HIST - History
HIST 105: Cross-Cultural Interactions Along the Silk Road, 200 BCE - 1400 CE
The so-called "Silk Road" was the world's first superhighway, linking East Asia to the Mediterranean. The peoples along the way not only traded luxury goods, but also ideas, technology, and more. This course offers a thematic examination of the dynamic, cross-cultural interactions along the ancient and medieval Silk
Road. (G & C)
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 105, East Asian Studies 105
HIST 110: The Emergence of the Modern World
An introduction to world history from 500 to 1750. Attention to global change through the emergence of world systems, as well as the development of worldwide commercial and colonial empires. Thematic focus on the nature of cross-cultural relations and the dynamics of power and resistance. Special emphasis on analysis of documents and historical interpretations. (G&C or E)
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 110
HIST 115: The Modern World
An introductory examination of the development of modern global civilization from the end of the 18th century to the early 21st century, surveying the final modernization of the West through successive waves of political, industrial, and social revolutions and exploring the worldwide reaction to the spread of modern mass society brought about by Western efforts at global domination. Special emphasis on analysis of documents and historical interpretations. (G&C or E)
Units: 6
HIST 130: Colonies to Republic: British North America, 1607-1789
A survey of North American history from the arrival of the first European voyagers through establishment of the Republic in 1789. Emphasis on the major political, intellectual, social, and economic changes of the period and on the nature of historical inquiry and analysis. (NA)
Units: 6
HIST 131: Republic to Nation: The United States, 1789-1896
A study of the major social, political, economic, and intellectual developments in American society from 1789 through 1896. Topics include the industrialization of the economy, the diversification of the population, the democratization of American politics, and the evolution of an American character. (NA)
Units: 6
HIST 132: Nation in a Modern World: The United States, 1896-Present
An examination of reform, dissent, and protest in the United States as it passed through eras of economic transformation, social crises, technological revolution, and international confrontation. Emphasis on domestic history, including the legacies of Reconstruction, reforms of the Progressive-Great Depression eras, the Civil Rights Movement, the conservative backlash of the 1980s, ending with the War on Terror and January 6 Capitol Attack. (NA)
Units: 6
HIST 140: Gender and Feminism in Historical Perspective
A comparative world history of both gender relations and the emergence of a feminist consciousness within the past 500 years. Case studies drawn from different regions of the world will precede the examination of the emergence of a global feminism in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Topics will include the social roles of men and women, ideas about masculinity and femininity, understandings of sexual orientation, forms of systematic subordination, and the politics of modern feminisms. (G&C)
Units: 6
Also listed as Gender Studies 110
HIST 150: Turbulence and Transformation: Stuart England, 1603-1714
This course explores the causes and impact of the English Civil War, the effect of the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, and the path to the Hanoverian Succession. The economics, politics, religion, social history, and cultural aspects of the period are also studied. Visits to museums and buildings of the period are included. (E) Offered at the London Centre.
PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
HIST 191: Directed Study in History
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 195: Internship in History
An opportunity for students to gain experience in public history. Students might work for a museum, historic site, government agency or archive, including the Lawrence University Archives. Arranged under the direction of an instructor in the department in accordance with the guidelines for academic internships as stated in the course catalog.
The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor
HIST 200: American Experiences: An Introduction to American Studies
This course will introduce students to a pioneering interdisciplinary field. American Studies employs the disciplines of history, literature, politics, religion, art, music, film, and architecture, among others, to integrate a host of American experiences, examining “America” as a place, a nation, a symbol, a stereotype, and a culture. (NA)
Units: 6
HIST 202: History in Public: Communities, Stories, and Memory
Introduction to the broad variety of activities and locations developed by historians to reach the general public, such as museums, libraries, and archives, historic preservation, documentary filmmaking, oral history, podcasting, historical editing, and community activism. This course examines public historians’ theoretical and ethical concerns in addition to developing relevant skills. Emphasis on experiential learning via field trips, interviews with practitioners, and individual and group projects.
Units: 6
HIST 203: Introduction to Historical Methods
A course teaching the practical skills of doing history. Emphasis is on acquiring techniques historians use for research, source interpretation, and presentation. Using materials appropriate to a theme that changes from year to year, students will discover how to do a thorough bibliographical search of all major genres of historical works, to find and interpret primary sources, and master the basic historical essay.
Units: 6
HIST 204: The Black Athlete's Protest
This course represents an opportunity to turn everyday conversations, debates, and discourse about sports into conversations informed by history. Too often, to quote the creators of the Kaepernick syllabus, "especially within the media and from those whose whiteness--their privilege--insulates, empowers, and protects, people speak without the requisite tools, without the requisite historic foundation, and without the necessary information." If we are going to follow NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead to work toward justice, we must do so with a historic foundation, with knowledge about the persistent realities of racial injustice and inequality, with insight into the longstanding struggles of the Black athlete. Through their own research, a variety of writing assignments, and by leading class discussions, students will study the activism of Harry Edwards, Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and so many others to comprehend the historic significance the Black athlete’s protest.
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 204
HIST 205: Cross-Cultural Contacts in the Early Modern World
Examines contacts among various peoples between 1350 and 1750. Focus on cultural or ethnic identity, the role of power in relations between groups, and theoretical problems involved in such study. Examples include ancient and medieval cultural contacts, European settlement in North and South America, the African slave trade, and contacts among the peoples of Southeast Asia, India, China, and Japan. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 205
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 206: Perchance to Dream: A Comparative History of Dreams from Antiquity to Present
For centuries, dream interpretation has been integrated into philosophical discourse, used as a political tool, and touted as proof of otherworldly activities. This seminar will examine dream theories as products of socio-cultural development in different historical contexts. (G&C)
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 206
HIST 207: The Atlantic World
What if we think of an ocean as a meeting place and not a barrier? Between 1400 and 1800 the peoples living in west Africa, western Europe, and the Atlantic coast of the Americas encountered each other with transformative, often devastating consequences. This course investigates the creation of this ""Atlantic World"" and the identities formed as a result, uncovering how wars, piracy, enslavement, and resistance unfolded on ships and at sea. (G&C) (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 208
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 208: African American History to Emancipation
This course surveys African American History from 1607 to 1865. Students will analyze the African origins of
this country, the Middle Passage, the different manifestations of enslavement, and the historical changes that
shaped African-American life and culture thereafter—from the Revolution to Civil War. Topics will include the
gendered experiences of enslavement; slave resistance; the black abolitionist movement in the United States;
Civil War; Reconstruction. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing.
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 208
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
HIST 209: African American History since Emancipation
This course will explore African American History from 1865 to the present. We will examine the major themes,
problems, events, structures, and personalities of African American History, paying particular attention to how
African Americans themselves shaped their experiences. We will devote some portion of each week to the
close examination of a variety of primary sources, including: autobiographies, fiction, film, speeches, music,
and art. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 209
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 211: Wēskōhsaeh: History of the Indigenous Nations of Wisconsin
This course traces the history of Wisconsin's Indigenous Nations from before colonization to the present. You will learn in this discussion-based course how Native Americans have shaped their history and Wisconsin history more broadly. Moreover, you will come to understand how settler and Indigenous histories themselves are constructed narratives. You will also gain important skills, including analytical writing, persuasive speaking, and historical research methods.
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 159
HIST 212: East Asia in the Premodern World
An introductory survey of premodern East Asia. Focus on multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding the diverse cultures in the region and the historical processes that bound those cultures together. Students who have taken HIST 160 may not enroll in HIST 212 for credit. (EA)
Units: 6
Also listed as East Asian Studies 212, Global Studies 212
HIST 213: East Asia in the Modern World
An introductory survey of the modern history of East Asia, examining the efforts of traditional states, particularly China and Japan, to respond to Western intrusion into the region after 1600. Focus on social and cultural problems created by attempts to modernize yet defend tradition and on the differing results of Chinese and Japanese approaches. (EA)
Units: 6
Also listed as East Asian Studies 213, Global Studies 213
HIST 215: Atlantic Slave Trade
An examination of the Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans from its beginning in the 15th century to its eventual abolition in the 19th century. Topics include ideas of slavery in Europe and Africa; the development of the Atlantic trade; the economic, social, political, and religious effects of the slave trade in Africa and the Americas; the rise of racism; abolition and its aftermath. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 220
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 231: Survey of Greek History
A study of ancient Greek history from the Bronze Age to 146 B.C.E. Emphasis on the rise and fall of the Greek city-state as a political, societal, and cultural model. Readings include the historians Herodotus and Thucydides. All texts in English.
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 240
HIST 232: Survey of Roman History
A study of the history of Rome from its origins through the Republic and Empire to the reign of Constantine. Emphasis on political and cultural developments and the acquisition and maintenance of empire. Readings may include Livy, Tacitus, Suetonius, and the Historia Augusta. All texts in English.
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 245
HIST 235: Periclean Athens
A study of the history of Athens from the end of the Persian Wars to the execution of Socrates (479 to 399 B.C.E.). A wide range of material and topics will be considered: social and political developments, warfare, empire, diplomacy, intellectual and cultural life. Emphasis on the revolution in ideas and visions of humanity that defined the golden age of classical Greece. All texts in English. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 300
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 240: Augustan Rome
An introduction to ancient Rome and Roman civilization, focusing on the Age of Augustus in all its aspects: art, literature, politics, empire, law, entertainment, and society. Emphasis on the political and cultural changes that took place during this revolutionary period. All texts in English. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 310
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 241: Warfare in Classical Antiquity
A study of the practice of warfare in classical antiquity from Homeric Greece to the Roman Empire. Topics to be considered include: Homer's Iliad and the warrior ideal, the political implications of hoplite and trireme warfare, the Persian Wars, the Peloponnesian War, the campaigns of Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar, the organization and tactics of the Roman legion, and Roman frontier policy. Emphasis on the close interaction of military, political, and cultural developments in Greek and Roman history. All texts in English.
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 280
HIST 242: The Fall of the Roman Republic
A study of the final decades of the Roman Republic from the sixth consulship of Marius to the assassination of Caesar (100 to 44 B.C.E.), focusing on political, social, and cultural changes during this tumultuous period. Topics include: Roman politics, social class and identity, and Republican art, literature, and thought. All texts in English.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Classics 305
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 246: Modern Britain, 1688 to the Present
This course surveys the history of Great Britain from the political upheavals of 1688 to the present day. Emphasis will be on broad political and economic themes: imperialism, the development of parliamentary democracy, and the growth of modern industrial capitalism. Recommended for students planning to study at the London Centre. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 247: The Impact of Empire on Great Britain, 1814-1914
In 1914 the British empire contained a population of over 400 million people and was territorially the largest empire in world history. While the British spread their ideas about government, language, religion, and culture to their colonies, Britain itself was also profoundly influenced by the colonies it ruled. This course will explore aspects of the impact of the Empire on British politics, economics, society, and popular culture during the 19th century. Among the topics to be covered are the anti-slavery movement, imperialism and new imperialism, jingoism and popular culture, economic responses, and the influence of imperialism on culture and the arts. The myriad resources of London will be used to provide specific examples of how important the Empire was in shaping British identity and institutions during the 19th century. Offered at the London Centre. (G&C or E)
PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
HIST 251: Turbulence and Transformation: Stuart England, 1603-1714
This course explores the causes and impact of the English Civil War, the effect of the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution, and the path to the Hanoverian Succession. The economics, politics, religion, social history, and cultural aspects of the period are also studied. Visits to museums and buildings of the period are included. Offered at the London Centre. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
HIST 260: Culture and Power in Renaissance Europe
A study of intellectual, artistic, and religious innovations and their relation to dynamic political and social transformations between roughly 1350 and 1550. Beginning with the concepts of rediscovery, rebirth, and renewal as expressed in the writings of Renaissance Humanists, the course will explore how a new cosmology informed changes in artistic expression, political theory and practice, production and commerce, overseas expansion, popular ritual and spectacle, gender relations, and understandings of the self. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 261: Rebellion and Discipline in Reformation Europe
An examination of the religious fragmentation of Christian Europe and its social and political aftermath from 1500 to 1715. The course will survey how revolt against the church evolved into a series of rebellions against authority — peasants against nobles, cities against overlords, and nobles against monarchs — and eventually culminated in a reassertion of social discipline through the consolidation of the state’s power, the formation of confessional orthodoxies (Lutheran, Calvinist, Catholic), an increased policing of morality, and the domestication of men’s and women’s roles in society. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 266: Topics in History
The specific topic investigated changes each year. Student responsibilities may include engagement with secondary historical writings, primary source evaluation, research and essay writing.
Topic for Fall 2024: The Enemy Within: Modern Policing in Global Perspective
PREREQUISITES: None
This course examines policing and correlative regimes of punishment within diverse historical and social contexts, from capitalism’s emergence in early modern Europe to the constitution of ethno-racial, class, and political “enemies” in the modern security state. Students will be introduced to formative historiographic arguments as well as a range of contemporary sociological, theoretical, and journalistic accounts of law enforcement, adjudication, and punishment around the worldhe Enemy Within: Modern Policing in Global Perspective
Units: 6
HIST 270: Europe in the Age of Revolution, 1789-1851
An examination of European history from the French Revolution through the revolutions of 1848, focusing on the socioeconomic, political, and ideological configurations that emerged out of the French and Industrial Revolutions. Topics include the rise of liberalism, nationalism, socialism, and the modern state within their various historical contexts. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 273: London, A City Shaped by Migration
This class studies the lasting effects of migration on London as a global city. We will analyze historic and current influxes of people and how they have changed the structure, identity, and culture of London. Students will explore London neighborhoods and meet people who have found a new home here.
Assignments and experiential learning will allow students to fully engage with London in a meaningful way. Offered at the London Centre.
PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 273
Prerequisite: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.
HIST 275: Europe in the Age of Nationalism, World War, and Totalitarianism, 1851-1990
An examination of European history from the Age of National Unification through the collapse of the Soviet Empire. Topics include imperialism, the two World Wars, the Russian Revolution, fascism, totalitarianism, mass nationalism, and the reemergence of eastern and central Europe. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 221
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 276: Spy vs. Spy: Espionage and the Cold War
An examination of the Cold War through the lens of intelligence and espionage. Themes include the origins of the CIA and KGB, Soviet and American intelligence successes and failures, mass hysteria and popular fascination with spies, and the contribution of espionage to the Soviet collapse. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. HIST 132 or 325 recommended
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor. HIST 132 or 325 recommended
HIST 278: Colonial Latin American History
An introduction to the creation and rule of Colonial Latin America between the 15th and 19th centuries. Emphasis is on the patterns of conquest and cultural encounter, mechanisms of colonial rule, interaction between ethnic groups, and the cultural impact of the colonial experience upon Latin American peoples. Students who have taken HIST 178 may not enroll in HIST 278 for credit. (LA)
Units: 6
HIST 279: Modern Latin American History, 1821-Present
An introduction to Latin America, from 1821 to the present. Focus is placed on new nations as they struggle to create themselves, and weather the challenges of external influence. Emphasis on how Latin America has developed ethnically, politically, and economically and how these factors affect its position in the world today. Students who have taken HIST 179 may not enroll in HIST 279 for credit. (LA)
Units: 6
HIST 280: Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe
Witchcraft and witch-hunting in Europe between 1350 and 1750. An examination of the concepts of religion and magic and an exploration of such topics as magical practices, the relationship between heresy and magic, the evolution of witchcraft, the dynamics and demise of witch-hunting, the role of gender, and definitions of societal deviance. Readings in primary sources and modern historical and anthropological scholarship. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 281: Thinking About Harry Potter
A course in contemporary history focusing upon Harry Potter as a cultural phenomenon. Students with an already copious knowledge of J.K. Rowling’s stories will further explore them in terms of their relation to history, legend, and myth; their contested aesthetic merit and ethical values; and their broader social and political implications.
Units: 6
HIST 290: Modern European Thought I, 1500-1800
A close examination of 17th- and 18th-century intellectual trends (during the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment) that influenced the epistemological, scientific, and political assumptions of the modern world. Works by such authors as Galileo, Bacon, Descartes, Hobbes, Newton, Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau, Goethe, and Wollstonecraft will trace the displacement of divine authority by human authority as the basis of knowledge in what some modern philosophers have called the “Quest for Certainty” that followed the 16th century. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 291: Theories of Capitalist Domination and Social Transformation, 1750-2000
An examination of modern thought focusing on the problem of self and society since the late 18th century. Topics include individualism and individuality, “economic man,” socialism, feminism, fascism, existentialism, and post-modernism. Readings from Adam Smith, J. S. Mill, Dostoevsky, Marx, Freud, Woolf, and Foucault. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 295: Nationalism in Modern History
An examination of the idea and the reality of nationalism in modern history. Among the questions we will ask are: Is nationalism a modern phenomenon, or does it have pre-modern origins? Is it compatible with democracy and human rights or fundamentally hostile to them? Is it primarily a European phenomenon transplanted to other places, or are there indigenous roots of nationalism throughout the world? We will attempt to answer these questions by reading theoretical works on nationalism from a variety of disciplines and by examining historical case studies. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 295, Ethnic Studies 223
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 300: Reel Men: Masculinity in American Film, 1945-2000
Focusing on an array of well-known American films — “The Maltese Falcon,” “Red River,” “Dr. Strangelove,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Chinatown,” “Die Hard,” and “American Beauty” among them — the course will integrate film theory, gender theory, and American history to address the problem of how masculinity has been constructed in American culture since World War II. Not open to students who have previously received, or need to receive, credit for HIST 400. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore level or above
Units: 6
Also listed as Film Studies 300, Gender Studies 323
Prerequisite: Sophomore level or above
HIST 305: Film as History and History as Film
An examination, through selected films, of specific moments in European history and an examination of film itself as a source of historical interpretation. Possible “historical moments” include Medieval England, Nazi Germany, and the Holocaust, and possible films include Becket, The Triumph of the Will, and Schindler’s List. (E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Film Studies 305
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 307: History of Black Business
This course focuses on the history of African-American entrepreneurship, the American Civil Rights movement, and legal history relevant to Black business development. The course begins with a discussion of the African origins of Black business, follows the trajectory of African American
entrepreneurship in the United States to the Civil Rights movement, and closes with the emergence of the superstar Black athlete as an entrepreneur and the Hip Hop Superstar as an entrepreneur in late 20th century America. The course will conclude with a discussion of present-day laws and
legal decisions impacting African-American entrepreneurship.
PREREQUISITE: One college history course or AP credit in history.
PREREQUISITES: One college history course or AP credit in history
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 307, Business and Entrepreneurship 307
Prerequisite: One college history course or AP credit in history
HIST 308: Half the Sky: Chinese Women's History
This course examines important questions about gender in the last thousand years of Chinese history. Through an exploration of primary sources in translation, classic works of fiction, film, memoirs, and oral histories, we will address theoretical questions fundamental to both gender studies and Chinese history. (EA)
Units: 6.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 308, East Asian Studies 308
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 315: Empire and Nation in Russian History
The course examines the history of ethnically diverse territories referred to as “Russia” from early modern times to 1991. Themes include the formation of the Russian empire, its transformation into the Soviet Union, and its partial collapse in 1991; the meaning of “empire,” “nation,” and “ethnicity” in historical context; and the interaction of Russians with non-Russian peoples in Ukraine, the Baltic States, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor; HIST 320 or 325 recommended
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 315, Ethnic Studies 320
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor; HIST 320 or 325 recommended
HIST 320: Imperial Russia, 1682-1917
A history of the Russian Empire from the reign of Peter I through the revolutions of 1917. Themes include serfdom and its abolition, attempts at modernization, the emergence of political opposition to autocracy, cultural developments, and Russia’s role in the European state system. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 323: Topics in Russian History and Culture (in English)
An interdisciplinary course examining the relationship between politics and culture in Russia since the 18th century through the close analysis of a specific historical theme. Emphasis is placed on reading and discussing literary texts, historical primary sources, and, where applicable, watching films. Possible themes include: Power and Culture in the Russian Revolution, 1900-1936; The Soviet 1960s; and The Agony of Populism: Terrorism and Literature in Russia's Nineteenth Century. Not open to students who have previously received, or need to receive credit for HIST 423. (G&C)
Units: 6
Also listed as Russian 323
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and one course in Russian language, literature, or history
HIST 325: The Soviet Union, 1917-1991
A study of the creation of a socialist state on the territory of the former Russian empire. Themes include the revolutionary origins of the state, economic modernization and social transformation, the emergence of the Stalinist political order, nationality policy, intellectual and artistic activity, and the decline and collapse of the Soviet system. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 326: The Soviet Union and the Second World War
The Soviet Union emerged as one of the key victors in the Second World War (known as the Great Patriotic War in Russia). Yet the war was devastating for the country and its people and victory came at a tremendous price. This course reexamines the impact of the war on the Soviet Uion, what kind of war effort took place on the Eastern Front and in the rear of the Soviet Union, and what kind of victory was achieved. To help address the themes of the course we will read a variety of works and documents including official government documents, personal diaries, letters, and memoirs many of which until recently were either unknown or unpublished in the West.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 334: Japanese Migration to the Americas and the Caribbean
This seminar offers an overview of Japanese migration to the Americas and the Caribbean, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and more. It draws on a wide range of readings, art, media, and cultural materials to understand the complex formation of Japanese communities across the Americas. Students will learn the historical context of 19th and 20th-century social and political developments in Japan and the Americas, and understand how these histories fit in larger global migration trends. Assignments will include leading one class presentation, one primary source analysis paper, and a final research project.
PREREQUISITES: ETST 110 or instructor approval.
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 309
Prerequisite: ETST 110 or instructor approval.
HIST 335: Women in Early America, 1607-1860
An examination of the experiences of women in early America. We will uncover the hidden histories of women's lives through an intersectional approach using race, class, and gender analysis. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Gender Studies 220
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 350: The 1920s, Great Depression, and New Deal, 1920-1945
After considering the 1920s as a “new era” in American history, the course examines the impact of the Great Depression upon American institutions and attitudes, with extensive analysis of the New Deal’s domestic reform program and its creation of a national welfare state. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing and HIST 132
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and HIST 132
HIST 354: History of Russian and Soviet Film
This course will introduce the student to the rich and varied tradition of Russian and Soviet cinema from the Pre-Revolutionary period to the present. Works by major filmmakers will be viewed and discussed in the context of the culture, economy, society, and politics of the time. Taught in English.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Also listed as Russian 354, Film Studies 354
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 355: History of the American Environment
North Americans have transformed the environment while being shaped by nature in turn. This course surveys the changing relationships between Americans and their physical environment in historical context from the 17th century to the present. Topics include the “Columbian exchange,” agriculture, urbanization, conservation, and the emergence of contemporary environmentalism. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Also listed as Environmental Studies 355
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 360: Contemporary China, 1949-2000
A course on selected issues in the history of contemporary China. Major themes include the formation of the modern state, national identity, political (dis)unity, population constraints, environmental sustainability, international relations, and global outreach. A variety of primary and secondary sources will be examined and analyzed. (East Asia)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor;
Units: 6
Also listed as Business and Entrepreneurship 358, Innovation & Entrepreneurship 358, East Asian Studies 420
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor;
HIST 361: Western Encounters with China: Perceptions and Misperceptions
This course examines Western encounters with China. Students will analyze and assess Western perceptions and misperceptions of China through a variety of primary sources in translation and relevant secondary studies. (G & C or E)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 361, East Asian Studies 361
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 366: Topics in British History
An examination of a particular topic in British History. The specific topic investigated changes each year. Student responsibilities may include engagement with secondary historical writings, primary source evaluation, research and essay writing. (E)
Units: 6
HIST 371: The Rise and Fall of American Empires: The Americas, from the Beginnings Through the Conquest
A study of the Aztec, Inca, and Maya civilizations, focusing on cultural and technological development. Additional focus is on pre-columbian cultural succession, imperial expansion of the Aztec and Incan empires, and native participation in the conquest. (G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 374: Visions of Conquest
The creation of Colonial Latin America meant the political, cultural and spiritual reconfiguration of society on both sides of the Atlantic. In this course, we will elucidate the process of conquest through the study of historical accounts, cultural artifacts of the colonizers and colonized alike, and relevant theoretical texts. This course is held concurrently with SPAN 470. Lectures, discussion, and reading and writing assignments are in English. Students interested in work in the Spanish language who have met the prerequisites should register for SPAN 470.(G&C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 378: Ethnicity in Latin America
"Explores the coming together of distinct Native, African, and European ethnicities in Latin America, and the resulting creation of new ethnicities. We examine how race has been understood in Latin American history and how attitudes toward race have fundamentally shaped the history of the region. (Latin America)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing; HIST 278 or HIST 279 recommended
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 325
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing; HIST 278 or HIST 279 recommended
HIST 385: History of the Book
To provide an introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Book History, which should help students think more critically about the impact of material culture on intellectual activity. The course will be taught as a speaking intensive seminar, which means that students will frequently be responsible for presenting reading material and leading discussion in the first half of class.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of the instructor.
Units: 6
Also listed as English 527
Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of the instructor.
HIST 388: Early Modern Japan
This discussion course offers an overview of the early modern history of Japan. Through an analysis of literature, woodblock prints, documents, and secondary historical studies we will explore selected issues in the social and cultural history of the Tokugawa. (G & C) (EA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as East Asian Studies 388
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 390: Tutorial Studies in History
A reading program, specially designed and implemented in consultation with an instructor. Writing is required. Students must consult in advance with the member of the department with whom they wish to work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 391: Directed Study in History
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 395: Internship in History
An opportunity for students to gain experience in public history. Students might work for a museum, historic site, government agency or archive, including the Lawrence University Archives. Arranged under the direction of an instructor in the department in accordance with the guidelines for academic internships as stated in the course catalog.
The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor
HIST 399: Independent Study in History
A research project organized in consultation with an instructor, culminating in a major research paper. Students must consult in advance (preferably during spring registration) with the member of the department with whom they wish to work. Students considering an honors project should register for this course.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 400: Reel Men: Masculinity in American Film, 1945-2000
At the upper level, the course will serve as a history seminar in preparation for the history department's capstone course. Those taking it at that level will be required to write at least one paper addressing film or gender theory and to write a 10-15 page research prospectus. Not open to students who have previously received credit for HIST 300. (NA) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or above
Units: 6
Also listed as Film Studies 400, Gender Studies 423
Prerequisite: Junior standing or above
HIST 415: Africa in the European Imagination
This advanced seminar examines the conceptualization of Africa and Africans in modern European intellectual history. The course details how European thinkers explored issues of race and identity through their figurative and physical engagement with the African continent. Topics include travel narratives, the philosophy of slavery and abolition, and imperialism. Fulfills Seminar Requirement (G & C)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 415
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 430: Society and the Sexes in Pre-Industrial Europe
A seminar, organized topically, exploring changing gender definitions, economic and social roles, family structures and functions, and styles of intimacy from 1000 to 1800. A variety of primary sources and scholarly interpretations examined. (E) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Gender Studies 415
Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor
HIST 431: Violence in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
A chronological and thematic examination of the understandings, uses, and effects of violence between roughly 1000 and 1800. Structured loosely around changing distinctions between licit and illicit forms of violence, the course will explore the transition from reliance upon self-help to well-articulated systems of jurisdiction at different levels of society. Topics will include warfare (feud, conflict among states, mercenaries, standing armies), jurisprudence (interrogation, torture, public execution), revolt (riot, rebellion), and interpersonal violence (criminal behavior, retribution). Readings will include a wide variety of documentary materials and scholarship. (E) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor
HIST 435: Nazism and Stalinism in Comparative Perspective
This course examines the political, social, and cultural histories of two of the 20th century’s most notorious regimes. We will seek to determine what they had in common and, in doing so, answer the question, “What is totalitarianism?” (E or G&C) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing and HIST 115 or 325, or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing and HIST 115 or 325, or consent of instructor
HIST 440: Themes in European Intellectual History, 1789-present
A seminar in the history of ideas, focusing on one of several topics that shift periodically. Possible topics include the concept of freedom in French thought since the Revolution and the rise of post-modernism in 20th-century Europe. (E) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing and HIST 115 or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing and HIST 115 or consent of instructor
HIST 460: The Era of the American Revolution
A chronological and a topical approach to the causes, events, and consequences of the American Revolution. Narrative, fiction, film, and methodological sources are used to consider questions such as: Was the American Revolution revolutionary?; What were the economic and social motives behind the war?; and How different was American society after the war? Fulfills seminar requirement. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore Standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing
HIST 470: The American Civil War
A comprehensive examination of the Civil War era between 1840 and 1877. Major themes and topics will include the political crisis leading to secession, the military conduct of the war, the end of slavery, the effects of the war on American society, and Reconstruction. (NA) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing and HIST 131, or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Also listed as Ethnic Studies 420
Prerequisite: Junior standing and HIST 131, or consent of instructor
HIST 473: Disasters That Made The Americas
This course explores major disasters, such as epidemic diseases, earthquakes, and fires, and their effects on the Americas to understand how these incidents both shaped, and were shaped by, society. We will consider how disasters and state responses affected governance and social relations. We also consider how these responses might inform decision making in the twenty-first century. Our focus will be outside the United States.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 476: Topics in the History of the Americas
This seminar explores the history of the Americas (primarily outside the United States). May be repeated when topic is different.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior Standing
HIST 478: Topics in Environmental History
An in-depth examination of a particular topic in environmental history, suitable for majors in history and environmental studies. Students from other majors should consult the instructor before registering. May be repeated for credit when topic is different.
Units: 6
Also listed as Environmental Studies 478
Prerequisite: HIST 355
HIST 479: Travel and Tourism in American History
This course explores the emergence of tourism in the United States from the early national period to the present, paying particular attention to the dynamics of ethnicity and gender in shaping tourism within modern consumer culture. We will study a variety of primary and secondary sources, including travel narratives and films. (NA) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor
HIST 480: Reconsidering the 1960s
A seminar examining the major themes and issues of the decade. Topics include the Vietnam War, Great Society Programs, the Civil Rights Movement, the American Indian Movement, and feminism. Fiction, oral narrative, and the developing historiographical literature will be employed as aids in addressing the period. (NA) Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing and HIST 132
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing and HIST 132
HIST 482: Global City: The History of New York
This seminar will examine the rise of New York City to global preeminence over the past four centuries as an entrepot and incubator of commerce, culture and people. It will emphasize the challenges of building unity and community in a city marked by racial, class, ethnic, religious and gender difference. Students will produce a substantial research paper on an aspect of the city's history. Fulfills seminar requirement. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 483: History of New Orleans
This course explores the history of New Orleans from the colonial era to the present. Students will investigate the multiple racial and ethnic histories of identity construction that make New Orleans so significant to American culture today. Tracing identity constructions across the course of three centuries will allow us to understand some of the stakes in contested racialized categories and linguistic policies and practices today. The course explores the dominant tropes in New Orleans history: race, sex, carnival, jazz, prostitution, slavery, free people of color, and the environment. We will map the social, cultural, and political changes that occurred in New Orleans from colonial times to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Fulfills seminar requirement. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: HIST 130, 131, or 132
Units: 6
Also listed as Global Studies 483
Prerequisite: HIST 130, 131, or 132
HIST 485: Topics in International and Comparative History
An advanced seminar in modern international and/or comparative history. The course combines review of key theoretical and historiographical issues with research and analysis of primary sources. Possible topics include: Secret Intelligence in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries; the History of the Cold War; and the International History of the Second World War. (G&C) Fulfills seminar requirement. May be repeated when topic is different.
Topic for Fall 2024: Fascism and Nazism
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor
This course examines the history and politics of fascism and Nazism in Italy, Germany, and other national contexts from Brazil to Japan. We begin with basic concepts and debates on fascism and Nazism and explore a range of topics, including political and intellectual origins, the mobilization of cultural, gender, and racial difference, as well as the radical deployment of violence. In addition to reading recent scholarship on fascism, we examine fascist art, propaganda and film. We end the term with a look at
twenty-first century neo-fascism and authoritarianism.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor
HIST 492: The Art of Healing: A History of Chinese Medicine
This course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the history of Chinese medicine. Students will study the canonical literature of the discipline, and analyze the ways in which those texts and ideas have been reshaped in modern and contemporary practice. Topics include: forensic medicine, gender, religion, and public health. (G&C). Fulfills seminar requirement.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing
Units: 6
Also listed as East Asian Studies 492
Prerequisite: Junior standing
HIST 498: Advanced Topics in History
A seminar that provides in-depth study of a specific topic in history. May be repeated when topic changes.
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing
HIST 499: A History of Lawrence University
The course is a study of the history of Lawrence University, from its founding ideas to its modern form. We will consider how Lawrence fits into broader historical trends. This course will have a focus on primary research, particularly in the Lawrence archives. (NA)
PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 590: Tutorial Studies in History
A reading program, specially designed and implemented in consultation with an instructor. Writing is required. Students must consult in advance with the member of the department with whom they wish to work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 591: Directed Study in History
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 595: Internship in History
An opportunity for students to gain experience in public history. Students might work for a museum, historic site, government agency or archive, including the Lawrence University Archives. Arranged under the direction of an instructor in the department in accordance with the guidelines for academic internships as stated in the course catalog.
The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 599: Independent Study in History
A research project organized in consultation with an instructor, culminating in a major research paper. Students must consult in advance (preferably during spring registration) with the member of the department with whom they wish to work. Students considering an honors project should register for this course.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 620: Historiography
A seminar examining both philosophical and methodological aspects of historical studies. Readings include modern treatises on the nature of history, select works of important philosophers of history, and examples of contemporary approaches to historical research and writing.
PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor
HIST 650: Senior Experience: The Practice of History
A seminar culminating in an original and substantial piece of historical research. Students will be guided through individual projects. Open to history majors who, having completed an advanced seminar, tutorial, or independent study, have outlined a research topic that they are prepared to pursue intensively.
PREREQUISITES: Senior standing
Units: 6
Prerequisite: Senior standing
HIST 690: Tutorial Studies in History
A reading program, specially designed and implemented in consultation with an instructor. Writing is required. Students must consult in advance with the member of the department with whom they wish to work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 691: Directed Study in History
Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 695: Internship in History
An opportunity for students to gain experience in public history. Students might work for a museum, historic site, government agency or archive, including the Lawrence University Archives. Arranged under the direction of an instructor in the department in accordance with the guidelines for academic internships as stated in the course catalog.
The academic component of the internship includes readings related to the substance of the internship, discussions with the faculty supervisor, and a written report appropriate to the discipline. Course grades are based on this academic work.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
HIST 699: Independent Study in History
A research project organized in consultation with an instructor, culminating in a major research paper. Students must consult in advance (preferably during spring registration) with the member of the department with whom they wish to work. Students considering an honors project should register for this course.
PREREQUISITES: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.
Units: 1 TO 98
Prerequisite: To register student must complete the Student Initiated Course Form with consultation of supervising instructor.