History

The socio-political history of the world from the 1920's to the present, with a detailed analysis of selected problems.

Examines the main social and political developments that led to the revolution of 1917 and investigates the first decade of Bolshevik rule as a formative period in the creation of the Soviet system.

Survey of readings and research from the late nineteenth century to the present on the following topics: family, work, immigration, urbanization, altruism, professionalism, race, class, ethnicity, cultural and political status. Cross-listed as WMS 536.

The American colonies and their economic, social, and political development.

Studies the crises of the 1850’s, Civil War causation, the Civil War experience, and the Reconstruction experiment.

An examination of the major historiographical debates in American maritime history. Topics will include methods, Native Americans, social history of sailors, the U.S. Navy, fisheries, marine science, leisure and recreation, women, African Americans, and memorialization.

The West as a causative force in the development of American culture. The “frontier as process,” i.e., the process by which the frontier-settlers divested themselves of the “old” civilization and attained a “new” civilization in the process of adapting to a new environment, is the central theme.

An examination of U.S. foreign policy since 1890 incorporating different interpretive frameworks. Seminar format.

A problem approach to the critical issues confronting twentieth century Urban America.

Exploration of American traditions of radical thought and action from the colonial era to the start of the 21st century. Focus is on the personalities, historical issues, and ideologies of key American radicals and radical movements.

History of the indigenous peoples of North America (north of Mexico), from earliest times to the present day.

Introduction to the major historiographical topics in medieval Europe (300–1475). Focus is on historiographical and methodological debates.

The Muslim Middle East from the time of Muhammad to the rise of the Ottomans.

The Muslim Middle East from the Ottoman period through the contemporary era.

Explores prominent themes in the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. The focus is on both teaching these themes and current historical research.

Discussion of representative texts from the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties with special emphasis on the intellectual history of these periods and early Chinese historiography.

This seminar will explore themes in the history of the region comprising the eleven countries of contemporary Southeast Asia: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, The Phillippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor, and Vietnam to 1850.

Graduate seminar field course in Early Roman history from the 8th Century BCE to the 1st Century BCE. Weekly discussion over major themes and historiographical issues in Roman Republican history from assigned readings in both primary and secondary sources.

Introduction to the major historiographical topics of Rome from the late Republic to the Imperial period (44 BCE–5th century CE). Focus is on methodological and historiographical debates.

The establishment of a strong monarchy after the breakdown of central authority during the closing middle ages and the eventual eclipse of this monarchy by the social and political groups that came to dominate Parliment. Economic, social, and religious changes during the period that saw England become a great trading colonial power with worldwide interests.

An historical investigation of a particular topic under the direction of a faculty member of the department and with the consent of the chairperson and the graduate coordinator of the department. Students should remember that the topics of regularly scheduled graduate courses are not viable for independent study proposals.