC 227) Civil Rights: A Documentary Approach (3)
This course looks at the intersection of history and media as it pertains to the American civil rights movement. Focusing on the landmark archival television series Eyes on the Prize and a range of primary and secondary sources (documents, films, music, and more), we will study not only the historical events depicted on screen but also the ways in which these events were documented, archived, and later shaped into public media. Only one version of A HIS 227 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 251/251Z (= A DOC 251/251Z) Introduction to Documentary Studies (3)
This course is divided into 3 major sections. First, we will ask “What is a documentary?” One of the most widely quoted definitions is that of John Grierson who suggests that documentary is the “the creative treatment of actuality.” We will explore that definition, and others, as we lay the groundwork to examine the social, cultural, legal, and ethical considerations inherent in all documentary production. We will then look at specific documentary forms, their history, best examples, notable characteristics, and key practitioners. Finally we will look at some of the major themes in documentary work across forms and genres — in print, photography, film/video, audio, and hypermedia/multimedia. We will also consider how technological innovation has shaped the work of the documentarian over time. As the gateway course for the Documentary Studies major and minor, this course is not only about understanding what others have done in both the recent and distant past, but developing a foundation for future work in the major and minor. Those enrolled in A HIS 251 are expected to bring an historical perspective to their work in the course.
A HIS 259/259X (= A WSS 260/260X) History of Women and Social Change (3)
With an emphasis on the diversity of U.S. women, this course examines the social, historical, and economic forces that have shaped U.S. women’s lives from about 1800-1970 and the contexts within which women have participated in and sometimes led social and political movements. Only one version of A HIS 259 may be taken for credit.
T HIS 259/259X (= T WSS 260/260X) History of Women and Social Change (3)
T HIS 259 is the Honors College version of A HIS 259; only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 261 Getting to Know Albany (3)
Students at the University at Albany have daily contact with the city of Albany, but often know little about it. They drive its streets but don't really see what is there, nor do they learn much about its history. The purpose of this course is to remedy that shortcoming. The course will introduce students to Albany, its history, its architecture, and its neighborhoods. This will be done through class lectures and discussion, reconstruction of the city's past through slides that depict old Albany and walking tours that will expose students to Albany's historic neighborhoods, parks, churches, synagogues, and monumental public buildings. This will include the New York State Capitol (the most costly building in all of 19th century America) and the Empire State Plaza (the most costly, complex of buildings in all of 20th century America). The course will also pay attention to the University of Albany, past and present. It will include examination of previous campuses (there were three), and today's campus, designed by E.D. Stone. Walking tours of the campus will include the imposing and architecturally important complex of buildings that runs along Fuller Road, engines of high-tech growth in upstate New York. Only one version of A HIS 261 may be taken for credit. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 266 (= A JST 256 & A REL 256) World Jewry Since the Holocaust (3)
Examines the historical, cultural, societal, and demographic changes in world Jewry since the Holocaust. Investigates the decline of European Jewish communities and the development of the United States and Israel as postwar centers of modern Jewish life. Only one version of A HIS 266 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 276 Technology and Society in America (3)
This course outlines the relationship between technological innovation and social change in the United States from the 17th century to the present. Major questions include: How has technology shaped the contours of American history? Does technology drive history, or does society shape technology? What are the ethical or moral dimensions of technological change? What political controversies or economic conflicts have arisen with the introduction of new technologies? Prerequisite(s): 3 prior or concurrent credits in history.
A HIS 277 Culture and History of Food in the United States (3)
Central to American political, economic, scientific, and social developments, food offers a unique way to trace the history of the nation. Students in this course will investigate changes in techniques and technologies of food and agriculture, analyze policies used to govern foods, and evaluate the ways in which social communities and values have shaped these changes. More largely, students will learn to recognize and examine the causes and consequences of individual and state decisions about food on the economy, ecology, culture, and politics of the United States and the world.
T HIS 277 Culture and History of Food in the United States (3)
T HIS 277 is the Honors College version of A HIS 277; only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 290 Topics in American History (3)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies.
A HIS 292 Trials in United States History (3)
This course examines various historic Anglo-American criminal trials. To introduce the discipline of history, trials are explored in their legal and social settings so students can learn the purposes of trials in past cultures. Course topics can include insanity defense, free speech, racism, press coverage, honor, and gender relations.
T HIS 292 Trials in United States History (3)
T HIS 292 is the Honors College version of A HIS 292; only one version may be taken for credit. Open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 294Y (= A DOC 294Y) Field Research in Oral and Visual History: The Hudson River Region (3)
Utilizing the Hudson River region as our laboratory, from the river's source in the Adirondacks to Manhattan Island in the south, this course is intended to be both a theoretical and practical introduction to the use of oral and video history in documentary and historical field research. As a course, it covers a wide territory — from the gathering of oral/video interviews to explorations of how to utilize them in theatrical plays, radio programs, films, and television documentaries. From in-class discussions of memory, historical distortion, and interview theory, to technical instruction on the use of audio, video, and transcribing equipment, the course is designed to teach students critical and practical skills and to demonstrate the potential of this important research and presentation methodology - and to do it utilizing the communities and vast resources of the Hudson River corridor. A major component of the course will be student-initiated and led interviews with individuals from a variety of walks of life who live along the shores, or work on, the Hudson River. [Please note that in future years, the "Field Research in Oral and Visual History" course will vary in its regional focus]. Only one version of A HIS 294Y may be taken for credit.
A HIS 295/295Z (= R POS 295/295Z) The Supreme Court and American Constitutional History (3)
This course treats the history of the Constitution through an examination of many of the major arguments made about it before the Supreme Court of the United States. This course allows us to understand the critical role counsel has made in shaping arguments before the Court, the way in which litigants representing competing social demands have pushed the envelope of American constitutionalism, and the means by which the Court's agenda (and American constitutional history) has changed in response to those arguments and the underlying social circumstances that have informed them during the previous two centuries. Only one version of A HIS 295 may be taken for credit. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
T HIS 295 (= R POS 295) The Supreme Court and American Constitutional History (3)
T HIS 295 is the Honors College version of A HIS 295; only one may be taken for credit.
A HIS 300 The History of American Indians and the United States (3)
A detailed survey of the history of the North American Indians, particularly those now within the territory of the United States, as communities and nations, from the period of first contact to the present. Only one version of A HIS 300 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A HIS 100.
A HIS 303Z American Architecture and the Western Tradition (4)
The various styles of American architecture will be examined in connection with their European antecedents, from Colonial times to the present. One theme of the course will be how styles derived from Europe-Gothic Revival, Romanesque Revival, and so on, take on distinctive American characteristics. Another theme will be the connection between 19th century historicist architecture and the pioneers of modern architecture such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Particular importance will be given to the architecture of Albany, Troy, and Schenectady. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 305/305Z Colonial America to 1763 (3-4)
Survey of major aspects and events in the colonial period, with particular emphasis on the growth of uniquely American culture and institutions. Only one version of A HIS 305 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 306/306Z The Era of the American Revolution, 1763–1815 (3-4)
Detailed survey of the American Revolution, the making of the Constitution, and the historic experiment in federal-republicanism; the clash of ideas and interests on the rapidly changing domestic and foreign scenes; the search for unity in the new nation. Only one version of A HIS 306 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 307/307Z Nationalism and Reform, 1815–1848 (3-4)
Survey of the growth of nationalism, the emergence of a reform impulse, the age of individualism and egalitarianism, the development of the second American party system, and technological, cultural, and social change. Only one version of A HIS 307 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 308/308Z Division and Reunion, 1848–1877 (3-4)
Causes of the American Civil War, the war on military and civilian fronts, and Reconstruction and its aftermath. Only one version of A HIS 308 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 309/309Z The Gilded Age, 1877–1900 (3-4)
Detailed survey of the complexity and diversity of the period, emphasizing the impact of industrialization, urbanization, and mass immigration upon politics, diplomacy, agriculture, labor, religion, and thought. Only one version of A HIS 309 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 310/310Z History of Women in the United States (3-4)
A survey of women in the United States from the 17th century to the present, emphasizing women’s changing social, economic, and political positions. Topics will include: work, politics and reform movements, education, sexuality, and family life. This course will also consider how race and ethnicity, region, class, and gender have shaped women’s experience in diverse ways. Only one version of A HIS 310 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 311/311Z History of American Foreign Policy I (3-4)
Historical survey of United States relations with other countries emphasizing the interplay of domestic and international issues and covering the period from the American Revolution to 1920. Only one version of A HIS 311 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 312/312Z History of American Foreign Policy II (3-4)
Historical survey of United States relations with other countries emphasizing the interplay of domestic and international issues and covering the period from 1920 to the present. Only one version of A HIS 312 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 313/313Z Constitutional History of the United States (3-4)
Survey and analysis of the impact of the federal Constitution with its changing interpretations on the political, social, and economic life of the nation. Special emphasis is given to the role of the President and of the Supreme Court in effecting constitutional change. Only one version of A HIS 313 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 314/314Z The Progressive Generation, 1900–1932 (3-4)
Intensive examination of society and politics in the United States in an age of reform and reaction. Special emphasis on important personalities, such as Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Herbert Hoover; also consideration of major themes, such as progressivism, World War I, and the business civilization of the 1920s. Only one version of A HIS 314 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 315/315Z Roosevelt to Reagan, 1933–1988 (3-4)
Intensive examination of United States political history from the Great Depression to the 1980’s. Special emphasis on the welfare state, the Cold War, the President and Congress, and the relationship between citizens, public policy, and the political process. Only one version of A HIS 315 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 316/316Z Workers and Work in America, 1600–Present (3-4)
A survey of the transformation of work and workers in America from the years of the first white settlement to the present. Topics will include: indentured servants; artisan work and culture; household production and the revolutionizing role of merchant capitalism; slave labor; industrialization; race, gender, ethnicity and the segmentation of work and workers; the rise of the labor movement; labor radicalism. Only one version of A HIS 316 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 317/317Z History of the American City to 1860 (3-4)
Chronological and topical survey of the American urban scene, with emphasis on the causes and consequences of urban growth, the similarities and differences among various cities, and the attempts to fulfill the needs of an urban environment. This session begins in the colonial period and traces development to the second half of the 19th century. Only one version of A HIS 317 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 318/318Z History of the American City Since 1860 (3-4)
Chronological and topical survey of the American urban scene, with emphasis on the causes and consequences of urban growth, the similarities and differences among various cities, and the attempts to fulfill the needs of an urban environment. This session examines the urban scene from the late 19th century to the present. Only one version of A HIS 318 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 320/320Z The United States in Vietnam - 1965 to 1973 (3-4)
In the years from 1965 to 1973, the United States fought a long, cruel war in Vietnam. This conflict would not only cost 58,000 American live but also tear apart the fabric of American society. Deep wounds, both physical and psychological, were inflicted not only on the American combatants in the war but also on the American people in general. The psychic scars caused by this national trauma are yet to heal and will be with us as a nation into the foreseeable future. This course will examine three essential issues (1) how we got into this most unpopular war? (2) the conduct of the war itself? (3) how the United States finally extricated itself from this foreign policy disaster? Only one version of A HIS 320 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 324/324Z Religion in American Life and Thought (3-4)
The development of religious thought and institutions in this country from colonial Puritanism and Anglicanism to the pluralistic religious/secular American society of today. Emphasis on the relationships among religious thought, religious institutions, and society. Only one version of A HIS 324 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 325/325Z The Quest for Equality in United States History (3-4)
Examination of social and political movements seeking a more egalitarian social order, including abolitionism, communitarianism, trade unionism, populism, anarchism, socialism, racial egalitarianism, and feminism. Only one version of A HIS 325 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 327/327Z The Roles of Law in American History (3)
This course explores law in the American social and political context, focusing on the use of law by various groups in the American past for different purposes. It is composed of topical units in which students read mostly primary materials (cases, laws, and treatises), as well as monographs, and meet to discuss them. Only one version of A HIS 327 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 328/328Z Lawyers in American Life, 1607-Present (3)
This course examines the legal profession, showing how law, through lawyers, has operated in American history. It is interdisciplinary in focus and utilizes a multimedia methodology. Topics to be covered will include: legal education, lawyers as heroes, lawyers as reformers and radicals, development of the business of lawyering, and emergence of women and minority lawyers. Only one version of A HIS 328 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 329/329Z American Environmental History (3-4)
This course examines the changing relationship between North Americans and nature from precolonial times to the present. It explores the ways in which environmental factors (e.g. disease, animals) have shaped human history, delineates the effects of human actions on the environment, and traces changing ideas and attitudes towards nature over time. Only one version of A HIS 329 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 330 (= A DOC 330) Foundations of Documentary Web/Hypermedia Production (3)
Web-based or digital multimedia documentaries utilize a variety of hypermedia digital elements to construct compelling, interactive, linear and nonlinear "stories" on nonfiction topics. This course will cover the fundamentals of web site and digital multimedia composition through assigned short projects. When A DOC 330 is taught cross-listed with A HIS 330, the content focus will be history. Prerequisite(s) restricted to Documentary Studies and History majors and minors; all others with permission of instructor. Recommended for students planning to take A DOC/A HIS 407.
A HIS 331/331Z Capitalism in America (3-4)
This course examines the history of capitalism in America from multiple social positions and cultural perspectives, and investigates the relationship between capitalism and the American democratic experiment. We will use a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including biographies, fiction, and film. Only one version of A HIS 331 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 332/332Z Introduction to Public History in the United States (3-4)
This course is aimed at students considering public history careers and it introduces students to the craft of public history. We will examine the relationship between public history, American culture, and popular memory. The ultimate aim of this course is to help you to understand what public historians do and inspire you to become imaginative and effective public historians in the future. Only one version of A HIS 332 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): 3 prior or concurrent credits in History.
A HIS 333/333Z American Identity Since the Civil War (3-4)
This course traces how Americans since the Civil War have answered the question "Who is an American?" Students will study how American politics, popular culture, immigration policies, freedom and rights movements, and foreign affairs have shaped American nationalism and the idea of an American nation. Only one version of A HIS 333 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 334 (= A DOC 323) Foundations of Documentary Filmmaking (3)
This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of researching, planning, shooting and editing digital video documentaries. When A DOC 323 is taught cross-listed with A HIS 334, the content focus will be history. Restricted to History and Documentary Studies majors and minors; all others by permission of instructor. Recommended for students planning to take A HIS or A DOC 406.
A HIS 335 (= A DOC 335; formerly A HIS/A DOC 405) History and Theory of the Documentary Film (3)
This course will introduce students to the history, theory, and aesthetics of documentary filmmaking. Beginning with a review and analysis of the general history of the documentary film genre and the varieties of approaches adopted by non-fiction filmmakers, we will begin to systematically unravel the various elements that contribute to the creation of informative, moving, and powerful documentary films – with special emphasis on historically-focused films. We’ll look at the various modes or styles that have evolved in the course of the genre’s development and the various techniques documentarians have utilized to effectively communicate historical ideas in cinematic form. Only one version of A HIS 335 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 356/356Z The World at War, 1939–1945 (3-4)
A comprehensive history of the Second World War. Topics covered include the rise of fascism and the origins of the war; the campaigns on land, at sea, and in the air in the European, Pacific, and North African theaters of war; the pervasiveness of racism; the Holocaust and other atrocities; and the costs and legacies of the war. Only one version of A HIS 356 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 376/376Z (= A DOC 376/376Z) A Cultural History of American Photography (3-4)
This course is a survey of the history of photography from 1839 until the present, presenting photographs as representative intellectual statements defining and illustrating major movements in American thought and culture. By looking at photographs, reading photographic and aesthetic theory, and drawing parallels from American painting, literature, architecture, and other informational and expressive media, the class will demonstrate the ideas and issues underlying American Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, and Post-Modernism. Because photographs are tangible, accessible, and have been upheld as an archetypal medium by each of these intellectual movements, the history of photography offers an ideal introduction to abstract ideas and broad intellectual themes. The course will provide students with extensive experience analyzing cultural documents and help them begin to explore underlying theoretical issues in photography. Only one version of A HIS 376 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 390/390Z Advanced Topics in American History (1-4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor, junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 394 (= A DOC 394) Workshop in Oral History (3)
This course offers a broad introduction to the history, theory, and practice of oral history, including the use of oral history in historical research, documentary production, and public history projects. Only one version of A HIS 394 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing or permission of instructor.
A HIS 401 History of American Documentary Media (3)
This course surveys a wide variety of American documentary forms, identifying genres as they evolved from the 18th through the 21st centuries – from the epic and ballad forms, through documentary writing, graphic images, photography, film, audio/radio, television, and most recently, hypermedia.
A HIS 404 (= A DOC 404) Readings and Practicum in Aural History and Audio Documentary Production (4)
This course introduces students to (1) the historical study of sound, soundscapes, and sound recordings, (2) aural history composition techniques (especially radio documentaries and features, but also aural essays and museum audio installations), and (3) audio delivery technologies to communicate historical ideas to broad audiences. It includes coverage of textual and archival audio source research, 20th and 21st century historical radio documentary work, analysis of audio documentary forms and non-fiction storytelling techniques, scriptwriting, technical instruction in the art of audio recording and post-production editing and mixing, discussion of audio preservation and restoration techniques, and an introduction to traditional and modern technologies for the transmission and dissemination of documentary and related audio work. Only one version of A HIS 404 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
A HIS 406 (= A DOC 406) Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking (4)
This course is a hands-on workshop in historical documentary filmmaking. It will introduce students to the all aspects of historical documentary production—from pre-production planning, research, and writing, to production (filming/videotaping interviews, recording voiceover narration, lighting, filming reenactments), and finally, post-production (editing and mixing actualities, music, narration, interviews, still photographs). The course, in short, is designed to teach students practical, technical skills and is a perfect follow-up to A HIS 335, which examines the history and theory of documentary filmmaking. Only one version of A HIS 406 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
A HIS 407 (= A DOC 407) Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia (4)
This course introduces students to the practice of history in the digital age. The emergence of the World Wide Web has opened up new avenues for researching, analyzing, and presenting the past–but has also raised new questions about producing quality historical scholarship in this open environment. This course will work on two fronts, looking first at the current state of the field of “digital history,” from issues of narrative and hypertext theory to some of the best (and worst) practices of current historical websites. At the same time, as a central component of the course, students will work in collaboration to build their own well-researched and historically sound web projects. Only one version of A HIS 407 may be taken for credit. Previous experience with building websites is welcomed but not required. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
A HIS 424/424Z American Intellectual & Cultural History to 1860 (4)
Key ideas and significant patterns of thought in American life: Puritanism, the American Enlightenment, nationalism, transcendentalism, democracy, and reform. Only one version of A HIS 424 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 425/425Z American Intellectual History Since 1860 (4)
Key ideas and significant patterns of thought in American life: the impact of economic expansion, Darwinian evolution, pragmatism, war and changing ideologies of liberalism, progressivism, and conservatism. Only one version of A HIS 425 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
Colloquia, Independent Study, and Projects in United States History
The following colloquia are limited to undergraduate students and may be taken only with the permission of the instructor. Specific topics to be examined in the colloquia will be announced at the time the courses are offered, and students may obtain a list of topics from the Department of History at the time of advance registration. Colloquia may be repeated for credit.
A HIS 478Z Colloquium in U.S. History, 19th Century (4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 479Z Colloquium in U.S. History, 20th Century (4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 480/480Z Colloquium in U.S. History: Topics (3-4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 485/485Z Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History (3-4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 492 Undergraduate Group and Individual Research Project (4)
This course is for both History and Documentary Studies majors and minors interested in pursuing a fieldwork/archival research project culminating in 1) a media documentary on a topic that interests them or 2) a research paper based on extensive and intensive primary source research. History students taking the course must select historical projects; Documentary Studies students, for whom this course is a required core course, may select either historical or contemporary topics. Students are expected to complete a substantial research-based documentary project in any one of the following forms: audio, video, hypermedia, still photography (with an "exhibit catalog"), or text. Students will work with the course instructor as well as appropriate on-campus experts; they will receive feedback, as well, from fellow students enrolled in the course. Team projects may also be undertaken, so long as individual responsibilities of participating students are clearly identified. Discussions of selected readings in history and media, media ethics, documentary and contemporary issues, and production techniques will complement the discussions of individual projects. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.
A HIS 497 Independent Study in History (2-4)
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in history, or mentored historical research and writing. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and director of undergraduate studies, junior, or senior standing, or 3 credits in history. S/U graded.
A HIS 498 Honors' Independent Research and Writing (4)
For description, see listing in History Honors Program. S/U graded.
A HIS 499 Special Projects in History (1-3)
Supervised work on projects in coordination with local museums and historical agencies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and department chair. S/U graded.
European History
T HIS 226 (3) Historical Fiction
Historians and fiction writers seldom bring their two disciplines together to determine how they can complement each other. This course will combine history's commitment to the raw material of the past with the fiction writer's skill in shaping a compelling narrative in order to determine how to write about the past in a more convincing manner and how to gather essential facts from past events. Prerequisite(s): open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 235/235Z Early and Medieval Christianity (3)
Survey of the intellectual, ritual, and institutional development of Christianity from the apostles to the later Middle Ages. Only one version of A HIS 235 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 244 (= A JST 244 & A HEB 244) Zionism, Palestine, and Israel in Historical Perspective (3)
A study of 19th century Jewish and European history resulting in the formation of Jewish nationalism. Covers the development of various Zionist ideologies and organizations as well as their challengers within and outside the Jewish community. Examines the history of settlement in Palestine, the founding of the state of Israel, and the country’s subsequent development. Only one version of A HIS 244 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 250 (= A JST 250) The Holocaust in History (3)
Begins with an overview of European Jewish life on the eve of the attempt at its destruction, examines the cultural, social, and intellectual roots of Nazism, and discusses the efforts to isolate and marginalize those marked as “a-socials” in German society. Explores the radicalization of the Nazi program and investigates the variety of ways targeted groups responded to the crisis. Covers a number of survivor accounts and the memorialization and politicization of the Nazi Holocaust in the United States and Israel. Only one version of A HIS 250 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 253 (= A JST 253 & A REL 253) Medieval Jews Among Muslims and Christians (3)
Explores the course of Jewish history from the development of Christianity until the Chmielnicki uprising of 1648. Investigates the experience of Jews between and within the major religious and cultural systems that dominated medieval Europe, Islam and Christianity. The course charts the history of Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewry, noting the important social, religious, cultural, and political characteristics of each community, as well as their interaction with two great world civilizations. Only one version of A HIS 253 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 254 (= A JST 254 & A REL 254) The Jews in the Modern World (3)
Beginning with the end of the late Middle Ages and the emergence of the Enlightenment, this class explores how Jewish communities responded to the demands of an ever-expanding modern world. Examines the ways in which Jews and Jewish communities sought to create modern expressions of Judaism and the response of rabbinic Judaism to these challenges. Explores the rise of Hasidism, the aims of “Enlightened” Jewry, nationalism, the creation of secular Jewish cultures, the World Wars, modern antisemitism and the Nazi Holocaust, and the emergence of new Jewish centers in the United States and Israel. Only one version of A HIS 254 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 256 Women in European History (3)
Survey of the role and position of women in European society from antiquity to the present, concentrating on social, economic, political, and intellectual aspects of women’s lives and on cultural attitudes and ideologies concerning women.
A HIS 263 Art, Music, and History: A Multimedia Approach I (3)
Survey of Western art and music from the Middle Ages to about 1750. Art and music will be used to illuminate history, and history will be used to further an understanding of art and music.
A HIS 264 Art, Music, and History: A Multimedia Approach II (3)
Survey of Western art and music from about 1750 to the present. Art and music will be used to illuminate history, and history will be used to further an understanding of art and music.
A HIS 288 Topics in European History (3)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies.
A HIS 298/298Z Crime and Society in Early Modern England (3)
This is a “hands-on” course. After some reading, students will study [online] the records of The Old Bailey 1750-1945, London’s principal criminal court. They will gather and analyze the record of all those crimes the citizenry were accused of, and the punishments they received, and answer this question: Is there any evidence that industrial [modern] society inaugurated a new criminal regime in order to discipline and punish an emergent proletarian class. We will attempt to determine why and how those in power defined crime and were prosecuted those found guilty. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 336 History of the Early Middle Ages (3)
The history of Western Europe during the early Middle Ages, from ca. 500 to ca. 1050, in all major aspects. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 337/337Z The High Middle Ages (3-4)
The history of Western Europe during the High Middle Ages, ca. 1050 to ca. 1300, in all major aspects. Only one version of A HIS 337 may be taken for credit. Prerequisites(s) junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 338/338Z The Italian Renaissance, 1300–1530 (3-4)
Detailed study of Italian Renaissance culture and society up to about 1530 with special emphasis on humanism and other cultural developments. Only one version of A HIS 338 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 339/339Z Renaissance and Reformation in 16th Century Europe (3-4)
Survey of continental European history in the early modern period with special emphasis on theological and intellectual developments. Only one version of A HIS 339 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 340/340Z The French Revolution and Napoleon (3-4)
A study of the French Revolution, its causes and aftermath in the Napoleonic period. Attention will be given to the social, political and cultural forces from the late 18th century to 1815 as they relate to the French Revolution. Only one version of A HIS 340 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 342/342Z Europe in the Age of Romanticism and Revolution (3-4)
European history in the era between the final defeat of Napoleon and the revolutions of 1848-1849. Emphasis on the political struggle between the forces of conservatism and liberalism, the economic and social changes triggered by industrialization, and the shifts of consciousness and perspective brought on by Romanticism and socialism. Only one version of A HIS 342 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 343/343Z Europe, 1848-1914 (3-4)
Europe in the era of its greatest power and influence; focus on consolidation of the nation state, domestic social conflicts, imperialist expansion, and the origins of World War I. Only one version of A HIS 343 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 344/344Z Europe, 1914-1945 (3-4)
European history during the era of the two World Wars. The origins and course of the First World War; its political, social, and cultural effects on European life throughout the period; the political and economic crises of the interwar period; the rise of fascist and totalitarian regimes and the crisis of liberal democracy; the origins and course of the Second World War and the Holocaust. Only one version of A HIS 344 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing, or 3 credits in history.
A HIS 345/345Z Europe Since World War II (3-4)
The impact of World War II and the Cold War. Current social, economic, political and security problems. Only one version of A HIS 345 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 346/346Z History of England I (3-4)
The historical development of English society and government from early times to the 17th century. Only one version of A HIS 346 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 347/347Z History of England II (3-4)
The history of the United Kingdom and of the British Empire and Commonwealth from the 17th century to the present. Only one version of A HIS 347 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 349/349Z History of France Since 1815 (3-4)
A survey of the history of France from 1815 to the Fifth Republic, with attention to the political, social, economic, and cultural developments within France during this period. Only one version of A HIS 349 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 350/350Z Iberia and Latin America to 1810 (3-4)
Iberian backgrounds; the age of exploration and discovery; the conquest and settlement of America by the Spanish and the Portuguese; Iberia and America in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Only one version of A HIS 350 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 351/351Z History of Germany (3-4)
Germany since 1806. The wars of national liberation; Bismarck, unification, and the Wilhelminian Reich; World War l; the Weimar Republic; the Third Reich and totalitarianism; the German Federal and German Democratic Republics, post-1990 unity. Only one version of A HIS 351 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 352/352Z History of Eastern Europe I (3-4)
The history, culture, and contemporary affairs of the people of the Baltic, Danubian, and Balkan regions from earliest times to the early 19th century. Only one version of A HIS 352 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 353/353Z History of Eastern Europe II (3-4)
The history, culture, and contemporary affairs of the people of the Baltic, Danubian, and Balkan regions from the early 19th century to the present. Only one version of A HIS 353 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 354/354Z History of Russia I (3-4)
The evolution of Russia from Kievan origins, Tatar conquests and emergence of Muscovy to the development of the Russian Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries. Only one version of A HIS 354 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 355/355Z History of Russia II (3-4)
Russia from the emancipation of the serfs to the present, including the Revolutions of 1905 and 1917 and the foundations, development and expansion of the Soviet Union. Only one version of A HIS 355 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 356/356Z The World at War, 1939–1945 (3-4)
A political, diplomatic, military, economic, and social history of the Second World War. Among the topics covered will be war and peace plans, the military campaigns in the European, Pacific, and North African theaters of war, the plight of conquered nations, the concentration camps, and the war crimes trials. Only one version of A HIS 356 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 360 (= A JST 360) Bearing Witness: Holocaust Diaries and Memoirs (3)
A study in diaries, autobiographies, and memoirs of Jews written during and after the Nazi Holocaust. Considers the complex historical questions raised by such works, including: What can be learned about the Holocaust through autobiographical writing? To what extent were the authors aware of the scope of the attacks on European Jewry beyond their own immediate experience? What responses were available to Jews during this period? How did the authors make sense of their experiences? What are the merits and limits of autobiographical writing as a historical resource? How do accounts of the period change as authors' chronological proximity to the events increases? In what ways are memoirs of the Holocaust shaped by the events occurring at the time in which they written?
A HIS 365/365Z War, Society, and Culture to 1789 (3-4)
The history of war in the West in its widest social and cultural context, treating equally the profound effects of warfare upon the societies that wage it, and the many ways that particular societies and cultures affect the nature of the wars they wage. Topics include: the origins and nature of organized violence in prehistory; warfare and society in ancient Greece and Rome; the practices and values of war during the Middle Ages; the "military revolution" of the early modern period; and the origins of the profound transformation of war that culminated in the West during the Revolutionary period of the late 18th century. Only one version of A HIS 365 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing, or 3 credits in history.
A HIS 366/366Z War, Society, and Culture since 1789 (3-4)
The history of war in the West in its widest social and cultural context, treating equally the profound effects of warfare upon the societies that wage it, and the many ways that particular societies and cultures affect the nature of the wars they wage. Topics include: the transformation of war in Europe by the French Revolution and Napoleon; the nature and effects of European colonial wars and decolonization; the origins and development of total war in the 19th and 20th centuries; the military, political, social, and cultural histories of the two world wars; women, gender, and war; atrocity, war crimes, and the laws of war; the history of post-traumatic stress disorder; soldier and civilian experiences of modern war; nuclear war; and terrorism. Only one version of A HIS 366 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing, or 3 credits in history.
A HIS 368 (= A JST 357) Western European Jewry in Modern Times (3)
A detailed examination of Jewish history in West and Central Europe that highlights the transformation and politicization of Jewish life in the modern era until World War II. Examines the denominalization of Judaism; the Jewish Enlightenment and its opponents; the campaigns for and against emancipation; the role of Jews in European culture, politics, and industry; and the rise of modern antisemitism.
A HIS 391/391Z Advanced Topics in European History (1–4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor; junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 416Z European Economic History (4)
The history of capitalism in Europe from the reintroduction of money in circulation to the post-1970 crisis. Readings and discussions will focus upon industrialization, managerialism, labor agitation, political economy, and the economics of war. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 454/454Z The Diplomacy of National Power, 1815–1890 (3-4)
Great power relations from the post-Napoleonic search for stability through concert to the victory of nationalism in Italy and Germany and the rise and fall of the Bismarckian alliance system. Only one version of A HIS 454 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 455/455Z The Diplomacy of Global Conflict, 1890–1945 (3-4)
Great power relations during the era of the two World Wars, emphasizing underlying forces and rivalries that led to war and attempts to defuse tensions and prevent aggression. Only one version of A HIS 455 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 456/456Z The Diplomacy of the Nuclear Age (3-4)
History of international relations since World War II, with emphases on the Cold War and its global impact; the collapse of the Soviet Union and manifestations of American unilateralism; arms control and nuclear proliferation; the end of colonialism and its consequences; ethnic conflicts and terrorism; European economic integration and its problems; the resurgence of Russia; and the rise of China as a global superpower. Only one version of A HIS 456 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 460/460Z History of Nationalism (3-4)
The nature and development of nationalism; a study of the meaning of nationalism, nationalist theorists, nationalist leaders, and nationalist movements from the 18th century to the present. Only one version of A HIS 460 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 463/463Z The Byzantine Empire, 300–1453 (3-4)
Survey of the socioeconomic, ethnic, political, religious, intellectual, and artistic history of Byzantine civilization from late antiquity to the 15th century. Only one version of A HIS 463 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
Colloquia and Independent Study in European History
The following colloquia are limited to undergraduate students and may be taken only with the permission of the instructor. Specific topics to be examined in the colloquia will be announced at the time the courses are offered, and students may obtain a list of topics from the Department of History at the time of advance registration. Colloquia may be repeated for credit.
A HIS 481Z Colloquium in European History (4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 483Z Colloquium in Russian and East European History (4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 485/485Z Colloquium in Comparative and Cross-Cultural History (3-4) May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 497 Independent Study in History (2–4)
For description, see listing in Concentration in U.S. History. S/U graded.
A HIS 498 Honors' Independent Research and Writing (4)
For description, see listing in History Honors Program. S/U graded.
World History
T HIS 226 Historical Fiction (3)
Historians and fiction writers seldom bring their two disciplines together to determine how they can complement each other. This course will combine history's commitment to the raw material of the past with the fiction writer's skill in shaping a compelling narrative in order to determine how to write about the past in a more convincing manner and how to gather essential facts from past events. Prerequisite(s): open to Honors College students only.
A HIS 244 (= A JST 244 & A HEB 244) Zionism, Palestine, and Israel in Historical Perspective (3)
A study of 19th century Jewish and European history resulting in the formation of Jewish nationalism. Covers the development of various Zionist ideologies and organizations as well as their challengers within and outside the Jewish community. Examines the history of settlement in Palestine, the founding of the state of Israel, and the country’s subsequent development. Only one version of A HIS 244 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 252 (= A JST 251) Early Israel and Biblical Civilization (3)
The history and culture of ancient Israel from its beginnings to the Persian Empire. A survey of the Hebrew Bible (in English) as the major source for the study of early Judaic religious and social forms in the context of the Near East. Only one version of A HIS 252 may be taken for credit. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 253 (= A JST 253 & A REL 253) Medieval Jews Among Muslims and Christians (3)
Explores the course of Jewish history from the development of Christianity until the Chmielnicki uprising of 1648. Investigates the experience of Jews between and within the major religious and cultural systems that dominated medieval Europe, Islam and Christianity. The course charts the history of Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewry, noting the important social, religious, cultural, and political characteristics of each community, as well as their interaction with two great world civilizations. Only one version of A HIS 253 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 260 (= A EAS 260) China in Revolution (3)
This course examines China’s four great 20th century revolutions: the 1911 Revolution, the 1949 Communist Revolution, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, and the reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Topics include authority and dissent, constituency mobilization, the relationship between urban and rural regions, and the changing nature of ideology in China. Only one version of A HIS 260 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 266 (= A JST 256 & A REL 256) World Jewry Since the Holocaust (3)
Examines the historical, cultural, societal, and demographic changes in world Jewry since the Holocaust. Investigates the decline of European Jewish communities and the development of the United States and Israel as postwar centers of modern Jewish life. Only one version of A HIS 266 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 268 Introduction to Southeast Asia (3)
Examines the events, people, and places significant to Southeast Asia's past. Topics may include: the rise of traditional states and religions, the role of trade in shaping society and the environment; the effects of colonial empires; transformations in conceptions of the body, the relationship between gender and modernity; the origins of nationalism, communism, and revolution the transformations wrought by World War II and the Cold War; the experience of genocide and terror; and the tensions between democracy and authoritarian rule.
A HIS 275 (= A JST 275) Antisemitism: Historical Exploration & Contemporary Challenges (3)
Explores pre-modern forms of anti-Jewish hatred, the manifestation of antisemitism in the modern period, and several of the current debates on antisemitism. Explores the instrumentalization of antisemitic hatred through several case studies and provides students with the means to assess critically both current antisemitic attacks and contemporary debates about antisemitism. Only one of A HIS 275 and A JST 275 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 278 (= A EAJ 278) Japanese Pop Culture from Edo to the Present (3)
This course introduces some of the forms of "popular culture" prevalent in Japan from 1600 until the present day, with a strong emphasis on the social, economic and intellectual forces behind these major trends. This course, organized chronologically, offers a look at the many historical developments connected with popular forms of music, theater, film and comics, including the rise of a new urban print culture in the 17th century, the introduction of "Western" art forms such as motion pictures and jazz music in the 1920s, and the steady expansion of both domestic and international markets for Japanese film, music and comics in the years since 1945. Conducted in English; no knowledge of Japanese is required. Only one version of A HIS 278 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 286 (= A AFS 286) African Civilizations (3)
Africa from prehistoric times to 1800 with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa, the development of indigenous states and their response to Western and Eastern contacts. Only one version of A HIS 286 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 287 (= A AFS 287) Africa in the Modern World (3)
Africa since 1800: exploration, the end of the slave trade, the development of interior states, European partition, the colonial period, and the rise of independent Africa. Only one version of A HIS 287 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 289 Topics in World History (3)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies.
A HIS 293 History of Women in the Americas (3)
An historical survey of the role of women in the United States, Canada, and Latin America from colonial times to the present with emphasis on social, intellectual, and political developments and feminist movements.
A HIS 297/297Z (= A REL 297/297Z) Religion and Society in History (3)
This course will focus on the role religion has played in societies from antiquity to the present. Our examination will include the anointed kings of ancient Israel, the idealized unity of emperor and patriarch in Byzantium, the universal claims of the Holy Roman Empire, the role of the prophet in Islam, the divinity of the Emperor in China and Japan, the conception of the monarchy in Western and Eastern Europe, the anti-religious rhetoric of European revolutions, the separation of church and state in contemporary secular societies, the current revival of fundamentalism, and the persistence of wars based on religion. Architecture, music, iconography, and rituals will be examined for the information they provide. Only one version of A HIS 297 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 350/350Z Iberia and Latin America to 1810 (3-4)
Iberian backgrounds; the age of exploration and discovery; the conquest and settlement of America by the Spanish and the Portuguese; Iberia and America in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Only one version of A HIS 350 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 356/356Z The World at War, 1939–1945 (3-4)
A political, diplomatic, military, economic, and social history of the Second World War. Among the topics covered will be war and peace plans, the military campaigns in the European, Pacific, and North African theaters of war, the plight of conquered nations, the concentration camps, and the war crimes trials. Only one version of A HIS 356 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 367/367Z Contemporary Latin America (3-4)
Survey of Latin American backgrounds followed by study of the social, economic, and political problems of Latin America since World War II. Particular attention to the phenomena of social change, economic nationalism, and revolution. Only one version of A HIS 367 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 369/369W (= A LCS 369) Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies Since 1810 (3-4)
The circum-Caribbean lands and islands in the 19th and 20th centuries; independence; independent nations and colonies; foreign intrusions and interventions; social and economic change; revolutions; comparative Caribbean studies. Only one version of A HIS 369 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 371/371Z (= A LCS 371/371Z) South America Since 1810 (3-4)
The political, economic, social, and cultural evolution of the South American nations from the winning of independence to the present, with emphasis on Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Among topics studied will be dictatorship, democratic government, economic change, modern revolution, and social trends. Only one version of A HIS 371 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 373/373Z (= A LCS 373/373Z) History of Modern Mexico (3-4)
An in-depth survey of Mexico since Independence, this course emphasizes agrarian change and peasant rebellion; foreign intervention and U.S.-Mexican relations; indigenous and mestizo identities; gender and culture; political stability and economic development; authoritarianism, democratization, and globalization; and Latinos in the U.S. Only one version of A HIS 373 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History or Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
A HIS 374 (= A EAC 374) Crime and Punishment in Traditional China (3)
This course will examine the distinctive understanding of crime and the law in China from the 7th to the 19th centuries. We will be particularly interested in theories of law during this period, the institutions of the imperial justice system, varieties of crime and punishment, and popular representations of the criminal justice system. Readings will include primary sources such as legal codes, case histories, and crime stories as well as secondary works on Chinese legal history. There are no prerequisites for this course, although some background in Chinese Studies will be helpful. Only one version of A HIS 374 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 375 (= A EAS 375) Japan-Korea Relations: 1592 to the Present (3)
This course explores Japan-Korea relations from the end of the 16th century to the present day. It proceeds chronologically to chart the evolving diplomatic relationship between the ruling families in Japan and Korea during the early modern period before then turning to examine Japan's colonial domination of Korea starting in the late 19th century and the postcolonial situation that has existed between Japan, North Korea, and South Korea since shortly after the end of World War II. Substantial attention will be placed on exploring issues of national identity, race, and imperialism as they relate to the interconnected histories of Japan and Korea as presented in this course. Only one version of A HIS 375 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A EAJ 170, A EAK 170, A HIS 177, or permission of instructor.
A HIS 378/378Z History of South Asian Civilization II (3-4)
Study of South Asia from the 18th century, with emphasis on changes brought about by British rule and by modernization; the creation of new nation states. Only one version of A HIS 378 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 379/379Z (= A EAC 379/379Z) History of Premodern China (3-4)
This course is a survey of China’s historical development from prehistory to the founding of the Ming Dynasty in the fourteenth century. We will concern ourselves especially with the transformation of Chinese social structure over time, the relations between the state and the social elite, and the relationship between China’s intellectual, political, and social histories. Only one version of A HIS 379 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian Studies or History.
A HIS 380/380Z (= A EAC 380/380Z) History of Modern China (3-4)
This course is a survey of China's history during the late imperial and modern periods. It begins with the founding of the Ming dynasty in the late 14th century and concludes with the present day. Of particular interest is the interplay of political, social, and intellectual history during this period. Only one version of A HIS 380 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian Studies or History.
A HIS 381/381Z History of the Middle East I (3-4)
Mohammed, Islam as a religion and a way of life; the Umayyad, Abbasid, Byzantine, and Persian empires, and the Ottoman Empire to 1789. Only one version of A HIS 381 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 382/382Z History of the Middle East II (3-4)
The Ottoman Empire in the 19th century; European imperialism in the Middle East; the rise of nationalism; the World Wars; current political, social, and economic problems. Only one version of A HIS 382 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 383/383Z The Arab-Israeli Conflict in Historical Perspective (3-4)
The background and history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Only one version of A HIS 383 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. May not be offered in 2017-2018.
A HIS 384/384Z (= A EAJ 384/384Z) History of Premodern Japan (3-4)
This course will cover Japanese history from prehistory through 1600. Focus will be on political and economic trends. Only one version of A HIS 384 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor.
A HIS 385/385Z (= A EAJ 385/385Z) History of Modern Japan (3-4)
This course is a survey of modern Japanese history. It covers the period from 1600 to the present day. The focus is on the interconnections between political, social, and intellectual history during Japan’s emergence as a world power. Only one version of A HIS 385 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian Studies or History.
A HIS 386/386Z (= A AFS 386/386Z) Race and Conflict in South Africa (3-4)
Study of the historical origins and development of racial conflict in South Africa with a concentration on economic, political, social and religious change in the 20th century. Topics will include: changing state structures and ideologies, the impact of industrialization, transformations of rural and urban life, African religious movements, political and religious connections with Black Americans, gender relations, and changing forms of popular resistance against white domination. Only one version of A HIS 386 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in Africana Studies or History.
A HIS 387/387Z (= A REL 387/387Z) Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture I (3-4)
Social, political, economic and religious dimensions of Islam from the time of Mohammed through the 18th century with emphasis on the intellectual, cultural, and educational institutions of the Middle East. Among topics discussed will be Sunnism–Shi’ism and the schools of law, social and economic infrastructure, science and education, and reasons for the waning of the Muslim world. Only one version of A HIS 387 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 388/388Z (= A REL 388/388Z) Islam in the Middle East: Religion and Culture II (3-4)
Social, political, economic and religious changes in the Middle East from the 18th century to Ayatollah Khomeini. Among the topics discussed will be the impact of the West on the Middle East, the role of oil in shaping the global economy, nationalist movements, the crisis in the Persian Gulf, and the rise of Islamic Revivalism. Only one version of A HIS 388 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 389/389Z Advanced Topics in Asian History (1-4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): at least one course in East Asian Studies or in Asian History, or permission of instructor.
A HIS 392/392Z Advanced Topics in Latin American History (1-4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor, junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 396/396Z Advanced Topics in the Middle East (1–4)
Specific topics to be examined will be announced during advance registration periods. May be repeated for credit when content varies. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
A HIS 436 (= A EAJ 436) Fascism: Japan and Beyond (3)
This course explores the idea of "fascism" as a framework to analyze society. Taking Japan as a point of departure, we will investigate "fascism" in relation to political economy, intellectual production, and mass culture primarily in the Axis powers in the first half of the 20th century. Particular attention will be devoted to the importance of cross-regional interactions in developing ideas of bureaucracy and national mobilization, race and ethnicity, and systems of political participation. Prerequisite(s) A EAJ 385.
A HIS 451 (= A LCS 451 & A WSS 451) Gender & Class in Latin American Development (3)
The study of the historical interplay of cultural, ideological, and structural factors affecting women’s lives during the course of Latin America’s experience with modernization and industrialization during the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics covered may include: household work, paid work, migration, growth of female- headed households, women’s political participation, and women’s participation in social movements. Only one version of A HIS 451 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): any course in LACS and/or Women’s Studies and/or History.
A HIS 458/458Z (= A EAC 458/458Z) New Orders in Asia (3-4)
This class examines the international orders in place in Asia from the days of 19th century imperialism to the search for a 21st century post-Cold War order. The focus will be on political, cultural, and economic interactions among the three main East Asian powers: China, Japan, and the U.S. Only one version of A HIS 458 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.
A HIS 463/463Z The Byzantine Empire, 300–1453 (3-4)
For description, see listing under Concentration in European History. Only one version of A HIS 463 may be taken for credit.
A HIS 468 (= A EAS 468; formerly A HIS/A EAS 399) Confucius and Confucianism (3)
This course surveys the main texts and themes in the development of the Confucian tradition from its origins in China through its spread in Japan and Korea to its reemergence in contemporary East Asia. The emphasis is on the way that the tradition has responded to social conditions. Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between Confucian intellectuals and political power. The rivalry with other traditions (e.g., Taoism, Buddhism, Marxism, Liberalism, etc.) will also be considered. Only one version of A HIS 468 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A HIS 177, 379, A EAS 103, 170, 190, or permission of instructor.
A HIS 471 (= A EAC 471; formerly A HIS/A EAC 398) Change in Medieval China (3)
This course focuses on the dramatic change that China underwent between the 8th and the 14th centuries. We will examine this transformation from several historical perspectives: political history, economic history, social history, intellectual history, and cultural history in order to better understand China’s shift from aristocratic to literati society. Only one version of A HIS 471 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A HIS 177, 379, or permission of instructor.
A HIS 497 Independent Study in History (2–4)
For description, see listing in Concentration in US History. S/U graded.
A HIS 498 Honors' Independent Research and Writing (4)
For description, see listing in History Honors Program. S/U graded.
Capstone: Senior Research Seminar
A HIS 489Z Senior Research Seminar (3)
The Senior Research Seminar is an integrated, capstone course that is the culmination of the history student's major. It will extend skills that students have established and practiced in their previous history courses, and will include an in-depth exploration of the tools and concepts used by historians. Students will conduct individual research, using primary and secondary sources to produce a substantial body of writing. This course cannot be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s): senior standing in the history major.
History Honors Program
A HIS 495Z and 496Z Senior Honors Thesis Seminar (4, 4)
Preparation of a substantial honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the Department of History. Students present periodic progress reports, criticize each other's work, and deliver an oral summary of the completed thesis. Students in the honors program must satisfactorily complete both A HIS 495Z and 496Z. Prerequisite(s): admission to the history honors program.
A HIS 498 Honors' Independent Research and Writing (4)
Directed reading and conferences about research on selected topics in history related to students' honors thesis research. Replaces A HIS 497Z for honors students. May not be repeated for credit. Prerequisites(s): permission of instructor and director of undergraduate studies, junior or senior standing. Open only to students in the history honors program. S/U graded.
