| Course
Descriptions:
History 300. Modern World History.
3(1). A survey of the major pre-modern civilizations and the development and diffusion of modern culture throughout the world. This course examines the interaction of traditional and modern cultures culminating with the turbulent twentieth century, and highlights the global impact of political, religious, ideological, military, economic, and social developments. Written assignments. Final exam. Prereq: Hist 100. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
History 300S. Scholars Modern World History. 3(1).
Scholars section of
World History taken en lieu of 101. Examines in
greater detail most of the issues of modern
World History. Requires additional readings,
colloquium type discussions and group
discussions. By special selection or with
permission of the course director. Final exam. Prereq: Hist 100S. Sem hrs: 3 fall or spring.
History 325 - History of Christianity.
3(1). A historical survey of the Christian
church from its ancient Jewish roots to the
modern period. The course will examine the
significant changes and continuities of
Christianity since its founding. Topics include
the ancient Jewish kingdoms, the Church’s
beginning under Jesus and the Apostles, the Age
of Martyrs, the writings of the Church Fathers,
the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the
medieval civilization of Christendom, the
Crusades, the Reformation, the effects of the
Enlightenment, and the global spread of
Christianity. Term paper and final exam. Prereq:
History 300. Sem hrs: 3 spring of odd-numbered
years.
History 340. History of Colonial Latin
America. 3(1). Examines the Native
American, Iberian, and African origins of
colonial civilization, with special emphasis on
the colonial society that evolved after the
Spanish and Portuguese conquests. Students will
examine the nature of pre-Columbian societies,
colonial government, labor systems, landholding
patterns, the role of the Church in society, and
the Latin American wars of independence. Term
paper and final exam. Prereq: History 300. Sem
hrs: 3 fall.
History 341. History of Modern Latin
America. 3(1). Examines the post-1825
period of Latin American history. Explains
aftermath of the wars of independence, the
formation of nation-states, and the emergence of
Latin American identities throughout the
nineteenth century. Treats major issues of the
twentieth century, including political change,
industrialization, foreign influence, military
institutions, social and demographic pressures,
and the United States's role in different
national contexts. Term paper and final exam.
Prereq: History 300. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
History 342. History of Traditional Asia.
3(1). A survey of the major political, economic,
and socio-cultural developments in Asia
(primarily China, Japan, India, and Southeast
Asia) from prehistoric times to the arrival of
the Europeans in the sixteenth century. Explores
the major themes of the traditional foundations
of Asia, change and continuity, the structure of
the traditional Asian world order, and the
impact of contact with the European maritime
powers. Term paper and final exam. Prereq:
History 300. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
History 343. History of Modern Asia.
3(1). A survey of the major political, economic,
and socio-cultural developments in Asia
(primarily China, Japan, India, and Southeast
Asia) from roughly the sixteenth century to the
present day. Explores the major themes of the
traditional foundations of Asia, the impact of
Western imperialism in Asia, the impact of
Western ideologies on Asian thought, the
importance of technological change, and the
significance of political, economic, and
cultural leaders. Term paper and final exam.
Prereq: History 300. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
History 344. Foundations of European
History. 3(1). How did the European
continent rise from being a cultural and
intellectual backwater to become a political and
military powerhouse which eventually extended
its influence across the globe? What powerful
connections link the ancient world with the
present government, religion and culture of the
West? Through this survey of European history
from Antiquity to 1789, discover how the
continent was transformed. Major aspects of
European development are analyzed, including
ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Roman
Empire, the advent of Christianity, feudalism,
the Renaissance, the Reformation, the rise of
the nation-state, and the Enlightenment. Term
paper and final exam. Prereq: History 300. Sem
hrs: 3 fall.
History 345. Modern European History.
3(1). A survey of the political, social, and
cultural history of modern Europe, beginning
with the French Revolution and continuing
through both world wars to contemporary Europe.
Major themes include Napoleonic Europe, the
industrial revolutions, the European nationalist
movements, World War I, the inter-war Years,
World War II, the decline of the European
empires, the Cold War, and the demise of
monolithic regimes. This course concludes with a
study of the legacies of the Cold War and the
advent of the European Union. Term paper and
final exam. Prereq: History 300. Sem hrs: 3
spring.
History 346 History of Russia.
3(1). Survey of Russian domestic and foreign
affairs from the ninth century to 1917. Emphasis
on the ways in which Eastern, Western, and
native influences promoted continuity within the
Tsarist Russian state, to include: autocracy,
church-state relations, imperialism, great power
status, foreign power intervention, and
modernization. Term paper and final exam. Prereq:
History 300. Sem hrs: 3 fall.
History 347. History of Modern Russia.
3(1). Survey of domestic and foreign affairs
from 1917 to the present. Focuses on the
dynamics of Russian society and government from
the Great Reforms through the Bolshevik seizure
of power. Reviews Communist attempts and the
final failure to develop a legitimate Soviet
state. Gives special attention to the unique
synthesis of military and economic power leading
to "superpower" status and its eventual demise.
Term paper and final exam. Prereq: History 300.
Prior completion of History 346 is recommended
but not required. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
History 373. History of Sub-Saharan Africa. 3(1). A survey of Sub-Saharan African history with a strong emphasis on the last 250 years. The course will investigate the question, “why is Sub-Saharan Africa the way it is today?” by focusing on three eras—the pre-colonial period, the colonial period, and the post-colonial period—and the great transitions between them. The course will help students understand the influence of geography and climate, religion, warfare, disease, economics and trade, and domestic and international politics, as well as other forces, on African peoples and societies over time. Term paper and final exam. Prereq: History 300. Sem hrs: 3 fall of odd-numbered years.
History 374. Foundations of Middle
Eastern History. 3(1). Introductory
historical survey of early civilizations in the
Middle East and North Africa from the dawn of
civilization to the fall of Constantinople to
the Ottoman Empire in 1453. Emphasis on the
classical empires of the Near East, developments
and contributions of Judaism and Christianity,
the birth and spread of Islam, the impact of the
Crusaders and Mongols on the region, and the
rise to dominance of the "gunpowder empires."
Term paper and final exam. Prereq: History 300.
Sem hrs: 3 fall.
History 375. Modern Middle Eastern
History. 3(1). A survey of domestic and
foreign affairs of the Middle East and North
Africa from the rise of the Ottoman Empire to
the present. Emphasis on the impact of
imperialism, nationalism, constitutionalism,
modernization, and reform. Analyzes independence
movements of the twentieth century, the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the Zionist and Islamic
fundamentalist movements, the Gulf War, and
other contemporary trends, problems, and
challenges. Term paper and final exam. Prereq:
History 300. Prior completion of History 374 is
recommended but not required. Sem hrs: 3 spring.
History 498. Global
Dimensions of History. 3(1). An
examination of the dynamic forces influential in
shaping global history. Explores time, space
(geography), politics, economics and society in
the context of universal and world history.
Special attention is given to the impact of
varying cultural perspectives upon individual
historical understanding. The current process of
globalization and its many challenges are also
explored. Term paper and final exam. Prereq: C1C
in good standing. Sem hrs: 3 spring. |
