This course explores the emergence and development of civilization in Asia and the Mediterranean world from the first appearance of ities around 3000 B.C. to the triumph of Christianity in the Roman Empire in the fourth century A.D. We will examine how ancient ideas, empires, social structures, art, literature, and religious beliefs emerged in response to the challenges that confronted ancient people as their world expanded and changed. Topics include empire, spirituality, gender roles, barbarians, slavery, democracy, warfare, diplomacy, and inter-regional trade and contact.
This course explores the tensions and transformations in European society between A.D. 300 and 1500, as well as points of contact between medieval societies within Europe itself, across the Mediterranean, and beyond. Topics include the Fall of the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the rise of Islam, Vikings, Mongols, social crisis and disorder, plague, the Norman Conquest of England, the Crusades, troubadours, saints, the medieval Papacy, medieval Christianity and its heresies, monasticism, the revival of classical learning, and voyages of exploration and discovery.
Drawing together the histories of four continents – Europe, Africa, North America, and South America – this course explores the nature and meaning of the new Atlantic world created by the interaction of the peoples of the old and new worlds. It examines the Atlantic world through the experiences of the men and women – European, African, and Native-American – who inhabited it from the mid-15th century through about 1820. Students will learn about the often volatile and constantly shifting mixture of people and pathogens, of labor systems and crops, and of nations, empires, and subjects that contributed to the painful and unexpected emergence of this new Atlantic community. They will also explore the unique transnational and multicultural character of this region.
This course focuses on the discovery and exploration of the Pacific World – including Australia and New Zealand, the Philippines, Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Americas – from 1500 to 1820. It looks at the ways in which disease, migration, trade, and war drew together vast, diverse collections of human beings from around the globe: Russian fur traders, Spanish missionaries, Japanese fishermen, French and Spanish explorers, British naval officers, German naturalists, Tahitian translators, Aleutian hunters, Polynesian navigators, and Yankee merchants. Students will have the opportunity to explore the incorporation of this unique transnational and multicultural region into a world economy.
This course focuses on a particular topic in world history.
The ending of the Cold War seemed to promise a new world order characterized by respect for human rights, principles of democracy, and the rule of law. Instead, we enter the 21st century plagued by global conflict and burdened by spasms of terrorism, radical nationalism, ethnic cleansing, a growing gap between rich and poor, and the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons. Where did these problems arise and why have they not gone away? Furthermore, how have societies gone about managing conflict and sustaining peace over the past two hundred years or so? This class will assist students in gaining historical perspective on thesequestions by exploring the underlying causes of war, revolution, terrorism, and genocide in modern world history. The course will begin with an analysis of the contemporary scene and then back up to explore the historical evolution of conflict and its resolution since the era of revolutionary France. Utilizing a global perspective, students will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various attempts at managing and resolving conflict in the modern world. (Meets lower-division requirement for the Peace and Justice Studies minor)
This course is a survey of American history from precolonial times through Reconstruction. It explores a wide variety of factors (economic, political, social, and cultural) that shaped the formation of the United States. Core themes include the Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, conflicts with indigenous peoples, the emergence of a market society, racial slavery, the place of women, geographic expansion, popular protest, and elite rule. The course challenges commonly held beliefs about the past and it encourages students to examine the veracity of popular beliefs about American history.
This course is designed to explore America’s historical development from the Reconstruction era to the present. It explores a wide variety of factors (political, economic, social, and cultural) that contributed to the creation of a multicultural industrial society and that shaped America’s emergence as a world power. We will analyze key issues such as the changing relationships between government and the governed; the growth of a strong central state; the creation of a modern industrial economy; the evolution of an increasingly heterogeneous society; the country’s development into a world power; the Cold War at home and abroad; and the origins and consequences of the Vietnam War.
This course focuses on a particular topic in U.S. History.
This course provides students with a basic understanding of how race and ethnicity have influenced American society from the colonial period to the present. Students will be exposed to a variety of topics and historical events that will help explain how and why Americans’ attitudes about racial and ethnic differences changed over time. They also will look at how these attitudes have affected the nation’s major immigrant and racial minority populations. Finally, the course will examine how ideas and attitudes about race affected major societal institutions and social policies in the United States.
This course explores the impact of historical events on the lives of American women and the varied roles women played in the shaping of American history. Topics include: witchcraft in New England; gender and family life under slavery; the impact of industrialization on women of different classes; the ideology of separate spheres; women’s political activities including the antislavery movement, the suffrage movement, the 19th Amendment, and the resurgence of feminism in the 1960s; and transformations in the lives of modern women including work, politics, sexuality, consumption patterns, and leisure activities.
This course covers essential aspects of East Asian cultures and societies from a historical perspective, with a primary focus on China and Japan. It also analyzes the causes and consequences of the East-West contacts and conflicts, highlighting major events such as the Opium War, the U.S. ìopeningî of Japan, WWII in Asia, the Korean War, the Cold War as well as the current economic and cultural relations between East Asian countries and the United States. Through this class, students are expected to understand the cultural traditions of East Asia, the causal relationships between key historical events, the complexities of East Asia - U.S. relations and the role that East Asian countries are playing in today’s changing world. (Lower division requirement for the Asian Studies minor).
This class explores the intellectual, social, and political changes that shaped the development of Europe from 1780 to the present. The course pays particular attention to the impact of Enlightenment ideas and questions of social justice. Topics include the French and the Industrial Revolutions; nationalism and the emergence of nation states; the rise of Marxism; high imperialism; the two world wars; totalitarian governments of the 20th century; comparative histories of everyday life; and European integration.
This course focuses on major themes in the history of humanity from 100,000 B.C. to A.D. 1500. It considers the evolution of the human species, the formation of huntergatherer societies, and the rise of great civilizations. It looks at how authority was manifested in architecture, government, writing, religion, philosophy, arts, science, and technology. A comparative approach will illuminate how world cultures differ, what they share, how they are differentiated, and what they exchange in the making of the modern world. The emphasis is on non-Western peoples.
This course engages students in the study of modern world history in order to achieve a more critical and integrated understanding of global societies and cultures during the past five hundred years. Students will explore developments in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe; consider the rise of the West after 1750; investigate the origins and outcomes of world war, revolution, and genocide in the 20th century; trace the disintegration of western empires after World War II; and ponder the global challenges of the post-Cold War era.
This course, offered each semester, is required for all students who wish to be History majors and should be taken their sophomore year. The class will prepare students to be History majors. They will learn how to conduct historical research and be exposed to the various fields and schools of thought that will comprise the discipline of History. As part of their training as scholars, the students will learn how to write a 10-12-page research paper due at the end of the semester.
This course offers students the opportunity to evaluate literature and film as historical evidence, to understand cultural and social contexts of a given era or society, and/or to make arguments about the interpretation of important historical events. Topics may include “The American Western,” “World War I and World War II through Literature and Film,” “Latin America Through Film,” and
“Modern China in Film,” among others.
This course offers students an in-depth look at the underlying causes of war, revolution, terrorism, and genocide in modern world history. Students think critically about justice and human rights, nonviolence, military necessity, and the value of political community. Topics may include “The Origins of Terrorism in the Modern World” and “The Vietnam War,” among others.
This course looks at the way in which race, gender, nationality, language, religious belief, and/or aesthetic values have shaped societies and peoples in the past. Topics may include “Magic in the Middle Ages,” “History of American Food,” and “Victorian Women,” among others.
In this course, students study individual cities at unique moments in their historical development. Themes include the impact of the built environment on human experience, architecture as an expression of power, and the relationship between physical space and the development of community. Topics may include “Fin de Siècle Vienna” and “History of the American City,” among others.
This course will offer a comparative perspective on a significant historical topic, which will assist students in clarifying what is and what is not unique to a particular historical experience. Special emphasis will be given to critiquing the notion of American “exceptionalism.” Topics may include “Comparative Frontiers,” “The Ghost Dance in Comparative Perspective,” “Comparative Imperialism,” and “Women under Communism.”
This course will explore the various facets of the development of technology ranging from tool making among hunter-gatherers to the biotechnological revolution of the 21st century. Students will examine ongoing processes of human innovation and their impact on the individual and society. Topics may include “Science, Technology, and Medicine in the Pre-Modern Era,” “The Industrial Revolutions,” “History of the Brain,” and “The Biotechnological Revolution.”
In this course, students play elaborate games set at moments of great historical change and/or controversy, using texts drawn from the history of ideas. Class sessions are run entirely by students; instructors advise and guide students and grade their oral and written work. These games, part of the award-winning pedagogy “Reacting to the Past,” draw students into history, promote engagement with big ideas, and improve intellectual and academic skills. Students play two to three games over the course of the semester, selected from “The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C.,” “Confucianism and the Wanli Emperor, 1587,” “Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolution in New York City, 1775-76,” “Charles Darwin and the Rise of Naturalism,” “Art in Paris, 1888-89,” and “Greenwich Village, 1913: Suffrage, Labor, and the New Woman,” among others.
Upper-Division Courses (HIST)
Beginning seminar in historical research, problems of investigation, critical analysis, and presentation, correct use of footnotes and bibliography; acquaintance with major libraries, archives, and the use of media techniques. Some attention to the development of historical writing and the philosophy of history. This course fulfills the core curriculum writing requirement. Every semester. (Important note: Only members of the class of 2013 or prior years should take this course. It will be phased out after the 2012-2013 academic year.)
This course will introduce method and theory in historic sites archeology; historic preservation law; and cultural resources management. It will include a discussion of field and laboratory methods; classification and analyses of material culture; and data presentation methods. Field tripsto local historical sites will be included.
This course explores cradles of civilization in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. An introduction to early man is followed by a survey of Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Hittite, Phoenician, and Hebrew cultures, as well as the Assyrian and Persian imperialism that replaced them. Course covers the period through Cyrus the Great.
This course explores the emergence and development of Greek civilization from the time of the Minoans and Mycenaeans to the Roman conquest of Greece. Students use the works of ancient Greek poets, historians, and thinkers together with art and archaeology to investigate Greek culture and society, as well as the origins and development of democracy, drama, and philosophy. Topics include the roles of women and slaves, Greek religion, colonization and resistance on Greece’s borders, and the use of art as political propaganda.
This class explores the emergence and development of Roman civilization from the foundation of the city of Rome to the legalization of Christian worship under the emperor Constantine. Students use the works of ancient Roman poets, historians, and thinkers together with art and archaeology to investigate Roman culture and society, as well as the origin and development of republican government, imperialism, technological innovations, and literary and visual arts. Topics include the roles of women and slaves, Roman religion, imperialism and resistance on Rome’s borders, and the use of art as political propaganda.
This class explores the causes and consequences of the fall of the Roman Empire. Students use primary sources, archaeological evidence, and remains of art and architecture to investigate the collapse of Roman authority, the cultural transformation of the Greco-Roman world, and the emergence of early medieval kingdoms, societies, and religious beliefs in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The course also traces the rise of Celtic, Judeo-Christian, Islamic, and Germanic cultures.
This course examines violence, chaos, and the political and social crisis of medieval Europe. Students explore the transformation of Europe from an isolated, disordered, agricultural society to a powerful, wealthy, expansionist one. Topics include knights and peasants, the Crusades, heresy, plague, Marco Polo’s travels to China, and the rise of Western European empires.
This course will examine the lives of women during the Middle Ages, ca. 500-1500. Starting with the Biblical stories of Eve, the Virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene, students will explore the ideological foundations for the positions ascribed to women that, arguably, continue to shape attitudes toward women and their role in society. Topics include women’s roles as wives, mothers, and healers, the lives of noblewomen and powerful female monarchs, spirituality, the church, and the life and legacy of Joan of Arc, and female characters in medieval literature such as Guinevere.
This course focuses on the society and culture of the pre-modern Iberian Peninsula with an emphasis on the conflict, coexistence, and diversity of interaction of its three religious groups: Christians, Jews, and Muslims. We will consider the territorial struggle between Christian and Muslim-ruled regimes over the course of many centuries, the environments of pre- and post-conquest societies and the frontier that separated them, and the ability of minority (and majority) religious groups to maintain themselves in these changing socio-religious contexts.
This course explores the origins and consequences of the rediscovery of Europe’s classical heritage in Italy and the broader continent between the 14th and 16th centuries. Topics include continuities and discontinuities with medieval traditions, politics and political theory, civic and philosophical humanism, court culture, and art and architecture.
This course explores the development of European art and architecture from 1600 to 1940. Students will “tour” some of Europe’s great architectural monuments, including Versailles, Kew Gardens, the Paris Opera House, and Vienna’s Secession Building. They will also look at corresponding trends in art, from the development of the Rococo to the triumph of Art Deco. Emphasis throughout will be on the personalities, political events, and social forces which shaped the development of European design.
This course will examine the era of the Great War of 1900-1919. The origins of this global conflict included the decline of Pax Britannica in the 19th century, the rise of German nationalism, Balkan pan-slavism, and colonial rivalries. During this era, the old order dominated by European monarchies was swept aside by social revolutions, new ideologies, and a military conflict that cost 10 million lives. Modernism rose from the ashes of Victorian culture, and the new science transformed world thought.
This course examines the origins of World War II, the economic and political challenges to interwar societies, the rise of the dictators, the experience of war and occupation, the holocaust, and the military struggle that led to millions of deaths and gave birth to the United Nations. Special topics include the Experience of Collaboration and Resistance in Europe, Civilians during World War II, the role of various professions, youth, and women during World War II.
This course explores the birth of the modern nation state through the use of interactive role-playing games. Students “become” French revolutionaries inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in “Rousseau, Burke, and Revolution in France, 1791.” They adopt the roles of Hindus and Muslims seeking to wrest political control away from the British Empire in “India on the Eve of Independence, 1945.” Students develop a deep understanding of nation building in France and India; they also explore how class conflict, religious divisions, and ethnic tensions contribute to the birth of nations.
This course on postwar German history examines the two Germanies, one communist, one capitalist through topics such as the different approaches to the legacy of National Socialism, challenges of reconstruction, and responses to Americanization and Sovietization in politics, art, and mass culture. A focus will be everyday life in East and West Germany. Further topics include opposition, from 1968 student movements to the terrorism of the 1970s and the peace movements of the 1980s, as well as the fall of the Berlin Wall and unification.
This course provides a historical overview of the lands, peoples, cultures, and states of Eastern Europe from 1815 to the present. Topics include the Habsburg Empire and a range of different groups in its multi-ethnic society during the rise of nationalism, industrialism, and popular politics; World War I, interwar experiments with democracy and authoritarianism; the experience of World War II; postwar communism in East and East Central Europe; everyday life, official and underground culture, as well as the velvet revolutions and fall of the Iron Curtain.
A critical study of the various aspects of warfare as they have evolved in history. Emphasis will be on particular wars, strategies, leaders, and military innovations that have dramatically affected, and are continuing to affect, the course of history. The time span will range from ancient times to the present. The course may be repeated as the topics vary.
This course may focus on medieval or early modern European history with an emphasis on power and politics, gender, art and architecture, and/or economic and social change. Special topics courses may offer the chance to study the Crusades, Queen Elizabeth I, or the French Revolution in considerable depth. The course may be repeated as topics vary.
This course may focus on modern European history with an emphasis on power and politics, gender, art and architecture, and/or economic and social change. Special topics courses may offer the chance to study the rise of London, Paris, and Vienna; Women’s Rights; or the Cold War in considerable depth. The course may be repeated as topics vary.
This course is designed to explore the development of France from the Enlightenment to the present. Major themes in the lectures and readings include the political evolution of the country as France moved from an absolute monarchy to the current Fifth Republic, the lasting impact of revolution and war on French society, and the efforts of political, social, economic, and cultural change on individuals’ everyday lives.
This course examines the nature and consequences of the wars fought in and around Vietnam since the 1940s, with particular attention paid to the long period of direct American involvement (1964-1973). These events will be considered in relation to Vietnam’s history, American politics and society, the nature of war itself, and the legacy of the war and its meaning in American and Vietnamese memory today. This course emphasizes the contrasting viewpoints on the Vietnam Wars — we will be exploring views from Northern and Southern Vietnamese, French and American soldiers, anti-war protestors, government officials, and ordinary citizens caught in the war. Students will discuss the various perspectives, forming their own conclusions about how and why the United States became involved in the war.
This course surveys the development of the British Isles from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. It addresses the social and political structures of medieval England and shows how dynastic conflicts resulted in almost continuous internal warfare. It examines the growth of the English state under the Tudors and Stuarts. It also traces the rise of political parties, constitutional monarchy, and representative government.
An analysis of themes and processes in the British imperial experience from the 18th century to the present. Emphasis upon colonial nationalism, indigenous resistance and collaboration, theories of colonial administration, economics and imperialism, and decolonization.
This course covers Spain’s pre-history beginning with the Caves of Altamira and continuing through discovery and expansion in the New World. It examines artistic and architectural legacy of both the Roman and Muslim occupation of Spain. It also looks at the expulsion of Jews and Muslims during the Reconquest, the unification of Spain under Fernando and Isabel; the Spanish empire in the Americas, the rise and fall of the Hapsburg empire, and the transition to the Bourbon monarchy during the 18th century.
This course covers the history of Spain from the rise of the Bourbon monarchy to the present. It looks at the impact of the Napoleonic invasion and the rise of political strife in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It also examines the Second Republic, the trauma of the Spanish Civil War, the dictatorship of Franco, and the transition to democracy following the restoration of Juan Carlos.
A critical analysis of themes and issues in the history of Russia and Eastern Europe. Topics may include Russia in Revolution, Russia since Peter the Great, and the Crisis in the Balkans.
An in-depth investigation into a variety of recent historical events that have affected the United States in its world setting. Selected topics will be announced in each semester’s class schedule. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
An inquiry into the historic Middle East emphasizing the growth and decline of the Ottoman Empire, Arab and Jewish nationalism, and the paths to independence.
Covers Latin America from late pre-Columbian times to the eve of independence in 1810. Includes discussion of indigenous peoples and civilizations; the encounter of the Europeans and native Americans; social, political, and religious institutions introduced in the Americas; mining and other economic activities; the slave trade; and the role of the Catholic Church.
Covers Latin America from the start of the independence movements in 1810 to the present. Includes discussion of independence and the struggle of new states to modernize; Church-state frictions; urbanization and the emergence of populist politics; industrialization; the Cuban Revolution and other revolutionary movements; military dictatorships; redemocratization in the 1980s and 1990s; and democratic consolidation and contemporary challenges in the 21st century.
A study of specific topics and themes in the history of Latin America, such as the role of religion and the Catholic Church, 20th-century revolutions and social upheaval, Latin America through film, and the history of particular groups, including Amerindians, women, and rural and urban workers. Students may repeat the course for credit when the topic changes.
This course examines the diverse cultures, ethnicities, and historical developments of Latin America’s largest and most populous nation. In particular it focuses on the great paradox of this ìcountry of the future,î which has one of the world’s 10 largest economies: enormous potential thwarted by shocking social inequality. Topics include European colonization, slavery, economic cycles, independence, the drive to become an industrial power, the military regime of 1964-85, the process of democratic consolidation, Brazil as a new economic giant, and gender and environmental issues.
An in-depth look at special themes and issues in the history of Asia, including such topics as Chinese History Through Film, Asian Women and Popular Culture, and a Study-Abroad course China: A History Journey. This course may be repeated for credit when topics change.
This course covers Chinese history from the first Opium War (1839-42) to the present. It examines the indigenous factors of Chinese history and culture, the influence of the West, and the interaction between the two. Major sections of the course include reforms and uprisings during the last phase of the Qing dynasty, the Republican Revolution of 1911, the Nationalist Movement, Sino-Western relations during the Pacific War, the development of Chinese
communism, the various political, social and economic campaigns during the Maoist era as well as the progress and problems in the period of modernization.
This course covers Japanese history from the Meiji Transformation in 1868 to the present. It analyzes the unique characteristics of the samurai culture, Japan’s response to the West in the 19th century, and its transition into the modern era. It examines the rise of Japanese imperialism and militarism, Japanese-American relations before and after Pearl Harbor, the role of Japan’s constitutional monarchy, its ìeconomic miracleî during the post-World War II period, as well as its contemporary social and cultural developments.
This course examines the historical experiences of women in East Asian societies, with an emphasis on women in China and Japan. It discusses their traditional practices of foot-binding and samurai rituals within broader historical contexts, studies their involvements in wars and revolutions, and analyzes their role in shaping the contemporary culture as well as their dynamics and dilemmas in the process of economic modernization. The class also seeks to dissect the intricate connections between the various ìism’s, such as Confucianism, nationalism, militarism, communism and commercialism, and women’s lives in East Asia.
An analysis of particular themes in the African historical experience from earliest times to independence from colonial rule. Special attention will be given to culture, society, and processes of change in the pre-colonial period and development and underdevelopment since the European intrusion.
A critical study of issues confronting Africans in the 20th century. Alternating courses may include Problems in Africa since Independence and the South African Dilemma. The course may be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
This class will introduce students to the field of U.S. environmental history. On the one hand, we will examine how nature (soil, natural disasters, disease, water, climate, etc.) influenced the course of American history. On the other, we will address the ways Americans have used technology to transform the non-human world, the implications these transformations have had on power relations within American societies, and the cultural meanings that Americans have given to nature.
Topics may include Pre-Columbian Native American History, Spanish/French/English contact with Indian peoples, The Colonial Period, the American Revolution, the Early National Period, Jacksonian America, TheMexican-American War, Slavery and the South, and other topics in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States before 1865.
This course explores the development of relations between the United States and East Asian countries (primarily China, Japan and Korea) since the mid-19th century. It examines the economic, social, cultural, and political forces on both sides of the Pacific that have helped to shape the history of their mutual relations. Major topics include the U.S. participation in China’s international treaty system in the 19th century, the American role in ìopeningî Japan and efforts at establishing a new order in the Pacific, the triangular relations among the U.S., Japan, and China during World War II, American involvement in Korea and Vietnam, and contemporary U.S.-East Asian relations.
This course explores armed conflict and its effects on U.S. society by examining the nature, course, and consequences of wars the United States has fought from the American Revolution to the present. Three themes are emphasized: the effects of war on the individual, the intended and unintended consequences of armed conflict both at home and abroad, and the changing nature of warfare, of the U.S. armed forces, and of the United States itself.
History of the United States from 1846 to 1877 with special emphasis on the political, economic, social, and military aspects of conflict between the North and the South. Includes the causes of the war, military strategy, the aftermath, and its effects on the United States in later years.
Topics may include the Progressive Era, World War I, Great Depression, New Deal, World War II, U.S.-Latin AmericanRelations, the Cold War, or other topics in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States from 1865 to the present. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.
This course – the first of a two-part, upper division sequence on the history of American foreign relations – covers the period from 1775 to 1914. Three issues, in particular, are emphasized: the problems of the young republic in conducting diplomacy; the ways in which America’s vision of itself as “a city upon a hill” and its belief in Manifest Destiny led to 19th-century U.S. expansionism; and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
This course – the second of a two-part, upper division sequence on the history of American foreign relations – covers the period from 1914 to the present. Three issues, in particular, are emphasized: the tension between isolationism and interventionism from World War I through World War II, culminating in the emergence of the United States as a superpower; the Soviet-American confrontation following World War II and the globalization of this confrontation during the 1950s and 1960s; and finally, the relative decline of American foreign relations in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the consequences of the end of the Cold War.
Topics may include ideas and movements that are part of the intellectual or social history of the United States, such as liberalism, conservatism, sectionalism, slavery, communications, architecture, labor, immigration, feminism, and progressive reform. May be repeated for credit when topic changes.
A history of the mass media in the United States, focusing on selected topics, such as Television and American Politics, History and Film, the Newspaper in History, Media and the Presidency, and Broadcasting in American History.
This class surveys the history of the American West. Topics include: pre-Columbian Indians, the competition between European empires over the American West; American expansion and conquest; the fur, mining, ranching, and farming “frontiers;” the railroad and populism; World War II and the growth of the urban west; the historical experience of workers, women, and Mexican-, Asian-, Native-, and African-Americans; environmental issues such as conservation, preservation, the dust bowl, and water politics; and representations of the West in popular culture.
This course surveys American Indian history from Pre-Columbian times to the present. Topics include: Pre-Columbian Native America; Spanish, English, and French invasions; Indians and the colonial period; Indian Removal; Indians and American expansion in the Far West; the reservation system, allotment, and federal Indian education; the Indian New Deal; termination, relocation, and the growth of urban Native America; and Indian militancy, cultural accommodation and revitalization, and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty.
Discovery, exploration, and settlement by Spain of the North American region with particular emphasis on the regions settled by Spain. Includes the history of the native Indian inhabitants and the role of Mexico after 1821. Generally covers the period from 1500 to 1848.
This class will examine the history of the Mexican and Mexican-origin people who inhabit what is now the American Southwest and northern Mexico. The class will begin by discussing the Mesoamerican civilizations of central Mexico, and move on to examine the Spanish conquest, the fight for Mexican independence, and the Mexican-American War. At that point, the class will shift its focus to the United States and discuss westward expansion, Anglo-Mexican conflict in states such as Texas, New Mexico, and California, and the formation of Mexican-American culture. The class will conclude by examining the origins of Chicano nationalism, the rise of the farm workers’ movement, and the cultural and economic impact of Mexican immigration. At appropriate points throughout the semester, the class will discuss gender relations, the role of religion, and the formation of popular culture to understand how Mexican culture developed in various parts of the United States.
A history of Mexico from earliest times to modern Mexico. Includes a survey of indigenous civilizations; Spanish conquest and influences; the Mexican-American War of 1846; the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz; the era of the Mexican Revolution; political development since the 1920s; the rise of the Institutional Revolutionary Party; democratization starting in 1988; and U.S.-Mexico relations.
History of maritime activities in the Pacific with emphasis on discovery and exploration. It covers South Pacific settlement by Polynesians as well as Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, Dutch, and Russian sea expansion. Topics include the study of the Manila Galleon trade, the voyages of Captain James Cook, and 18th century French and Spanish scientific expeditions.
History of Lower California from the first Spanish maritime explorations, circa 1533, to modern times. Emphasis is on the land, the sea, and the people; Spanish and Mexican institutions. Detailed studies particularly for the Jesuit mission period, the Mexican War, and the growth of cities.
Covers California’s past from its earliest settlements to modern times. The course begins with California’s geographical setting, indigenous culture, and contact with the European world. A survey of Spanish backgrounds includes missions and missionaries, ranchos, pueblos, and foreign visitors. Changes under the government of Mexico led to California’s conquest by the United States. During the second half, lectures cover generally the effects of the Gold Rush; problems of statehood; constitutional developments; land, labor, and Indian policies; transportation and immigration; agriculture and industry; California during wartime; water projects; political issues; cultural accomplishments; racial diversity; and recent trends. Meets the requirements of California history standards for various teaching credentials.
This course looks at the way in which Californians adopted and transformed European architectural and artistic forms to create what boosters described as “a new Eden.” It discusses the rise and fall of the Victorian, the re-invention of “Spanish” style with Mission Revival architecture, the origin of the craftsman bungalow, and the rise of modernism in California and the West. Emphasis throughout will be on the personalities, political events, and social forces that shaped the development of art and architecture from 1850 to the present.
Offered each fall semester, this one-unit course prepares students for History 495W, Senior Seminar. Students will learn skills (such as essential research methods; rules of proper citation; and the ability to navigate through library holdings, appropriate databases, and archives) essential for the successful completion of a senior thesis. Working closely with their instructor and their advisor, students will also identify a research question that will serve as the basis of their senior thesis, generate an extensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and write a research proposal.
This course, offered each spring semester, is the capstone for the history major. Students will research and write a significant, focused, original, thesis-driven research paper. In addition, students will give a public presentation of their research and compile a portfolio of their work in the history major. In this class, students are expected to master all skills-based learning outcomes introduced and practiced in the history major.
Practical experience in a field setting under professional supervision. Interns may be assigned to the City or County of San Diego, San Diego Historical Society, San Diego Hall of Champions, or a similar institution. See department chair for assignment.
Directed readings, a special project, or a research paper for History majors of high scholastic standing. Consent of the department chair must be obtained. The maximum of three units will be allowed only under special circumstances.