AFAS S1001 INTRO TO AFRICAN-AMER STUDIES. 3.00 points.

AMHS GU4403 The Sixties in the Archive. 4 points.

This course explores the multifaceted history of the 1960s, connecting political, cultural, and social movements, and examining the legacies of this crucial decade from the vantage point of half a century. Working with Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library the class will emphasize archival collections and independent research. Students will develop advanced research skills and work independently to complete a digital exhibition highlighting their archival discoveries.

AMHS GU4462 IMMIGRANT NEW YORK. 4.00 points.

AMHS UN3462 IMMIGRANT NEW YORK. 4.00 points.

For centuries, New York City has served as a primary gateway city for immigrants to the United States. In the early twentieth century, according to the 1910 Census, New York City’s population was roughly 40% foreign-born. The problems these immigrants presented to government officials, doctors, religious leaders, industrialists, the police, and educators in New York City transformed not only the local debate on immigration but the national discussion of “Americanization” as well. According to the most recent census, approximately 40% of the city's population is foreign-born. Like their predecessors at the turn of the twentieth century, contemporary immigrants, arriving from the Caribbean, Africa, Central America, Asia, and Europe, have posed serious challenges to the civic, educational, and political institutions of New York City. How are these foreign-born residents reshaping the city today? This seminar explores the intersection of immigration, race, culture, and politics in New York City, both from the perspective of history and in relation to contemporary realities as it explores the forces shaping the century-old encounter between immigrants and New York City

AMHS W3462 Immigrant New York. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

For the past century and a half, New York City has been the first home of millions of immigrants to the United States.  This course will compare immigrants' encounter with New York at the dawn of the twentieth century with contemporary issues, organizations, and debates shaping immigrant life in New York City.  As a service learning course, each student will be required to work 2-4 hours/week in the Riverside Language Center or programs for immigrants run by Community Impact. Field(s): US

AMHS W3574 America Through Sight and Sound to 1877. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course uses audio and visual evidence to explore major themes in American history from early colonization through Reconstruction.  Major themes include visual perceptions of the early American landscape and its transformation; contested representations of African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans as expressed through visual imagery; shifting attitudes toward childhood, death, the family, and gender as revealed through art and material artifacts;  the visual history of slavery, the sectional crisis, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; the evolution of African American, Irish, and Mexican American musical traditions to 1877 and what their songs reveal about these peoples’ lives and values; and the construction, transmission, and contestation of historical memory in popular audio and visual media. Field(s): US

AMHS W3576 Investigating Childhood. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course examines the history of childhood and how it can refine contemporary psychological and legal thinking about children and inform current debates about the young. The class's approach will be highly interdisciplinary, drawing upon the insights and methods of anthropology, art history, biology, demography, developmental psychology, law, literature, philosophy, and sociology. We will examine childhood both as lived experience-shaped by such factors as class, ethnicity, gender, geographical region, and historical era-and as a cultural category that adults impose upon children. The class will also place a special emphasis on public policy, covering topics such as adoption, child abuse and neglect, children's rights, disability, juvenile delinquency, schooling, and social welfare policies. Field(s): US

AMHS W3580 American Cultural Criticism. 4 points.

A seminar on the history of American cultural criticism since the late nineteenth century.  Themes include the search for forms of artistic expression appropriate to a democratic society; the consequences of urbanism and corporate industrialization for American culture and values; the implications of ethno-racial diversity for American culture and national identity; tensions between “popular” or “mass” culture, the avant-garde, and “high” culture; selfhood and the moral life; the shift from a modernist to a postmodernist sensibility; and the public role of the critic in the United States.   Field(s): US

AMHS W4462 Immigrant New York. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

For the past century and a half, New York City has been the first home of millions of immigrants to the United States.  This course will compare immigrants' encounter with New York at the dawn of the twentieth century with contemporary issues, organizations, and debates shaping immigrant life in New York City.  As a service learning course, each student will be required to work 2-4 hours/week in the Riverside Language Center or programs for immigrants run by Community Impact. Field(s): US

AMHS W4574 America Through Sight and Sound to 1877. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course uses audio and visual evidence to explore major themes in American history from early colonization through Reconstruction.  Major themes include visual perceptions of the early American landscape and its transformation; contested representations of African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexicans as expressed through visual imagery; shifting attitudes toward childhood, death, the family, and gender as revealed through art and material artifacts;  the visual history of slavery, the sectional crisis, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; the evolution of African American, Irish, and Mexican American musical traditions to 1877 and what their songs reveal about these peoples’ lives and values; and the construction, transmission, and contestation of historical memory in popular audio and visual media. Field(s): US

AMHS W4576 Investigating Childhood. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course examines the history of childhood and how it can refine contemporary psychological and legal thinking about children and inform current debates about the young. The class's approach will be highly interdisciplinary, drawing upon the insights and methods of anthropology, art history, biology, demography, developmental psychology, law, literature, philosophy, and sociology. We will examine childhood both as lived experience-shaped by such factors as class, ethnicity, gender, geographical region, and historical era-and as a cultural category that adults impose upon children. The class will also place a special emphasis on public policy, covering topics such as adoption, child abuse and neglect, children's rights, disability, juvenile delinquency, schooling, and social welfare policies. Field(s): US

AMHS W4580 American Cultural Criticism. 4 points.

A seminar on the history of American cultural criticism since the late nineteenth century.  Themes include the search for forms of artistic expression appropriate to a democratic society; the consequences of urbanism and corporate industrialization for American culture and values; the implications of ethno-racial diversity for American culture and national identity; tensions between “popular” or “mass” culture, the avant-garde, and “high” culture; selfhood and the moral life; the shift from a modernist to a postmodernist sensibility; and the public role of the critic in the United States.   Field(s): US

ANHS UN3838 GENDER/POLITICS OF FEM-S ASIA. 4.00 points.

ANHS W4177 Caste, Religion and Tradition in Indian Society: An Anthropological History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

How did Western scholars/missionaries/anthropologists/colonial officials understand the strange world of India they found themselves in?  The religion was unrecognizable by the terms of a Western understanding: it was not congregational, confessional, or recognizably scriptural.  Culturally, Indian society was deeply hierarchical, divided by a system called “caste” which was both scriptural and not.   Furthermore, religion and caste contributed centrally to the understanding of “culture” a term invoked interchangeably with “tradition.”  The divide between caste, religion, and culture, at the same time the difficulty of implementing that divide baffled Western scholars and missionaries of the late medieval period, but also later (19th century) colonial officials and anthropologists.  Knowledge about India was centrally produced by these various gatherers and compilers of information on India, and in this course we begin with early accounts of missionary activities, and will work our way through the writings of political theorists, sociologists, anthropologists, in order to arrive at an understanding of the interdisciplinary and anthropological history of India. Field(s): SA

ANHS W4855 Gender and Feminism in South Asia: An Anthropological History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

“Feminist history” is a concept that encompasses a wide and rich range of histories of ideas, issues, movements, and contemporary controversies.  In this seminar we will examine the history of feminist movements, anthropological descriptions of South Asian women’s lives and cultures, political tracts on contemporary issues with older genealogies, and historical/anthropological monographs dealing with specific scandals associated with women’s bodies, such as dowry murders, or honor killings.  The seminar will progress thematically rather than geographically, and will address issues specific to the lives of women in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.  Beginning with the British colonial period in South Asia (1757-1947/8) it will address the impact of missionary and colonial policies associated with reform on the lives of women, moving onto the nationalist period, partition, and the post-nationalist milieu.   The course is divided into four sections: Colonialism and law/property/education and reform; Nationalism, religion and identity ; Violence/Conflict and Minority Struggles; Globalization and its discontents. Field(s): SA

CSER UN3934 Black/Brown History of Rock and Roll. 4 points.

This course is designed to get students to think more deeply about the ethno-racial roots—and routes—of rock and roll music as a national, historical phenomenon. In this class, we’ll conceive rock and roll broadly to include peripheral genres which are related to or derived from its origins, including rhythm and blues, jazz, soul, funk, boogaloo, salsa, disco, and hip-hop, to thread together and discuss the relationships between music, identity, and race in the United States. Latinxs and African Americans have played significant, if underrecognized, roles in shaping American popular music; the cultural connections and musical interactivity between these communities are lesser understood in popular narratives of postwar American music. To this end, this course will uncover a broad social, racial, national, and transnational history of rock and roll to understand how musicians of color innovated long-standing musical traditions in their communities; maintained cultural and political links within the diaspora; and navigated regional racial schemas in the United States and Latin America.

FRHS GU4917 French Empires: History and Historiography. 4.00 points.

At the beginning of the 21st Century, forty years after its last colonial war, France, which had primarily seen itself as a “nation” in the previous two hundred years, discovered that it had been an “empire” for most of its history. The questions of slavery, colonial violence, racism, exclusion, and exploitation became prevalent in public debates with the conviction that colonial legacies continued to shape France’s present. This new interest in the imperial trajectory of France both informed and was shaped by the publication of many historical works. This class will explore this 'imperial turn' and examine its specificity vis-à-vis the historiographies of other European empires. We will examine the questions that have been at the center of the historian's agenda: what kind of historical processes is revealed (or masked) by the imperial perspective? How do we think historically about the relationships between nation, Republic and empire? How has the 'imperial turn' shaped the categories and writing practices of historians? How have new repertoires of questions about citizenship, gender and sexuality, racism, capitalism, and the environment emerged in the study of imperialism? What are the contributions of historians to the understanding of postcolonialism?

Spring 2024: FRHS GU4917
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
FRHS 4917 001/14735 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
402 Hamilton Hall
Emmanuelle Saada 4.00 18/18

HILI GR5115 Fin-de-siecle_Europe. 3.00 points.

This reading-intense seminar will explore key primary sources and historiography of the period 1880-1910: decades of cultural transition and innovation; décadence and modernism; beginnings and 'fins,’ explorations into the subconscious and mass behaviors. Simultaneity and duality will be our guiding concepts. We will focus on Paris as an epicenter of artistic exchange, Vienna as a cultural heartland of fin-de-siècle Europe, and Eastern Europe as a hotbed of radical mass politics. We will investigate key philosophical, social and political phenomena of an epoch described as “the crucible of modernity:” shifting ways of seeing, working and consuming; an era of sexual experimentation (bachelor, dandy, New Woman); conceptions of the self (Freud’s concept of the subconscious) and the society (crowd, mass politics, revolution, empire, nation-building). We will work with a premise that culture and politics should be studied in a transnational context (i.e. 19th century forms of statehood and economic life) and in a cross-disciplinary way, considering how literary texts were shaped alongside works in other spheres: visual arts, architecture, science, philosophy, early cinema, sexuality, social and political life. By underscoring the overarching themes of decline and rebirth, this course engages with shifting ways of thinking about the transition from the nineteenth to the twentieth century

HIST 3023 Pre-Colonial Mesoamerican Societ. 0.00 points.

HIST 3067 History of the American Middle C. 0.00 points.

HIST 3611 Jews and Judaism in Antiquity. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Field(s): ANC

HIST BC3243 The Constitution in Historical Perspective. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The develoment of constitutional doctrine, 1787 to the present.  The Constitution as an experiement in republicanism; states' rights and the Civil War amendments; freedom of contract and its opponents; the emergence of civil liberties; New Deal intervention and the crisis of the Court; the challenge of civil rights. Field(s): US

HIST BC3403 Mexican Migration in the US. 3 points.

Examines the history of Mexican migration in the United States since the end of the XIX century. The course will analyze the role played by U.S. immigration policy, the labor demands of U.S. employers, the social and economic conditions of Mexico, and the formation of Mexican immigrant communities.

HIST BC3866 Fashion in China. 3 points.

BC: Fulfillment of General Education Requirement: Historical Studies (HIS).
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course challenges the long-standing association of fashion with the West. We will trace the transformation of China's sartorial landscape from the premodern era into the present. Using textual, visual, and material sources, we will explore: historical representations of dress in China; the politics of dress; fashion and the body; women's labor; consumption and modernity; industry and the world-market. We will also read key texts in fashion studies to reflect critically on how we define fashion in different historical and cultural contexts. Our approach will be interdisciplinary, embracing history, anthropology, art, and literature. Field(s): EA

HIST BC4117 Ritual, Revel and Riot: Popular Culture In Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will examine several of the seminal works that explore the nature of popular culture in early modern Europe.  There are several themes we will explore in this course

HIST C4398 Senior Thesis Seminar. 4 points.

A year-long course for outstanding senior majors who want to conduct research in primary sources on a topic of their choice in any aspect of history, and to write a senior thesis possibly leading toward departmental honors. Field(s): ALL

HIST C4399 Senior Thesis Seminar. 4 points.

A year-long course for outstanding senior majors who want to conduct research in primary sources on a topic of their choice in any aspect of history, and to write a senior thesis possibly leading toward departmental honors. Field(s): ALL

HIST C4951 Supervised Individual Research I. 4 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST C4952 Supervised Individual Research II. 4 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST C4997 Independent Senior Thesis In History I. 4 points.

Open to highly qualified senior history majors.

Instructor to be arranged by the student. A sophisticated research paper, of at least 25 to 30 pages, is written under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and then defended at a formal oral examination before the sponsor and a second faculty member. A research plan must be prepared prior to the term in which the course is taken and must be approved by both the sponsor and the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST C4998 Independent Senior Thesis In History II. 4 points.

Open to highly qualified senior history majors.

Instructor to be arranged by the student. A sophisticated research paper, of at least 25 to 30 pages, is written under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and then defended at a formal oral examination before the sponsor and a second faculty member. A research plan must be prepared prior to the term in which the course is taken and must be approved by both the sponsor and the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST G8000 US Higher Education: History and Prospects. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

HIST G8001 Archaic Rome. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In addressing issues of general and acknowledged relevance for the study of archaic Rome-from institutions and their interpretation to comparative religious history, from archaeological evidence and its uses to comparative linguistics-the colloquium will invite students to connect them in new and original ways. The colloquium will provide students with the opportunity to work on ancient languages other than Latin and Greek; some time over the semester will be devoted to familiarizing students with Archaic Etruscan Inscriptions and the Umbrian language. Field(s): ANC*

HIST G8063 Captivity. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

            A thematic graduate colloquium that examines the phenomenon of captivity in Western history, from the Biblical Near East to the present day and across Europe and the Mediterranean, Africa, and the Americas. Students will read primary sources (“captivity narratives” and others) alongside secondary scholarship, and produce either an essay based on original research or another suitable final project.

HIST G8117 Knowledge Networks and Information Economies in the Early Modern Period. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

              This course is designed to introduce students to major topics in the developing historical literature on the relationships between intellectual and economic history, centered on Europe’s global reach in the first two centuries after Columbus and Da Gama.

HIST GR5000 RES SKILLS/MTHDS-INT/WRLD HIST. 2.00 points.

In the first semester a series of workshops will introduce the field of international history and various research skills and methods such as conceptualization of research projects and use of oral sources. The fall sessions will also show the digital resources available at Columbia and how students can deploy them in their individual projects. In the second semester students will apply the skills acquired in the fall as they develop their proposal for the Master's thesis, which is to be completed next year at the LSE. The proposal identifies a significant historical question, the relevant primary and secondary sources, an appropriate methodology, what preliminary research has been done and what remains to be done. Students will present their work-in-progress

Fall 2023: HIST GR5000
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 5000 001/10355 F 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Line Lillevik 2.00 24/25

HIST GR5001 RES SKILLS/MTHDS-INT/WRLD HIST. 2.00 points.

In the first semester a series of workshops will introduce the field of international history and various research skills and methods such as conceptualization of research projects and use of oral sources. The fall sessions will also show the digital resources available at Columbia and how students can deploy them in their individual projects. In the second semester students will apply the skills acquired in the fall as they develop their proposal for the Masters thesis, which is to be completed next year at the LSE. The proposal identifies a significant historical question, the relevant primary and secondary sources, an appropriate methodology, what preliminary research has been done and what remains to be done. Students will present their work-in-progress

Spring 2024: HIST GR5001
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 5001 001/11596 F 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Anders Stephanson, Line Lillevik 2.00 24/25

HIST GR5294 Muslims in early modern Europe: East Central European Perspectives. 4.00 points.

This seminar is an invitation to go beyond the traditional, simplistic and misleading distinction established since the 19th century between “Europe” and “Islam”. It keeps a good distance from the major national and radical narratives, and it invites us to reinterpret the history of East Central Europe, and more broadly the history of Europe, through the light of the social life of Muslims in the early modern period. From Sofia to Munich and from Sarajevo to Vilnius, free or enslaved, Muslims constituted a culturally-, linguistically-, gender-, economically-, socially- and ethnically-dynamic and diverse population. They lived beyond the borders of the multiple states in which they were born, settled, worked, and operated. They were nothing but integrally part of early modern European society. We will specifically focus on early modern Est Central Europe: a lively contact zone between the dâr al-islâm and the dâr al-harb, but also what Braham Stoker referred to as “the whirlpool of European races”. Thus, in this seminar, we will address several historiographical and methodological issues such as: how could we explain that the history of Muslims has been under-researched in European history? From what materials can we explore the social life of Muslims, especially in early modern East Central Europe? With what methods? How can this history contribute to the history of race, migration, and empire and to get a better understanding of the social fabric of a more and more diverse society through history?

HIST GR5993 Perspectives on International and World History. 1.00-3.00 points.

This course gives students the opportunity to design their own curriculum: To attend lectures, conferences and workshops on historical topics related to their individual interests throughout Columbia University. Students may attend events of their choice, and are especially encouraged to attend those sponsored by the History Department (www.history.columbia.edu). (The Center for International History - cih.columbia.edu - and the Heyman Center for the Humanities - heymancenter.org/events/ - also have impressive calendars of events, often featuring historians.) The goal of this mini-course is to encourage students to take advantage of the many intellectual opportunities throughout the University, to gain exposure to a variety of approaches to history, and at the same time assist them in focusing on a particular area for their thesis topic

Fall 2023: HIST GR5993
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 5993 001/10356  
Line Lillevik 1.00-3.00 22/25

HIST GR6903 History in Action: Introduction to Historical Practice in the Age of the Pandemic. 4.00 points.

Intended for incoming graduate students, this course introduces students to the key tools, analogue and digital, forms of writing, scholarly and non-scholarly, used by historians, and to the fundamental political and ethical challenges facing scholars, especially at this moment when the an academic already in crisis finds itself gravely challenged. Student will be equipped with the fundamental tools needed to undertake long term research programs at the end of the course; in gaining experience with newer digital tools and fora for historical discussion and work, they will likewise gain literacy with more traditional historical tools and genres

HIST GR6931 SEM IN GLOBAL STRATEGY II. 4.00 points.

While the Covid-19 crisis is still unfolding, it has already revealed much about the history of our time and left lessons that will be important to study before the next pandemic. But even before the pandemic began, archivists and scholars were struggling to develop new methods to record and analyze history in an age of abundant but perishable data. This course aims to train students to analyze historical scholarship on pandemics and global public health and design collaborative research projects. They will work together conducting archival research, interviews, and computational analysis or large corpora of contemporary records. They will also learn how to present their work to their peers and plan follow-up research and publications

HIST GR6948 Climate and Historical Research: Methods and Concepts. 4.00 points.

Recent advances in paleoclimatology have produced new ways to conceptualize and understand the past, and new approaches to global, environmental, and local history. This course examines key methods and concepts associated to the use of climate data in historical research, illustrated through a variety of examples ranging from the ancient to the early modern period, and from Europe to Asia

HIST GR6998 GRADUATE LECTURE. 4.00 points.

HIST 6998 GR is a twin listings of an undergraduate History lecture provided to graduate students for graduate credit. If a graduate student enrolls, she/he/they attends the same class as the undergraduate students (unless otherwise directed by the instructor). Each instructor determines additional work for graduate students to complete in order to receive graduate credit for the course. Please refer to the notes section in SSOL for the corresponding (twin) undergraduate 1000 or 2000 level course and follow that course's meeting day & time and assigned classroom. Instructor permission is required to join

HIST GR6999 GRADUATE SEMINAR. 4.00 points.

HIST 6999 GR is a twin listings of an undergraduate History seminar provided to graduate students for graduate credit. If a graduate student enrolls, she/he/they attends the same class as the undergraduate students (unless otherwise directed by the instructor). Each instructor determines additional work for graduate students to complete in order to receive graduate credit for the course. Please refer to the notes section in SSOL for the corresponding (twin) undergraduate 3000 level course and follow that course's meeting day & time and assigned classroom. Instructor permission is required to join

Fall 2023: HIST GR6999
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 6999 006/18937  
Myroslav Shkandrij 4.00 3/7
HIST 6999 008/18939  
Myroslav Shkandrij 4.00 3/7
HIST 6999 021/18931  
Mark Lilla 4.00 0/3

HIST GR8023 Human and Social Sciences as History. 4.00 points.

This cross-departmental, intense reading seminar examines new directions in global history of social knowledge and science from 1800 to 1950. We will study science in context with a special focus on producers, objects and circuits of knowledge, and a relationship between knowledge, power and politics. We will critically investigate theoretical and practical implications of some major works in political economy, anthropology, statistics, sociology, psychology and psychiatry, including often overlooked scholars of color and female intellectuals. In particular, the seminar looks at the ways in which scholarly reflection shaped modern practices of classification, measurement, data collection, and immaterial objects of scholarly inquiry such as the self and the unconscious. Among others, we will discuss the cultural impact of the Enlightenment, imperial conquest, colonialism, nation-state building, mass politics, war violence, and communist revolutions in the Soviet Union and China. In conjuction, we will study shifting understandings of community, wealth and social inequalities, citizenship, race, sexuality, cultural norms of behavior, and the very role of science in a society and across continents (metropolitan Europe and colonial territories, North and South America, Eurasia, and the Islamic world). The seminar welcomes students from all social sciences and humanities departments

HIST GR8046 Readings in Roman History. 4.00 points.

This course provides in-depth introduction to traditional topics in the discipline of Roman history through new perspectives. Topics include Roman imperial expansion; citizenship; mobility and migration; environmental change; gender; and slavery. Students will write a seminar paper and give conference-style papers at the end of the semester

HIST GR8089 European Social Thought. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This graduate seminar will focus on some of the seminal texts in European social and political thought throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  We will pay special attention to the relationship between texts and the various contexts in which they were produced.  Each week, we will pair a primary text with critical works from various disciplines (history, anthropology, literature, political theory, history of science, and psychoanalysis).  Readings will include Nietzsche, Marx, Freud, Durkheim, Mauss, Schmitt, Arendt, Adorno, Lenin, Luxemburg, Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, Lacan, Derrida, Foucault, Fanon, CLR James, Wittig, and Irigaray.

HIST GR8098 European Social Thought. 4 points.

This graduate seminar will focus on some of the seminal texts in European social and political thought throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  We will pay special attention to the relationship between texts and the various contexts in which they were produced.  Each week, we will pair a primary text with critical works from various disciplines (history, anthropology, literature, political theory, history of science, and psychoanalysis).  Readings will include Nietzsche, Marx, Freud, Durkheim, Mauss, Schmitt, Arendt, Adorno, Lenin, Luxemburg, Saussure, Lévi-Strauss, Lacan, Derrida, Foucault, Fanon, CLR James, Wittig, and Irigaray.

HIST GR8103 EARLY MOD EUR CULT/INTELL HIST. 4.00 points.

What were the institutions, formal and informal, in which knowledge was created, disseminated and policed during the early modern period? How were practical solutions to problems of knowledge found in solutions to problems of order and organization?

HIST GR8157 England and Wider World 1550 to 1815. 4.00 points.

This colloquium explores the evolution of English overseas enterprise from the Protestant Reformation through the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Topics include the origins and organization of the early British Empire, the production of wealth through colonial settlement and overseas trade, the development of consumer markets for tropical commodities, the relationship between European and imperial spheres of endeavor, the relationship between overseas enterprise and evolving definitions of British identity, and new problems of governance and administration in the late eighteenth century that accompanied colonial expansion in North America, South Asia, the Caribbean, and West Africa

HIST GR8165 HISTORY OF POLITICAL ECONOMY. 4.00 points.

The goal of this seminar is to discuss the relationship between economics and politics in eighteenth-century debates about political economy. The focus is on primary texts (Mandeville, Montesquieu, Hume, Rousseau, Smith, Say). We will also introduce students to some of the most influential historiography, with a discussion of the principal concepts used in eighteenth-century intellectual history, such as republicanism, civic humanism, neo-Stoicism, neo-Epicureanism, the Montesquieu-Steuart doctrine, and doux commerce

HIST GR8176 COLLOQ IN ATLANTIC HISTORY. 4.00 points.

This colloquium provides an intensive exploration of the Atlantic World during the early modern era. Readings will attend to the sequence of contact, conquest, and dispossession that enabled the several European empires to gain political and economic power. In this regard, particular attention will be given to the role of commerce and merchant capitalism in the formation of the Atlantic World. The course will focus also, however, on the dynamics of cultural exchange, on the two-way influences that pushed the varied peoples living along the Atlantic to develop new practices, new customs, and new tastes. Creative adaptations in the face of rapid social and cultural change will figure prominently in the readings. Students may expect to give sustained attention the worlds Africans, Amerindians, and Europeans both made together and made apart

HIST GR8272 Ukrainian Nationalism 1929-59. 4.00 points.

Why was authoritarian ideology attractive to many young people in Western Ukraine in the 1930s and 1940s? And why does nationalist mythology still exert a potent influence in Eastern Europe? This course answers these questions by examining the politics, ideology and literature of interwar nationalism and its postwar decline. The focus is on the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), which for three decades played an important role in Western Ukraine (Galicia, Bukovyna and Transcarpathia) and in émigré communities. The views of different researchers are analyzed and prominence it given to the myth-making in nationalist ideology that still exerts an influence today

HIST GR8300 INTERWAR INT'L RECONSIDERED. 4.00 points.

This course introduces students to the burgeoning literature on international ideas, relations, politics and movements between the wars, especially in Europe. We will explore three questions in particular. First, how has the current turn to international/global history altered our understanding of the key aspects of Europe’s ‘twenty-year crisis’ – especially post-World War I stabilization, the management of the slump, imperial contestation, and the challenge posed by revisionist states? Second, what was the nature of the “Geneva project,” and what was its significance? Finally, what other visions of internationalism and geopolitics emerged in the interwar era, and to what effect? Can we now bring international history and European history together? Students will be expected to do all common readings and participate in class discussion and to prepare discussion questions and help guide discussion twice during the term. Written assignments will be structured to allow students to evaluate this new scholarship in light of their own research

HIST GR8309 History in Action: Introduction to Historical Practice in the Age of the Pandemic. 4.00 points.

Intended for incoming graduate students, this course introduces students to the key tools, analogue and digital, forms of writing, scholarly and non-scholarly, used by historians, and to the fundamental political and ethical challenges facing scholars, especially at this moment when the an academic already in crisis finds itself gravely challenged. Student will be equipped with the fundamental tools needed to undertake long term research programs at the end of the course; in gaining experience with newer digital tools and fora for historical discussion and work, they will likewise gain literacy with more traditional historical tools and genres

HIST GR8311 INTRO-LIT OF EUROPEAN HISTORY. 4.00 points.

HIST GR8349 Historiography of Modern Latin America. 4 points.

This graduate-level course examines the study of Latin American history from the beginning of the wave of decolonization at the turn of the nineteenth century to the present day. Throughout the semester, we will read and discuss scholarship that familiarizes students with major themes in the study of postcolonial Latin America; this scholarship also raises questions, implicitly and sometimes explicitly, about just what Latin America is, and about what distinguishes the postcolonial period from earlier moments (and about such conventional watersheds as independence and other political transitions). Our readings are designed to stimulate discussion along the lines of the subfields that they each address—gender, environmental history, nation-building, and so on—but more broadly, and together, they will help us establish a critical understanding of the historically contingent definition of Latin America as a geopolitical and historical construct. This course is primarily designed for doctoral students, but those enrolled in MA programs or in the professional schools may register with the instructor’s permission. All required readings will be in English; reading knowledge or Spanish and/or Portuguese would expand the possibilities available for writing the final paper but is not a requirement.

HIST GR8392 Reading Social Theory. 4.00 points.

The aim of this course is to provide graduate students with a basic understanding of some of the key concepts and arguments within classic texts of European social theory. We will read works by Marx, Weber, Freud, Fanon, Foucault, Arendt and some others. The aim is to get a handle on the texts themselves, as a necessary aspect of acquiring basic literacy in the field, and only secondarily to contextualize them

HIST GR8423 Cultural Histories of Britain: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. 4.00 points.

For British historians, the term cultural history holds special meaning as a category of historiography originating in the Marxist school associated with the journal Past and Present. That legacy spread through a variety of channels created by historians of material culture, political aims, elite forms of leisure, religious activity, and popular practices and belief. This course will examine a selection of these approaches as they have evolved since the 1970s. We will also attempt to build our own definition of cultural history by following a roughly chronological framework from the early eighteenth century to the late Victorian age while asking the questions, “Where has the aim of identifying a particular British culture taken historians over time?” and “How have historians used the notion of culture to represent the values, outlooks, and behavior that characterized British life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries?”

HIST GR8436 Gender, Race and Nation: The American Civil War and Reconstruction. 4.00 points.

This graduate level course invites students to engage a series of issues about nationalism, state formation, gender, race and citizenship presented forcefully in the United States in the context of Civil War and Reconstruction. It also invites students to think about the nature and significance of that event in the history of the nineteenth century world. At that crucial moment, 1861-77, a war of unprecedented scope drove a process of state building and state-sponsored slave emancipation in the United States which ultimately reconfigured the nation and remade the terms of political membership in it. The end of the war opened up a fundamental struggle about race and democracy in the aftermath of slavery, a period of radical experimentation in democratic inclusion, and a violent white supremacist backlash – all of which remain relevant to the present historical moment. Finally, the course grapples meaningfully with the question of gender and nation: the gendered apparatus of nation-making, the configuring of women within the state and their relation to state authority, and the hard boundaries of male citizenship that emerged in the period of constitutional revision in the post-emancipation period. Using the Civil War as a pivotal moment, the course ranges back to the early national period and forward into the twentieth century to trace out the nexus of gender, slavery, race, and nation in the Civil War era

HIST GR8467 Twentieth Century U.S. Political History. 4.00 points.

This graduate colloquium in the political history of the United States in the twentieth century is intended to provide graduate students with a foundation in the major scholarly works and the key historiographical questions in the field. We will treat political history broadly, looking at political institutions, elections, and struggles over policy as well as social movements, political ideas and the politics of daily life. This course is most relevant for graduate students who are preparing to take oral exams in 20th-century American history—but it will be of interest to graduate students in any field who want to engage in substantive and sustained discussion of this literature and the issues it raises

HIST GR8479 INFO-COMPUTING-INFRASTRUCTURE. 4.00 points.

The course introduces the major works in the history of computing and information technologies, with particular attention to transformative methodologically important texts. Students will be likewise introduced to major current works in the history of technology and media studies. The course along the way provides an outline of the development of computing from the late nineteenth century

HIST GR8482 Early American History. 4.00 points.

This course is designed to offer a general introduction to early American history from the colonial era to the early national era in North America. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the early American field broadly defined. Through weekly discussions of selected monographs and essays we will explore the key themes of early American history, examine methodological innovations and changes, and explore shifting historiographic trends in this broadly defined chronological field. Accordingly, we will approach our study by examining a few important historical constructs – the representation of the western hemisphere as a New World; the fact that European colonists, their African slaves, and the imperial governments that ruled North America’s settler colonies were part of a larger Atlantic World --connecting people and political regimes in Europe, Africa and the America. And finally, we will wrestle with the fact that as late as the end of the eighteenth century the majority of the North American was controlled by autonomous indigenous peoples making colonial history a story of encounter between an emergent indigenous New World and the peoples and institutions of Europe Empire

HIST GR8495 BORDERLANDS HISTORY COLLOQUIUM. 4.00 points.

This course will argue for a broader spatial history of empire by looking at sites such as frontiers and borderlands in a theoretical and comparative perspective. From the works of nineteenth century historians such as Frederick Jackson Turner to formulations of spatial perspectives by Foucault, Bauchelard and Lefebvre we will look at specific sites from the American West to Northeast India. Our effort will be to situate borderlands and frontiers not at the margins but t the center of the relationship between power and narrative, between empire and colony. Formulations of race, gender, class will be central to our comparative units of historical analysis and allow us to create conversations across area-studies boundaries within the discipline

HIST GR8522 The European Enlightenment. 4 points.

This colloquium aims to introduce graduate students to classic and more recent literature on the European Enlightenment. The field has expanded far beyond the cohort of free-thinking philosophers around which it was initially conceived to encompass the broader cultural, economic, and religious preoccupations of the long eighteenth century. Topics to be addressed include the relationship of traditional political authorities to an emerging public sphere, the rise of society as a means of mediating human relationships, the entrepreneurial and epistemological innovations made possible by new media, the struggles of the philosophe movement for legitimacy, debates surrounding luxury consumption and commercial society, and arguments between Christian apologists and free-thinkers over traditional religious doctrines and practice.

HIST GR8537 GRAD READINGS IN AMER & WORLD. 4.00 points.

HIST GR8538 THE SOUTH AFTER RECONSTRUCTION. 4.00 points.

The period of Southern history between the end of Reconstruction and World War I, during which the foundation was laid for a Southern Order more durable than any of its predecessors - either the Old South of King Cotton, the Confederate South of the Civil War era, or the Republican south of the Reconstruction. Field(s): US

HIST GR8558 Race and Sexuality in Modern France and its Empire. 4.00 points.

This graduate seminar explores the intersections of race and sexuality in France and its empires from the 18th century to the present. Through close readings of primary sources, historical, and theoretical works, we will examine how the politics of desire, the management of affective regimes, and the production of sexual norms and exceptions intersected with the making and unmaking of racial orders

HIST GR8578 American Social Movements From Cap-Haïtien to Orange County. 4.00 points.

This graduate seminar encourages students to take up the challenge of doing historical work on social movements from the late 18th century until the present. During the past two decades, mobilization from different points in the political spectrum, including the Occupy Movement, the Movement for Black Lives, and right-wing movements, among other impactful mobilizations, has vividly illustrated the impact of social movements on the shaping of political struggles. Moreover, activists in these movements have served as knowledge producers that have defined, sharpened, and propagandized understandings of exploitation, displacement, and justice in the past and present. This course invites students to explore the impact of social movements within a national and transnational context. Although the class will begin in with the period of slave resistance during the era of the Haitian Revolution, the bulk of the seminar will focus on 20th century movements. Abolitionism serves as a framing device for the course, given its historic importance in the ending slavery and its current iteration as an objective for many of the movements to be explored throughout the semester. Moreover, the seminar also examines how right-wing movements have co-opted and transformed the tactics and strategies of progressive movements. The central questions of the course are: what is/was a social movement? How can historians document and historicize their emergence and impact? How have historians sought to engage with these movements, including those that promote authoritarian rule? How can activist scholars harness their research and expertise in the interests of progressive social transformation? In our age of resurgent xenophobic nationalisms and crisis for liberal conceptions of democratic governance, the need for innovative historical research on social movements is as urgent as ever

HIST GR8596 Indigenous History of North America. 4.00 points.

This course is an introduction to the history of the Native peoples of North America. Instruction will focus on the idea that indigenous people in North America possess a shared history in terms of being forced to respond to European colonization, and to the emergence of the modern nation-state. Native peoples, however, possess their own distinct histories and culture. In this sense, their histories are uniquely multi-faceted rather than the experience of a singular racial or ethnic group. Accordingly, this course will offer a wide-ranging survey of the Indigenous history of North America with a particular focus on the encounters between the Native peoples or nations of this continent and the European empires, colonies, and emergent modern nation-states attempting colonize their homelands. This course will also move beyond the usual stories of Native-White relations that center either on narratives of conquest and assimilation, or stories of cultural persistence in the face of a dominant Euro-American culture. We will take on these issues, but we will also explore the significance and the centrality of Native peoples to the historical development of modern North America. Rather than thinking along a continuum of conquest and resistance we will explore Indigenous history through the lens of survivance, the active presence and continuance of Native stories, cultural adaptation, and history making. This will necessarily entail an examination of race formation, and a study of the evolution of social structures and political and social categories such as nation, tribe, citizenship, and sovereignty which continue to define and shape the lives of Native peoples in the present day

HIST GR8625 A Global History of Jewish Migration and the State. 4 points.

Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, millions of Jews uprooted themselves from their places of birth and settled in new homes around the world.  This mass migration not only transformed the cultural and demographic centers of world Jewry, but also fundamentally changed the way in which state’s organized their immigration regimes and thought about population movements.    What impact did the divergent socio-economic contexts have on Jewish immigrant economic and religious life?  What role did gender, class and ideology play in molding the experiences of Jewish immigrants in different parts of the world? The objective of this course is not only to think about Jewish migration but also to ponder


the comparative study of state immigration regimes.  Does comparative analysis help one think more critically about social groups, such as Jews?  What new insights can be gailed from a comparative view of Jewish migration and state immigration policies concerning both the social processes of migration and state formation?

HIST GR8627 Brazilian Historiography through Brazilian Eyes. 4.00 points.

This graduate-level course examines the study of Brazilian history from the first contact between the Portuguese colonizers and the region’s Indigenous inhabitants to the present, in its hemispheric, Atlantic, and global contexts. We will be reading works of history that were produced by authors who themselves are from Brazil, giving us the chance to reflect on the formation of Brazil’s immensely rich, distinctive historiographical traditions. Throughout the semester, we will be reading and discussing scholarship that familiarizes students with major themes in the study of Brazilian history and the country’s intellectual traditions and mutual influences in other parts of the world; this scholarship also raises questions, implicitly and sometimes explicitly, about what it means to examine a nation’s past, and about what distinguishes the postcolonial period from earlier moments (and what calls such conventional watersheds as independence and other political transitions into question). Our readings and in-class discussions broadly survey the entire sweep of Brazilian history. We will, however, take advantage of the recent florescence and global influence of Brazilian historiography in such subfields as: the study of slavery and post-abolition society; innovative approaches to labor history; studies of authoritarianism and dictatorship; nineteenth- and twentieth-century liberalisms; citizenship and exclusion; human rights and justice; divided cities and urban shantytowns; and the critical study of historical memory and patrimony. Over the course of the semester, our coursework will be accompanied by a series of optional academic and cultural events related to Brazilian history on our campus at Columbia and in the New York City area. This course is primarily designed for doctoral students, but those enrolled in MA programs or in the professional schools may register with the instructor’s permission. All required readings will be in English, and there are no prerequisites

HIST GR8664 HISTORIOGRAPHY-LAT AM-MOD PER. 4.00 points.

HIST GR8674 POWER,STATE & LAW IN LAT AMER. 4.00 points.

Spring 2024: HIST GR8674
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 8674 001/00249 W 12:10pm - 2:00pm
227 Milbank Hall
Nara Milanich 4.00 6/15

HIST GR8712 U.S.,MID EAST & THE COLD WAR. 4.00 points.

This course will examine various answers to these questions, as well as the continuities and disjunctures between these different periods. Specifically, we will look at great power policies in the Middle East until 1917, and attempt to see which constants carried over to the Soviet period and the Cold War. We will also examine the degree to which the United States simply stepped into the shoes of Britain in the Middle East, beginning in 1947. Much of the course will concentrate on the strategic weight attached to the Middle East by great power rivals, and the nature of their interaction with each other and with internal regional dynamics -- nationalism, religion, reform and revolution -- in the pre-Soviet and Soviet periods. We will conclude by examining how the collapse of the Soviet Union has changed the situation in the Middle East

HIST GR8724 Readings in Ottoman Historical Documents. 4.00 points.

This seminar is designed to provide graduate students with the paleographical skills essential for exploring the vast Ottoman archival and manuscript sources. Throughout the semester, we will read, copy, translate, and contextualize select materials from the Ottoman textual archives spanning the fifteenth to the early twentieth centuries. By the end of the semester, students will have enhanced their proficiency in reading diverse Ottoman archival materials written in various scripts. They will also practice rendering these original sources accessible to an English-speaking audience, ensuring both accuracy and precision in translating their meanings. Participants should possess a working knowledge of both modern and Ottoman Turkish and have a foundational understanding of Ottoman history

HIST GR8731 Reading Orientalism from the Orient. 4.00 points.

The publication of Edward Said’s Orientalism in 1978 heralded heated debates that centered on the question of the representation of the other, more specifically, European constructions of the “Orient.” Extending over many academic disciplines and covering ideological, political, social, cultural, and artistic realms, Said’s book led to the emergence of a wide literature. As testified by scores of recent books and articles, the discussions continue to maintain their fervor. Nevertheless, one perspective remains neglected: the ways in which the othered subjects evaluated the European discourse. Our seminar will address this lacuna and study how “Orientals” read the Orientalist discourse. Examining the work of Middle Eastern authors (and in a few cases, artists), we will gain insights into their reactions, anger, and appropriations, as well as the broader parameters of their own intellectual searches and struggles. Capitalizing on original texts (made accessible in English in my Europe Knows Nothing about the Orient, 2021), we will listen to late Ottoman and early Turkish Republican intellectuals, who produced a significant discourse of their own. In accord with the European texts, these come from different disciplines and range from philosophical essays to journalistic editorials, academic articles on art and architectural history, and literary works (novels, short stories, poems). We will expand the Ottoman/Turkish perspective by including voices from other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, while also considering European critical writing. The chronological bracket is from the 1870s to the 1930s, corresponding to the peak of Orientalism

HIST GR8756 Urban Modernity on the Ukrainian Lands: Cities in 19th and 20th centuries. 4 points.

This course examines the development of modern cities in the territories of present-day Ukraine. Modernity and the social transformations unleashed by it are central focuses of the course. Urban history has introduced various approaches and methodologies for exploring urban space and modernity. We will discuss the various meanings of modernity and address such notions as gender, class, nationalism, and religious identity, to name a few. How did urban social space change under the influence of imperial powers, radical ideologies, and authoritarian or totalitarian regimes? This course will explore these interrelated topics and their effect on urban life in Ukraine.

HIST GR8791 Africa in the World. 4.00 points.

The conceptual challenge of situating Africa historically in the contemporary world in a rigorous fashion—one that pays due heed to the continent’s own historical dynamics—extends back at least as far as W.E.B. DuBois’ The World and Africa (1946). The nature of that challenge has, however, changed over time. The course offers an introduction to a conceptual problem fundamental to the practice of African history, and to thinking about Africa, not only as foundationally part of the contemporary world, but as active in its production

HIST GR8822 Modern US Cultural History. 4.00 points.

The so-called cultural turn in historiography during the 1980s dramatically reordered the historical profession’s scholarly landscape. This seminar provides students with an understanding of the major currents and themes in the cultural history of modern America while also introducing them to the scholarly methods and approaches used in historical scholarship working with the concept of culture. To that end, the seminar proceeds in two ways. We will begin by sampling works that exemplify key approaches to writing cultural history that offer a meta-history of the culture concept as it has informed historical scholarship. The second part of the seminar offers a partial survey of modern U.S. culture itself: its shifting ideologies of race, gender, and sexuality; its organization of subcultures, pleasure, and danger; its culture industries and their audiences and means of creating and disseminating information; and its reining nationalist narratives and symbols

HIST GR8861 INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONS. 3.00 points.

This course provides an introduction to the methods, issues and debates that shape our understanding of economic change and development in the period from the late eighteenth century to eve of the Great Depression of the 1930s as they affected both early and late developing economies. This course is designed both for students specializing in economic history and students in all disciplines interested in historical approaches to political/economic development. You do not need a background in economics to fully participate in the discussions and written work that will form the basis of this course. We will arrange a special session on empirical analysis pertinent to this area of study, to be conducted by the Barnard Empirical Reasoning Center. We have organized the material for this course into four broad sections. Most will include two or three reading sets focusing on specific topics for discussion over two (and in some instances one) class meetings. Although the course extends over only six weeks, we have incorporated all of the themes we cover during a normal term and have provided lists of supplemental readings that we hope will allow you to dive even more deeply into those areas of inquiry that contribute to your own research and teaching agendas. This course deals with a large literature and one that draws from many regional histories. Course participants, including the faculty, come from different disciplinary backgrounds and specialize in different regional histories as well. Our goal is to provide a foundation from which you can develop your own approaches to economic development in the period beginning in the eighteenth century. At the same time, we hope to take advantage of your diverse interests to develop a collaborative reading list that goes beyond our own expertise. This is reflected in the course requirements, which allow you to dig more deeply into those areas that most interest you while benefiting from the overall discussion of the broader field of industrial development

HIST GR8869 Augustine & Africa: The Confessions. 4 points.

This is a graduate seminar on the early life of an African in the later Roman empire, a life as refracted in the words of one of the most significant writings to be produced in Latin in late antiquity: Augustine's Confessions. The seminar will introduce the historical background in which the Confessions was composed: Africa as part of the Roman empire and the development of African Christianity within which the work was embedded. The main purpose of the seminar will be to investigate the relationship between one person’s presentation of his own life (to his mid-40s) and various known elements of the society of the time—family, marriage, belief, entertainment, travel, education, and similar aspects—in order to interrogate the relationship between the two.

HIST GR8871 ECON DEVELOPMNT IN WEST AFRICA. 0.00 points.

HIST GR8873 Climate and Inner Asian Empires. 3.00 points.

Inner Asian empires, from the Huns to and Mongols and Manchus, were the political creation of pastoral nomads and other peoples who shared in their cultural sphere. Employing an interdisciplinary research approach that includes climate science, history, archaeology, anthropology and other disciplines this course will focus on case studies from different periods and regions to explore the potential impct of climate variability on their rise and fall

HIST GR8907 COLONIAL CITIES. 4.00 points.

HIST GR8910 Historical Method and Craft. 4.00 points.

This course is designed to introduce all first-year graduate students in History to major books and problems of the discipline. It aims to familiarize them with historical writings on periods and places outside their own prospective specialties. This course is open to Ph.D. students in the department of History ONLY

HIST GR8913 METHODS IN HISTORY OF SCIENCE. 4.00 points.

HIST GR8915 COMPARATIVE TPCS IN RELIG HIST. 4.00 points.

The course aims to introduce graduate students to key topics in religious history between medieval Europe and early Latin America (12th to 16th centuries), such as conversion, sacraments, preaching, sainthood, materiality, heresy, and mendicant orders. Students will: learn about the religious practices and institutions in both areas; develop an understanding of religious history as a particular field within history; explore the ways in which comparative history provides tools to study the rise and spread of religious beliefs, practices, and institutions. Each week students will analyze primary sources as well as modern texts, give presentations and write short reports on the readings. The final project is a paper on a particular topic of the course subject chosen in consultation with the instructors

HIST GR8924 RESISTANCE & THE BLK ATLANTIC. 4.00 points.

This course investigates in-depth the significance of resistance among African-descended communities in the Anglophone, Francophone, Hispanophone and Lusophone Atlantic Worlds from approximately 1700-2000. We will examine the genesis, forms, and limits of resistance within the context of key historical transformations such as slavery and abolition, labor and migration, and transatlantic political organizing. The class will explore the racial epistemologies, racialized labor regimes, and gendered discourses that sparked a continuum of cultural and political opposition to oppression among Black Atlantic communities. The course will also reflect on how resistance plays a central role in the formation of individual and collective identities among black historical actors.Resistance will be explored as a critical category of historical analysis, and a central factor in the making of the “Black Atlantic.”

HIST GR8930 APPROACHES TO INTL/GLOBAL HIST. 4.00 points.

How do international and global perspectives shape and conceptualization, research, and writing of history? Topics include approaches to comparative history and transnational processes, the relationship of local, regional, national, and global scales of analysis, and the problem of periodization when considered on a world scale

Fall 2023: HIST GR8930
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 8930 001/10397 Th 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Matthew Jones 4.00 17/15
HIST 8930 002/10398 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Adam Tooze 4.00 15/20

HIST GR8941 New Histories of International Law. 4.00 points.

In this colloquium, we will explore the flourishing 21st century literature in the history of international law. Focussing on the complex and controversial relationship between law, empire & capitalism, readings will center on the period 1750-1950, and skew towards Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and Africa. The works we will study, however, also concern the uses and significance of historical perspective for the theory and practice of international law and politics today. They will enable us to reflect historically on the present, asking why it was that the period 2000-2020 produced such a strong interest in ‘critical’ histories of international law, concerned with the legacies of empire and colonialism; and wondering how the field might react to the increasingly ‘lawless’ world of the 2020s

HIST GR8946 South Asia: Historiography in Question I. 4.00 points.

This course is intended to provide a broad yet thorough grounding in the major themes in South Asian historiography. Historians of/and about South Asia have participated in defining major debates across academy, especially in postcolonial studies and in the prominence of Subaltern Studies in the 80s and 90s. In 1947, the twinned “Republic of India” and “Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” gained independence from British colonial rule. With independence came the establishment of new universities and history departments but also the continuation of centuries old tradition of ‘studying’ the subcontinent at Oxford and Cambridge. After 1957’s launch of Sputnik, United States embarked on a massive investment in the study of the “Third World” to keep Communism at bay: giving rise to “Area Studies.” The longer “Indology” gave way to new anthropologies of “Village India” and the rise of “Development Studies.” Fulbright and Rhoades scholarships took students from Lahore and Delhi and Calcutta to UK and US to study. From such grounds would the study of colonial rule and governance, ideas of Kingship, Hinduism develop along both nationalist and Marxist lines to make the first major, international intervention globally: the School of Subaltern Studies in 1983. Since then, South Asian historiography has contributed importantly to postcolonial thought and to the study of Women, Gender and Sexuality. This course focuses on important themes—that cut across medieval to modern period—and highlight the key debates in the historiography as a series of “Questions” of Colonial Knowledge, of Governance, of the Origins, of the King, of the Peasant, of the Nation, of the Woman, of the Muslim, of Caste, of the Riot, of Language, of the City, of Borders, of the Citizen, and finally, of History itself. The attempt throughout the course is to introduce students to the ‘canonical,’ field-defining texts which create the foundations from which South Asian studies—as a field—contributed to historiographies in North America, Latin American, Asia and Africa

HIST GR8983 Readings in the History of Sexuality. 4.00 points.

This graduate colloquium provides a substantial introduction to the history of sexuality, primarily but not exclusively in the United States. Readings and discussions emphasize both classic and recent historiographic themes, including the emergence of the category of “sexuality” itself and how it has articulated with hierarchies of gender, race, class, nation, and empire, and how the history of sexuality intersects with and might illuminate scholarship on other major themes in American history. The course also considers sexuality as a source of public and personal identity, a component of social organization and subcultural social life, an object of scientific study, biopolitical management, and legal regulation, and a site of political and cultural conflict.This graduate colloquium provides a substantial introduction to the history of sexuality, primarily but not exclusively in the United States. Readings and discussions emphasize both classic and recent historiographic themes, including the emergence of the category of “sexuality” itself and how it has articulated with hierarchies of gender, race, class, nation, and empire, and how the history of sexuality intersects with and might illuminate scholarship on other major themes in American history. The course also considers sexuality as a source of public and personal identity, a component of social organization and subcultural social life, an object of scientific study, biopolitical management, and legal regulation, and a site of political and cultural conflict

HIST GR8989 Capitalism and Democracy. 4.00 points.

It is a common-place that the twentieth century ended with the establishment of capitalism and democracy as the “one best way”. In triumphalist accounts of the end of the Cold War the two are commonly presented as sharing a natural affinity. As never before the democratic formula was recommended for truly global application. To suggest the possibility of a contradiction between capitalism and democracy has come to seem like a gesture of outrageous conservative cynicism, or leftist subversion. And yet the convergence of capitalism and democracy is both recent and anything other than self-evident. It has been placed in question once again since 2008 in the epic crisis of Atlantic financial capitalism. This course examines the historical tensions between these two terms in the Atlantic world across the long 20th century from the 1890s to the present day

HIST GR8991 Dissertation Prospectus Writing Workshop. 3.00 points.

The workshop provides a forum for advanced PhD students (usually in the 3rd or 4th year) to draft and refine the dissertation prospectus in preparation for the defense, as well as to discuss grant proposals. Emphasis on clear formulation of a research project, sources and historiography, the mechanics of research, and strategies of grant-writing. The class meets weekly and is usually offered in both fall and spring semesters. Consistent attendance and participation are mandatory

HIST GR9000 DIRECTED CLASS READINGS. 1.00-4.00 points.

Prerequisites: the instructors and the departments permission. To register for G9000, students must request a section number from the departments graduate administrator

HIST GR9001 DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL READINGS. 1.00-4.00 points.

Prerequisites: the instructors and the departments permission. To register for G9000, students must request a section number from the departments graduate administrator

HIST GR9302 LAW & VIOLENCE-MOD EUR EMPIRES. 4.00 points.

This class will explore the history of the relationship between law and violence in Europe and its imperial formations in the modern age. We will examine both debates and practices: readings will be drawn from intellectual and legal history as well as from the history of European imperialism and colonialism. The French and British cases will be at the center of our reflection but we will also envisage links with other European empires and with US History

HIST GR9402 HISTORY OF AMER WOMEN & GENDER. 4.00 points.

HIST GR9511 EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY. 4.00 points.

No longer merely the study of thirteen mainland British colonies, “Early America” foregrounds Native and non-British actors like never before. Major themes include: the contesting of areas across the continent, everyday experiences of faith and work, race, class, and gender, rise and fall of empires, founding of the American republic, viewing U.S. history from a global perspective

HIST GU4012 HISTORY OF THE CITY IN LATIN AMERICA. 4.00 points.

This course covers the historical development of cities in Latin America. Readings examine the concentration of people in commercial and political centers from the beginnings of European colonization in the sixteenth century to the present day and will introduce contrasting approaches to the study of urban culture, politics, society, and the built environment. Central themes include the reciprocal relationships between growing urban areas and the countryside; cities as sites of imperial power and their post-colonial role in nation-building; changing power dynamics in modern Latin America, especially as they impacted the lives of cities’ nonelite majority populations; the legalities and politics of urban space; the complexity and historical development of urban segregation; the rise of informal economies; and the constant tension between tradition and progress through which urban societies have formed. Reading knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese will be helpful but is not required. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students; graduate students will be given additional reading and writing assignments

HIST GU4028 Postwars and Reconstructions: The U.S. Civil War in Comparative Perspective. 4 points.

Prerequisites: NONE, but HIST 2432 recommended for undergraduates.

This course attempts to see what can be gained by working across the usual field designations of time and space to identify perseverant challenges posed in, and faced by, societies during and after civil wars.  Casting a large net from the mid-nineteenth century to the 1970s it looks at the process of waging civil wars and the challenges of making peace and rebuilding in the aftermath.  The course is organized chronologically and thematically.  This year it focuses on four main themes:  Occupations and Political Reconstructions; Reconstructing Lives; Vengeance and Justice; Memory and History.  The reading list includes readings on the American Civil War, the Irish Civil War, the Spanish Civil War and the Algerian War. 

HIST GU4029 Europe’s Commercial Revolution, ca 1100-1800: Economic, Social, and Cultural Change . 4 points.

This course examines the profound changes wrought by the explosive growth of the European market economy during the late medieval and early modern centuries. Readings will be drawn both from theoretical literature examining the market and from studies documenting the practices of commercial people, the institutions that organized trade (guilds, merchant associations, law, and the nascent states of the period), and the cultural responses to commercial wealth.

HIST GU4031 Transforming Texts: Textual Analysis, Literary Modeling, and Visualization . 4 points.

Designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in the social sciences, humanities, and computer science, this hybrid course is situated at the crossroads of historical exploration and computer sciences. Students will be exposed to digital literacy tools and computational skills through the lens of the Making and Knowing Project. The edition will draw on collaboration with and research done by the Making and Knowing Project http://www.makingandknowing.org/ on an anonymous 16th-century French compilation of artistic and technical recipes (BnF Ms. Fr. 640). Students will work from the encoded English translation of the manuscript, prepared by the Spring 2017 course “HIST GR8975 What is a Book in the 21st Century? Working with Historical Texts in a Digital Environment.” This course will also utilize the concepts and prototypes developed by computer science students in the Spring 2018 “COMS W4172: 3D User Interfaces and Augmented Reality (AR). The skills students will learn over the course of the semester are widely applicable to other types of Digital Humanities projects, and indeed, in many fields outside of traditional academic study.


For the final project, students will collaborate to investigate linguistic features of Ms. Fr. 640 using natural language processing and text mining techniques. These projects will shed light on topics of interest within the manuscript and uncover connections within the textual data. By using the tools prototypes in a Spring 2018 COMS W4172 course, and working alongside computer science students, the groups will learn to adapt and recode data sets, and to view them into a variety of visualizations.

HIST GU4036 Displacement in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. 4 points.

This course examines displacement and ethnic cleansing in the modern Middle East and Eastern Europe. Students will explore various ideologies that underpinned mass violence, starting with forced migrations of Jews and Muslims out of Imperial Russia, through the Armenian Genocide, to interwar refugee crises in the Middle East and Stalin’s deportations. The course focuses on the Ottoman and Russian empires and their post-World War I successor nation-states. It examines the evolution of contemporary ideas about ethnic cleansing, refugees, humanitarianism, and population transfers.

HIST GU4037 Russian History on Trial. 4 points.

An exploration of Russian and Soviet history through criminal trials from the early 19th Century through the end of the Soviet Union focusing on continuities throughout radically different time periods. Highlights major themes of gender, nationality, revolutionary movements, violence, ideology, and memory as they were reflected in the administration of justice.

HIST GU4038 The Black Radical Tradition in America. 4 points.

Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have offered alternative visions of the nation's future and alternative definitions of national progress. Not limited to reforming the worst social ills, these discourses have called for a fundamental restructuring of our political, economic, and social relations. This class examines the continuities of that radical tradition.

HIST GU4039 The Iranian Revolution. 4 points.

This seminar examines the global contest between the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his opponents in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, culminating in the toppling of the Pahlavi monarchy in the Iranian Revolution of 1978-79. The seminar is primarily concerned with the competition between the Shah and his opponents to embody Iranian nationalism in a global era characterized by decolonization and the Cold War. One particular focus of the seminar will be the place of America and Americans in the Iranian Revolution. As such, the seminar offers a political, intellectual, and international history of the origins of the Iranian Revolution.

HIST GU4040 Biohistory of the Ancient Mediterranean. 4 points.

We will study the biological standard of living in the ancient Mediterranean with particular reference to the factors that most influenced population growth in the pre-modern world. The class is divided into three parts. To begin, students will explore the human body as historical evidence, learning how to identify evidence of violence and disease in the archaeological and historical records. Next, we will explore the epidemic diseases of antiquity in more detail with special attention given to the three great plagues of the period. Finally, we will consider formal demography and the integration of historical evidence into parametric models of ancient populations.  

HIST GU4041 Between the Second World War and the Cold War: Europe 1943-1950. 4 points.

This course introduces students to some of the major themes of postwar reconstruction in Europe, between the end of World War II to the advent of the Cold War. This is a crucial turning-point in contemporary European history, yet its nature varies dramatically in different parts of Europe, while it also leads to a fundamental restructuring of the political, social and economic, and cultural relations in Europe as a whole. This period is therefore studied from a comparative as well as a transnational perspective. Students will acquire insight in the main historical events and processes, the historiographical debates on this period, relevant primary sources, and methods for studying contemporary history.

HIST GU4061 MEDIEVAL SOCIETY,POL&ETHICS. 3.00 points.

This seminar examines major texts in social and political theory and ethics written in Europe and the Mediterranean region between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries CE. Students will be assigned background readings to establish historical context, but class discussion will be grounded in close reading and analysis of the medieval sources themselves. The course is modeled on the Columbia College core course Contemporary Civilization and attempts to fill in the gap on that syllabus between Augustine and Machiavelli. CC is not a prerequisite, but familiarity with the authors and themes of that course will provide useful preparation for this one

HIST GU4075 Fascism’s Global Trajectory, 1935-1945. 4 points.

This course aims to familiarize students with the history of fascism, viewed from an international and global perspective.  Students read and discuss classic accounts, together with the recent rich historiography. Many of these are dedicated to understanding fascism within the framework of clashing nationalist and imperial projects, the popularity of Darwinian and ‘declinist’ ideas about the struggle of nations to survive, the challenge of new hegemons, the U.S. and USSR, and the pretentions of the leading European fascisms, Italy and Germany, to ally with one another and  with far-flung movements globally to challenge the Western liberal international order established after World War I.

HIST GU4083 Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

How a society defines crime, and how it deals with the criminals tells us a lot about the moral values, and the political and economic structure of that society, as well as its internal conflicts, superstitions, and fears. Often supposed to be a barbaric community of ignorant unruly men governed by greedy kings and popes, the medieval society in the popular culture is often an inspiration to the grotesque representations of violence and torture. Even an intellectual like Michel Foucault did not hesitate to advance a theory of medieval punishment, albeit a terribly wrong one, as one that focuses on the body and spectacle.  This course is designed to trace the origins of the modern criminal legislation and practices to the Middle Ages, some of which were jury trial, public persecution, and prisons. How did these practices come about, and under which social conditions? The focus of the course will be on violent crimes, such as murder, robbery, assault and suicide, and some particularly medieval crimes like sorcery, blasphemy and sodomy. The geographical scope will be limited to England, Italy and France. The class discussions are expected to take the form of collective brainstorming on how the political powers, social classes, cultural values, and religious beliefs affect the development of criminal legislation and institutions. Whenever possible the weekly readings will feature a fair share of medieval texts, including trial records, criminal laws, a manual for trying witches, and prison poetry. Field(s): *MED

Fall 2023: HIST GU4083
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4083 001/13429 T 12:10pm - 2:00pm
401 Hamilton Hall
Neslihan Senocak 4 13/15

HIST GU4085 Slavery in the Roman World. 4 points.

Imperial Rome was one of the very small number of large slave societies known in world history. This course will consider the institution of slavery in the Roman empire in the millennium between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The lives of Roman slaves reflect not only the realities of their own time, but the lineaments of a global history of servitude.

HIST GU4101 THE WORLD WE HAVE LOST. 4.00 points.

What was daily life like for the “average” European in pre-industrial society? This course examines the material circumstances of life and death in Europe from the fifteenth to the eighteenth century. It also asks the question of whether and how we can enter into the inner life of people of the past. How did people experience their material conditions? How did they experience the life of the mind and of the emotions? What are the methods used by historians to gain knowledge about the material conditions and lived experience of the past?

HIST GU4110 FRENCH AMERICA 1534-1804. 4.00 points.

A study of the French Atlantic World from the exploration of Canada to the Louisiana Purchase and Haitian Independence, with a focus on the relationship between war and trade, forms of intercultural negotiation, the economics of slavery, and the changing meaning of race. The demise of the First French Colonial Empire occurred in two stages: the British victory at the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, and the proclamation of Haitian Independence by insurgent slaves in 1804. The first French presence in the New World was the exploration of the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534. At its peak the French Atlantic Empire included one-third of the North American continent, as well as the richest and most productive sugar and coffee plantations in the world. By following the history of French colonization in North America and the Caribbean, this class aims to provide students with a different perspective on the history of the Western hemisphere, and on US history itself. At the heart of the subject is the encounter between Europeans and Native Americans and between Europeans and Africans. We will focus the discussion on a few issues: the strengths and weaknesses of French imperial control as compared with the Spanish and the British; the social, political, military, and religious dimensions of relations with Native Americans; the extraordinary prosperity and fragility of the plantation system; evolving notions of race and citizenship; and how the French Atlantic Empire shaped the history of the emerging United States

HIST GU4121 MARGINS OF HISTORIOGRAPHY: . 4 points.

Prerequisites: Reading knowledge of Turkish and/or French is desirable but not mandatory. Students who cannot read Turkish but are interested in enrolling are still encouraged to contact the course instructors.

This seminar aims to open a window onto historiographic traditions from overlooked contexts, with the argument that they broaden the field from much needed empirical and theoretical perspectives, while at the same time offer new venues to trigger critical thinking. Relying on their respective specialties, Professors Çelik and Şen will familiarize the students with the key works, trends, and names of the rigorous and essential scholarship in Ottoman-Turkish historiography that students of Ottoman-Turkish-Middle East history should be familiar with for their research and teaching. This exposure will also serve well history students in other areas in building comparative frameworks. Weekly discussion topics will range from economic and social history to history of science, urban history, and visual and literary culture, altogether coalescing into a multi-dimensional picture. Each week the instructors will present the major scholarly traditions and introduce key historians by intersecting them with the twentieth-century politico-cultural history. These presentations will be followed by the close discussion of assigned readings (mostly in English and to a limited extent in Turkish and French), with references to relevant historiographical traditions effective at the time on a global scale. Along the way, the students will be exposed to the work of legendary historians, among them Halil İnalcık and Ömer Lütfi Barkan, who examined exhaustive periods of Ottoman history, shifting from economic to social and cultural history and triangulating their arguments from different angles.

Fall 2023: HIST GU4121
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4121 001/10375 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Zeynep Celik, Tunc Sen 4 11/15

HIST GU4151 A Trans-Imperial Society: the History of the Danube River Basin. 4.00 points.

For several millennia, the Danube irrigated Central European empires. It formed a river basin that offers historians an exceptional laboratory for the study– over a longue durée–of trans-imperial, multi-confessional and multicultural societies. The Danube and its tributaries were both an obstacle and a resource. They guided human societies in the definition of territorial boundaries. Cities, bridges and roads were also scattered along them, crossed them, connected them. The Danube river basin shaped the dynamic Anthropocene in which the East Central European societies developed. From the Alps to the Black Sea: the Danube, the Sava, the Drina, the Mura and many other rivers inspired identity narratives, artistic and literary productions, but they also were the theater of intense military conflicts. This seminar is an introduction to the history of East Central Europe from prehistory to WWI. It presents some of the disciplines that a river history can address, and it offers a dialogue between history and anthropology. This is a history of empires from the ground, and from the flows that challenge some of our cultural and political narratives

HIST GU4187 The Problem of Slavery in the Age of Revolutions. 3.00 points.

The history of conflicts within and over slavery during the American Revolution, the Haitian Revolution, the Wars for Latin American Independence, and the campaigns to abolish slavery in the British Empire. The seminar gives special emphasis to the evolution of antislavery and proslavery arguments, the role of war in destabilizing practices of human bondage, and choices made by enslaved men and women in moments of rapid political change

HIST GU4189 Composing the Self in Early Modern Europe. 4.00 points.

This course explores manners of conceiving and being a self in early modern Europe (ca. 1400-1800). Through the analysis of a range of sources, from autobiographical writings to a selection of theological, philosophical, artistic, and literary works, we will address the concept of personhood as a lens through which to analyze topics such as the valorization of interiority, the formation of mechanist and sensationalist philosophies of selfhood, and, more generally, the human person’s relationship with material and existential goods. This approach is intended to deepen and complicate our understanding of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and other movements around which histories of the early modern period have typically been narrated

HIST GU4200 Free/Unfree Labor: East Central Europe. 3.00 points.

The emancipation of serfs in Prussia, Habsburg monarchy and tsarist Russia (1780s to 1860s) coincided with the abolition of slavery in trans-Atlantic world. All over the globe, the acts of emancipation spurred political resistance, social movements, state actions, and economic policies that targeted former serf/slaves and generations of their descendants. What to do with the newly granted freedom animated social movements and ruling elites, entrepreneurs and peasants, national leaders and women activists. The abolition of serfdom and its historical significance in the particular context of eastern and central Europe is the keynote of the seminar. We will focus on pivotal issues of the post-emancipation modernity: unfree/free labor, industrial and agrarian development; mass emigration vs. access to ethnic nationalism. We will analyze politics of class, race and ethnicity from the Enlightement to the establishment of the Communist rule. The seminar asks: what happened to people and lands they inhabited in the wake of enserfed labor? How can we historically relate the emancipation of Eastern and Central European serfs to post-emancipation societies in other parts of the modern world? The seminar welcomes students of European history and anyone, who is interested in historical studies on bondage, labor, empire, nationalism, migrations, and social and economic policies

HIST GU4211 The Sixties Generation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. 4 points.

Through the analysis of the works and actions of the non-conformist Ukrainian intellectuals of the 1960s, this course aims to assess the importance of the phenomenon of dissent in Eastern Europe for the history of human rights, for the evolution of state socialism, and the for formation of national identities. The Ukrainian case will be discussed in a transnational perspective, underlining cross-border contaminations and international influences in the attempt to uncover the meaning of dissent in the Socialist countries int he second half of the 20th century.

HIST GU4213 Crucibles of Modernity: Urban Space and Subjectivity in Europe’s Borderlands. 4.00 points.

This course takes students on an intellectual tour of fourteen vibrant cities in Central and Eastern Europe on the cusp of World War I, acquainting them with pioneering works of historical scholarship on the nations, empires, peoples, cultures, ideas, and economies that have spanned the borderlands between the Baltic, Black, and Caspian Seas. Through oral presentations, book reviews, and a culminating historiographic essay project, students will gain a confident grasp of important genres and media of scholarly communication while closely familiarizing themselves with some of the most influential currents of research and writing on the borderlands of the German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, and Ottoman Empires in their final decades. Readings are organized geographically by city but pursue broad, recurring themes such as space, labor, revolution, modernity, industrialization, nationalism, empire, sexuality, deviance, social control, and migration. The course provides a supportive learning environment for advanced undergraduates considering the continuation of their historical pursuits at the graduate level as well as for graduate students preparing for general examinations and strengthening their mastery of academic writing

HIST GU4214 20THC POLAND IN PERSONAL ACCTS. 4.00 points.

The course explores modern Poland through personal narratives (diaries, letters, memoirs) and social documentation. The course serves as an introduction to key liminal experiences of the Poland's early and mid-twentieth century: emigration and forced dislocation, military occupation, ethnic and political violence, Holocaust, and the establishment of the communist rule. We will reflect critically on the main categories of "the era of the witness” (Annette Wieviorka) such as personal experience and literary responses to it, testimony, memory and eye-witnessing, and an unstable triad of victim-perpetrator-bystander. The course aims to broaden, both historically and conceptually, our understanding of the witness as an iconic figure of the twentieth-century atrocities by including the East Central European tradition of personal writing and social documentation of the interwar, wartime, and postwar periods. Methodologically, this seminar will focus on close reading of the personal accounts and their particularity vis-à-vis other primary sources

HIST GU4217 Women as Cold War Weapons . 4 points.

Cold War ideological campaigns for the “hearts and minds” abutted “hot war” confrontations between 1945 and 1991, and women engaged with both. This course has three purposes: (i) to examine the role of women in the United States as a reflection and enactment of Cold War politics; (ii) to provide an understanding of cultural forces in building ideas in foreign markets; (iii) to reframe the understanding of power as a strategy of United States Cold War battles. To this end, the class will open with a history and examination of women and the traditional narratives of the nation at “wars,” and then continue to explore the political power of women, cultural diplomacy, military operations, and conclude with two case studies. This seminar examines the history of government and private sector mechanisms used to export national ideals by and about women in order to enact American foreign policy agendas in the Cold War. To build their knowledge, students will be asked to parse primary materials in the context of secondary readings. They will do class presentations and present at a conference, and will have the opportunity to discuss their interests with leading scholars of the Cold War. The requirements include significant weekly readings, postings, attendance at discussions, a class presentation, and participation in the class conference at the conclusion of the semester.

HIST GU4218 The Black Sea in History. 4 points.

      We are used to thinking of history in national terms, or at least in reference to major civilizations (“Western civilization,”  “Near Eastern civilization,” etc.). In  “real life,” however, interactions among people, linguistic communities, and cultures frequently cut across political divisions. Water – rivers, streams, seas – is often an invitation to settlement, commerce, and conquest. This course offers a look (inspired in part by Fernand Braudel's Mediterranean) at a body of water – the Black Sea – and the lands around it, in sweeping historical perspective. Focus is on those moments when the various civilizations and empires that originated and flourished around the Black Sea met and intersected in friendship or in enmity. We will look at ancient civilizations, Greek colonization, Byzantine-Slav interactions, the period of Ottoman dominance, Russian-Turkish rivalry, and decolonization and wars in the 19th and 20th centuries. We hope that we will be able to pay particular attention to questions of ecology, language, religion, and cultural interaction throughout.

Fall 2023: HIST GU4218
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4218 001/10383 M 4:10pm - 6:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Catherine Evtuhov 4 20/20

HIST GU4219 Foreign Relations of Russia and the Soviet Union, 1904-2014. 4 points.

This class focuses on the foreign relations of Russia and the Soviet Union between the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War at the beginning of the twentieth century and the Russian annexation of Crimea in the early twenty-first. We will approach this topic from a perspective that is both historical and comprehensive, although the class cannot be exhaustive. While the interactions between states and governments will play a central role, as they have done in reality, we will not reduce them to the workings of idealized rational actors, be they institutions or people. Instead we will embed them in contexts shaped by social, cultural, and ideological factors. In particular, we will give due consideration to issues of perception and interpretation. This class relies on highlighting select key issues and works through readings that include authoritative works of research and analysis, but also polemical, instrumental, or partisan texts by contemporaries. The readings also offer a sample of writings from different chronological stages, unfolding against different political and cultural backgrounds of thinking about Russia and the Soviet Union (such as the interwar period, the Great Alliance, the Cold War, or détente, to name only a few). Participants are encouraged to read thoroughly as well as critically and never forget the issue of context.     

HIST GU4223 Hist of Russian Thought: Faith & Reason. 4.00 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.
Russian ideas are familiar to the world through Tolstoy’s and Dostoevsky’s novels. In this course, we will examine key texts in the intellectual tradition that forms the backdrop to these famous works. Emphasis is on close textual readings; but also on how Russian ideas have been read and interpreted across national and cultural boundaries, including in recent English-language works like Tom Stoppard’s play, Coast of Utopia. Thinkers include Schellingians and Hegelians, Slavophiles, Populists and Pan-Slavists, and Vladimir Soloviev

HIST GU4226 Life and Fate: The Soviet Experience of World War Two . 4 points.

This class uses Vasily Grossman’s masterpiece “Life and Fate” – often considered the “War and Peace” of World War Two – as a guide to explore central aspects of the history of the Soviet Union under Stalinism and after. Our approach will be historical; the class will not focus on questions better addressed in literary studies or criticism. Instead, in this class Grossman’s novel will serve as a gateway to learn about and discuss a set of issues which have in common that they were of great importance in the history of the former Soviet Union as well as Europe and the world. These include the Second World War; the nature of power in modern authoritarian systems, in particular the question of totalitarianism; the Holocaust and antisemitism, and the memory of World War Two in the Soviet Union and beyond.

HIST GU4229 POLITICS & SEXUALITY IN THE COLD WAR. 4.00 points.

The course presents new approaches for revisiting the study of this key period, moving away from more conventional angles to focus on global dynamics by looking at Latin America through the lens of sexuality and family. From this perspective, it will map out different problems and it will prompt a stimulating debate, allowing for discussions on generational as well as gender clashes, everyday life, and affective and emotional bonds, but also on the political strategies of the forces in conflict, public policies and cultural interventions. Discussions will underline interpretative and methodological dilemmas in relation with the historical reconstruction. Particularly, it will consider the relation between political and socio-cultural processes and the connection between the “longue durée” and contingency of the historical events. The course will allow students to explore these problems by themselves and promote their active participation, requesting different type of production from them such as oral intervention, an essay, etc. To sum up, this course offers the opportunity to rethink the Cold War, which still stir sensitivities and which is part of the political agenda even today, in a deeper and more complex way

HIST GU4231 EASTERN EUROPE'S COLD WAR. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores the Cold Wars impact on Eastern Europe (1940s-1980s) and Eastern Europes Cold War-era engagements with the wider world. We will address the methodologies used by historians to answer questions like these: What was the Cold War? What did it mean, and for whom? We will also look at the Cold War as something more than a series of events; we will consider its value, uses, and limits as a device for framing the second half of the twentieth century

Spring 2024: HIST GU4231
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4231 001/12150 M 12:10pm - 2:00pm
1201 International Affairs Bldg
Elidor Mehilli 4.00 15/15

HIST GU4233 Reforming Communism - Crafting Capitalism: History of Collectivist Economic Thought and Pr. 4 points.

The course takes an uncommon approach to the history of Eastern Europe and China in the 20th century. Collectivist economic concepts played a crucial role at many stages of communist history, ranging from the utopia of war communism, through Stalinist political economy, all the way down to the doctrines of workers’ self-management and market socialism. They not only aimed at establishing and justifying the planned economy but were also instrumental in reforming it and, ironically, in designing even the capitalist regimes that rose from the ruins of communism. Despite the collapse of the planned economy in Eastern Europe and its radical liberalization in China, the attraction of collectivism did not ebb, and the local varieties of emerging capitalism proved unable to resist illiberal temptations. Applying the notion of the “long 20th century”, the course will start back in the 19th century by discussing the fin de siècle components of collectivist economic thought, and end up with the analysis of hybrid capitalist regimes in the early 21st century. 

HIST GU4234 Genocides and Holocaust. 4 points.

What were the historical roots of the Holocaust, from early Christian Anti-Judaism to the development of "modern", nationalistic, Social-Darwinist, racist Anti-Semitism?  In this course we will examine the victims (mentally ill persons, homosexuals, Roma, etc.) of the Nazi's eugenic policy........

HIST GU4236 Monuments and Memories in 20th Century Europe. 4 points.

In this course we will revisit the history of Europe in the 20th Century as it was remembered. We will also uncover some stories that have been mostly forgotten. We will explore the consequences of remembering and forgetting as they played themselves out in the European continent over the past few generations focusing particular attention on events and approaches in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Units will cover World War I, the Spanish Civil War, Stalinism, the Nazi occupation, World War II, the Holocaust, and the rise and fall of European state socialism. We will look at efforts in the cultural, legal, and political realms to answer the question: why do societies work to remember the past, and what reasons may many have to forget? Throughout the semester students will develop the skills necessary to research and write a proposal for memorial creation (or removal) and each will author a proposal in consultation with the class and with professionals who have done similar work locally.

HIST GU4240 The Cold War in Culture, Cultures of the Cold War. 4 points.

In this course we will read and discuss key contributions to a young and growing field, the history of culture in the Cold War, which includes the cultural history of the Cold War and the history of the cultural Cold War, closely related but analytically distinct categories.

HIST GU4253 UKRAINE IN NEW YORK. 4.00 points.

Ukraine in New York is a multidisciplinary exploration of the Ukrainian-American community in New York City from its beginning in the late 19th century to the present. The course focuses on the history, demographics, economics, politics, religion, education, and culture of the community, devoting particular attention to the impact thereon of the New York setting, shifting attitudes towards American politics and culture and homeland politics and culture, the tensions encountered in navigating between American, Soviet Ukraine, and independent Ukraine

Spring 2024: HIST GU4253
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4253 001/14740 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
1201 International Affairs Bldg
Alexander Motyl 4.00 2/15

HIST GU4269 Justice after War and Conflict in 20th Century Europe. 4 points.

The so-called 'Second Thirty Years War' in Europe (1914-1945) unleashed an unprecedented amount of brutality and deeply shook the pre-existing social and political hierarchies, transmuting war into a gigantic and diversified set of civil conflicts. If during the war the legal prosecution of enemies was a means of retribution and dissuasion, the post-war period witnessed a number of international and domestic legal purges implemented in order to rehabilitate state authority and to lay the foundations of a new political order. This course examines the forms of both demonstrate and international justice as components of a vast process of nation and state re-building that took place in Europe in the aftermath of the two World wars and as a key point in the formation of anew community of law until the fall of the Mediterranean dictatorships, the post-communist transitions and the dissolution of Yugoslavia. How did the experience of war generate the quest for justice? And how, in turn, did the judicial dramas performed in the trials following the war shape the official memories and foundation myths of post-war regimes? With special emphasis on the long-lasting effects of these procedures upon contemporary political culture and collective memory, we will use a selection of the vast secondary literature on the subject as well as primary sources including legal texts, press releases, essays, fiction, and films.

HIST GU4272 Ukrainian Nationalism 1929-59. 4.00 points.

Why was authoritarian ideology attractive to many young people in Western Ukraine in the 1930s and 1940s? And why does nationalist mythology continue exert a potent influence in contemporary Eastern Europe? This course answers these questions by examining the politics, ideology and literature of Ukrainian nationalism from interwar until postwar years. The focus is on the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), which in these decades played an important role in Western Ukraine (Galicia, Bukovyna and Transcarpathia) and in émigré communities. The views of different researchers are analyzed and prominence it given to the myth-making that still exerts an influence today

HIST GU4277 History of Urban Crime and Policing in Latin America in Global Perspective. 4.00 points.

This seminar examines the social construction of criminality and the institutions that developed to impose and enforce the criminal law as reflections of Latin American urban society throughout the region’s history, with a particular emphasis on the rise of police forces as the principal means of day-to-day urban governance. Topics include policing and urban slavery; policing the urban “underworld”; the changing cultural importance of police in urban popular culture; the growth of scientific policing methods, along with modern criminology and eugenics; policing and the enforcement of gender norms in urban public spaces; the role of urban policing in the rise of military governments in the twentieth century; organized crime; transitional justice and the contemporary question of the rule of law; and the transnational movement of ideas about and innovations in policing practice. In our readings and class discussions over the course of the semester, we will trace how professionalized, modern police forces took shape in cities across the region over time. This course actually begins, however, in the colonial period before there was anything that we would recognize as a modern, uniformed, state-run police force. We will thus have a broad perspective from which to analyze critically the role of police in the development of Latin American urban societies—in other words, to see the police in the contemporary era as contingent on complex historical processes, which we will seek to understand

HIST GU4278 Men in Crisis: Europe, 1890-1945. 4 points.

Through readings of gender theory, historical monographs, novels, and visual media, this seminar unfolds a new historical problematic, namely, the “crisis” models of manhood emerging from late European imperialism. Against the background of the crisis of imperial Europe, the war-mongering, militarism, and total and civil wars, the seminar contextualizes the complex gender ideals behind the Nietzchean “Superman,” fallen Warrior of World War I, the Fascist New Man, Fordist Worker, Soviet New Man, Judeo-Bolshevik, the Anti-Fascist Partisan.




 

HIST GU4282 The Legacies of Division. East-West Entanglements in Contemporary European History. 4.00 points.

Through exploring how the asymmetrical relationship between Eastern and Western Europe has transformed since the 1970s, this course aims to decenter and reconsider contemporary European history. We shall focus primarily on political-institutional change, socioeconomic matters, and questions of political culture. We will pay special attention to key themes – such as the end of empire and Europeanization, the contemporary meanings of democracy, changing gender regimes, patterns of migration, and ongoing contestations of how Europeans remember – through which this complex relationship can be grasped

Spring 2024: HIST GU4282
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4282 001/11970 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
Sat Alfred Lerner Hall
Ferenc Laczo 4.00 12/15

HIST GU4285 Post-Stalinism: The Soviet Union and Its Successor Societies, 1953-2012. 4 points.

This class focuses on the history of the Soviet Union and Russia between the death of Stalin/the end of totalitarianism and the present. It spans the turning-point date of 1991 when the Soviet Union abolished itself and was replaced by successor states, the most important of which is Russia. Not ending Soviet history with 1991 and not beginning Russian history with it either, we will seek to understand continuities as well as change. We will also draw on a diverse set of texts (and movies), including history, political science, journalism, fiction, and memoirs, feature and documentary movies. Geographically weighted toward Russia (and not the other also important successor states), in terms of content, this class concentrates on politics and society, including, crucially, the economy. These concepts, however, will be understood broadly. To come to grips with key issues in Soviet and Russian history in the historically short period after Stalinist totalitarianism, we will have to pay close attention to not only our analytical categories, but also to the way in which the political and the social have been understood by Soviet and Russian contemporaries. The class will introduce students to crucial questions of Russia's recent past, present, and future: authoritarianism and democratization, the role of the state and that of society, reform and retrenchment, communism and capitalism, and, last but not least, the nature of authority and legitimacy. 

HIST GU4301 Politics and Justice in Latin America through Crime Fiction. 4.00 points.

This seminar will use fiction to understand some of the most urgent problems of contemporary Latin American reality. We will read and discuss works of crime fiction from Latin America in the context of the history of crime and justice in the region. It will be an effort to understand those works both in the literary field, as a part of a popular genre of literature, and in their connections with everyday life, often expressed in the media. In other words, the seminar will be an exercise of reading in context, in a historical perspective but also relation to the expectations that readers and critics had about narratives that dealt with violence and the pursuit of justice

Fall 2023: HIST GU4301
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4301 001/10422 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Pablo Piccato 4.00 10/15

HIST GU4305 The European Enlightenment. 4.00 points.

This course aims to introduce students to classic and more recent literature on the intellectual and cultural history of the European Enlightenment. The field has expanded far beyond the cohort of free-thinking philosophes around which it was initially conceived to encompass the broader cultural, economic, and religious preoccupations. Given these tendencies, how has the significance of the Enlightenment shifted as a historical period and interpretive framework? In what ways do scholars explicate its origins, outcomes, and legacies? In response to such questions, the readings trace the development of Enlightenment thought and practices from their early manifestations in Britain and the United Provinces, before shifting attention to France, which became the geographical focal point of the movement by mid-century. Topics to be addressed include the relationship of traditional political authorities to an emerging public sphere, the rise of society as a means of mediating human relationships, the entrepreneurial and epistemological innovations made possible by new media, the struggles of the philosophe movement for legitimacy, debates surrounding luxury consumption and commercial society, and arguments between Christian apologists and radical atheists over traditional religious doctrines and practice

HIST GU4311 European Romanticism. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

“…Romanticism is the largest recent movement to transform the lives and the thought of the Western world. It seems to me to be the greatest single shift in the consciousness of the West that has occurred, and all the other shifts which have occurred in the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries appear to me in comparison less important, and at any rate deeply influenced by it.” (Isaiah Berlin, The Roots of Romanticism)


This seminar will introduce students to the manifold expressions of Romanticism in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century. It is geared both at History majors, particularly but not exclusively those specializing in European Intellectual History, and at students interested in the literature and culture of Germany, France, and Great Britain. We will also  take a  brief look at Romantic writers in Eastern Europe. We will read primarily works written by philosophers and social thinkers, but also a good deal of literature, both prose and poetry. We will have two sessions devoted to the plastic arts – including a class trip to the Metropolitan Museum to view paintings and sculptures, and we will have one session devoted to Romantic music (a study of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.)  We will include readings relating to the Romantic fascination with “the East,” and devote one session to the crucial subject of Romanticism and gender.  Most of the readings will be primary sources either originally in or translated into English, as well as a selection of pertinent secondary sources.

HIST GU4331 Modern Germany, 1900-2000. 4 points.

The development of Germany in the last century has influenced the history of Europe and, indeed, of the world in major and dramatic ways. Most historians agree that the country and its leaders played a crucial role in the outbreak of two world wars which cost some 80 million lives. Germany experienced a revolution in 1918, hyperinflation in 1923, the Great Depression after 1929, and the Nazi dictatorship in 1933. Between 1933 and 1945 there followed the brutal military conquest of most of Continental Europe and, finally, the Holocaust. After 1945, Germany was divided into two halves in which there emerged a communist dictatorship and a Western-style parliamentary-democratic system, respectively. The division of the country ended in 1989 with the collapse of the Honecker regime and the reunification of East and West Germany. No doubt, Germany’s history is confused and confusing and has therefore generated plenty of debate among historians. This course offers a comprehensive analysis of the country’s development in the 20th century. It is not just concerned with political events and military campaigns, but will also examine in considerable detail German society and its changing structures, relations between women and men, trends in both high and popular culture, and the ups and downs of an industrial economy in its global setting. The weekly seminars are designed to introduce you to the country’s conflicted history and the controversies it unleashed in international scholarship. Both M.A. students and advanced undergraduates are welcome.

HIST GU4344 Truth from the Past: Introduction to the Philosophy of History. 4.00 points.

Exploring philosophies of history from the ancient Greeks to the present

Fall 2023: HIST GU4344
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4344 001/10385 M 12:10pm - 2:00pm
301 Hamilton Hall
Mark Mazower 4.00 15/20

HIST GU4346 Black Sea Virtual Textbook: A Digital Research Seminar. 4.00 points.

This course is a continuation of History 4218, The Black Sea in History. It is open to all alumni of that class, from Fall 2023 or earlier. The goal of this research seminar is to craft a “virtual textbook” that gathers materials for each session of The Black Sea in History and posts them to a student-designed site. The primary “pull” of this class is that upper-level undergraduates, MA students, and PhD students will write (at least) one research article that will be published on the site. The site will serve as a textbook for future iterations of The Black Sea in History, and, while we will have a complete version by the end of the semester, future students will also be able to contribute. BSVT will be publicly accessible, so not limited to classroom use

Spring 2024: HIST GU4346
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4346 001/11578 M 4:10pm - 6:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Catherine Evtuhov 4.00 7/18

HIST GU4348 Austria in the 19th Century: Reassessing the late Habsburg Empire. 4 points.

In this course we will look at Austrian history, covering events and developments from the enlightened despotism of Maria Theresa and her son to the Napoleonich wars, the mid-19th-century revolutions to those fateful days in July 1914. This course, in other words, covers recent scholarship on Imperial Austria and Austria-Hungary during the ‘long’ 19th century.


Please note that at least one individual face-to-face meeting will be mandatory to bilaterally and in-depth discuss the topic of the students’ research paper; these meetings will take place during regular office hours or, if necessary, upon individual appointments.

HIST GU4356 Montaigne and the Modern Self. 4.00 points.

This seminar, which focuses on Montaigne’s Essays, is one of a series on the history of the modern self. The series has included seminars on figures like Pascal, Rousseau, and Tocqueville, and will continue to expand

Spring 2024: HIST GU4356
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4356 001/15416 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
507 Lewisohn Hall
Mark Lilla 4.00 13/12

HIST GU4357 Rousseau and the Modern Self. 4.00 points.

This course is one of a series on the history of the modern self that includes courses on Montaigne, Pascal, and Tocqueville as well. This semester we focus on Rousseau, and in particular Emile, his treatise on education and psychology. We also examine hisautobiographical work, the Confessions, and consider how Rousseau’s theory of the self shapes and is shaped by his understanding of himself

HIST GU4358 THEMES IN INTELLECTUAL HIST. 2.00-3.00 points.

“Themes in Intellectual History” offers an intensive examination of one major intellectual concept or problem in European history. Over the past few years I have been offering seminars on the history of the modern self that focus on Montaigne. This year’s seminar is devoted to Pascal, who was Montaigne’s most significant critic, and Kierkegaard, who developed Pascal’s ideas in a Protestant key. These two courses together provide an introduction to two opposed streams of modern European thinking about what it means to be a particular self in relation to nature, God, and mortality

HIST GU4367 Cities in Britain, its Empire and the World. 4 points.

This seminar provides a history of Britain and its empire from the mid nineteenth century  to the present from the perspective of its cities.  By 1880 London was the largest city in the world, larger than Paris, New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Mexico City combined.

HIST GU4373 Empire and Environment in Eurasia, 1700-2024. 4.00 points.

The Soviet Union, like the Russian Empire before it, straddled one-sixth of the planet’s landmass. Both powers drew on this territory’s vast resources—organic, mineral, animal, and human—to dominate their neighbors and exert power on the world stage. In the process, they dramatically reconfigured local ecosystems, from Central Asian deserts to Pacific islands. This seminar traces the interaction between empire and environment across three eras: Tsarist, Soviet, and post-Soviet. Its approach is comparative, framing developments in Russia alongside those elsewhere—in China, Europe, and the US. The course asks: How have modern polities transformed Eurasia’s land, water, and air? In turn, how has the natural world shaped the trajectories of diverse imperial projects? And what legacies have these encounters left for today? Topics include settler colonialism, energy transitions, “natural” disasters, warfare, environmentalism, scientific diplomacy, ecocide, climate change, and the comparative footprints of capitalism and communism. While the approach is historical, students will engage materials from across disciplines (alongside films, novellas, and other primary sources) with an eye towards today’s political and ecological dilemmas. The seminar is designed for upper-division and graduate students with an interest in environmental history methods. Previous exposure to Russian and Eurasian Studies is helpful, but not required

Spring 2024: HIST GU4373
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4373 001/14739 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
1201 International Affairs Bldg
Taylor Zajicek 4.00 8/15

HIST GU4380 THE IDEA OF EUROPE. 4.00 points.

HIST GU4389 Stalinism. 4.00 points.

The quarter century during which Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union witnessed some of the twentieth century's most dramatic events: history's fastest plunge into modernity, an apocalyptic world war, and the emergence of a socialist state as a competitive world power. This tutorial will offer students a deep dive not only into the historical depths of the Stalin era but into the gloriously complex historiographical debates that surround it. Some of the questions that will animate the readings, writings, and discussions that students will engage in are as follows: Did Stalin depart from or represent a continuation of the policies introduced by his predecessor Vladimir Lenin? Did he rule in a totalitarian fashion or in ways comparable to other twentieth century regimes? Were his policies destructive or possibly productive? And perhaps most boggling of all: why did no one resist Stalinist rule?

HIST GU4393 Trials for history: How should Nazi crimes be judged? The Second World War and its legacy in Europe (1945-2024). 4.00 points.

Nearly 80 years have passed since the Second World War: a majority of Europeans no longer have an autobiographical memory of the war. Yet the legacy of the Second World War is all the more present because the “heroic” myths that many European nations adopted after 1945 have now been replaced by negative memories. Europe no longer celebrates the Resistance fighter who died for a cause, but now recognizes European Jews as victims. To explore the way in which the Second World War remains present in post-war European societies that it helped to shape, the seminar will take as its starting point the Nuremberg trials of 1945-1948 and continue throughout the last trials of Nazi criminals in Germany. It will also look at the responses of the judicial, political and social actors. The seminar highlights the extent to which the complex relationship between justice, history and memory surrounding the Second World War is still relevant today. Through various case studies, we will examine the political, memorial and legal issues and debates raised by this difficult history through a comparative analysis of trials in France and Germany, thereby situating these processes in a European context. The seminar questions the place of witnesses and the administration of evidence in these collective crimes and invites reflection on the types of sources that public policies of the past can mobilize to mediate these trials for the "devoir de mémoire” (obligation of remembrance). A variety of sources will be used including, news clips, photographs and legal documents, in addition to the preparatory readings for each session

Spring 2024: HIST GU4393
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4393 001/15415 M 10:10am - 12:00pm
328 Uris Hall
Fabien Theofilakis 4.00 17/15

HIST GU4394 Britain and the end of empire in Southeast Asia, 1941-68. 4.00 points.

This course examines the contraction of British imperial power in Southeast Asia from the opening of the Pacific War in 1941/42 to the decisions of the Labour Government in 1967/68 to withdraw from ‘East of Suez’. As well as analysing the explanations offered for the retreat from formal colonial rule, the course explores how attempts were made to preserve influence and control the pace of change. The interactions between metropolitan weakness and local nationalisms will be emphasised, as will be the effects of the Cold War. Attention will also be paid to Anglo-American relations and the wars in Indochina

Spring 2024: HIST GU4394
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4394 001/11580 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Matthew Jones 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4395 Decolonizing Europe. 4.00 points.

Decolonizing Europe: History, Memory, Reparations will analyze recent and current debates on the different legacies of slavery and colonialism in Western Europe and in the regions formerly colonized by Europe and on the obligation to provide reparations. We will also discuss collective practices associated with these debates in the fields of politics, law, arts, and higher education. Finally, we will look at four case studies of countries in which these debates have been particularly intense in the last thirty years: the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and Germany. We will pay special attention to the contribution of historical narratives and of historians to these debates and practices

HIST GU4397 Nationalism and Revolution in Modern Ireland. 4.00 points.

Nationalism is one of the most persistent, powerful and elusive forces in modern world history. This course examines it through a particularly compelling and accessible case study: Ireland. As both a subject of, and a partner in, British colonialism, Ireland straddled both the imperial and anti-imperial dimensions of nineteenth and twentieth-century nationalism. Ireland reveals nationalism’s complexities and ambiguities in an era in which large multinational empires, not nation-states, were frequently seen as fundamental units of political organization. Through its relationship to the Catholic church, through the global Irish diaspora (especially, though not exclusively, in the US) and through its correspondence and cooperation with other struggles for ‘nationality’ in nineteenth-century Europe, modern Irish nationalism became a transnational phenomenon. As such, it can show us some of the ways in which growing global communication and interconnection can produce and reinforce national sentiment rather than undermining it. Over a period from the late-eighteenth to the late-twentieth centuries, we will trace the diverse and often conflicting modes of nationalist politics and ideology in Ireland, encompassing controversies over sovereignty, empire, democracy, religion, trade, property, political violence and culture. In so doing, we will not only learn about the role of nationalism in Irish history, but seek to understand its broad conceptual relevance in modern politics

Fall 2023: HIST GU4397
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4397 001/10389 T 4:10pm - 6:00pm
301m Fayerweather
James Stafford 4.00 15/15

HIST GU4403 American Empire. 4.00 points.

This course surveys the historical debates surrounding the question of American empire. Drawing on a wide range of scholarly writings, we will explore the rise of the United States to the status of a major world power over the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will also use the semester to design, research, and write a substantial essay that draws on both primary and secondary sources on a topic chosen in consultation with the professor

HIST GU4418 Early American Autobiography as History. 4.00 points.

Early American history is rich with stories of self, though most of these stories' tellers would not have called themselves "autobiographers." In this undergraduate seminar, we will read all kinds of personal narratives: political memoirs, courtroom confessions, salesmen's yarns, racy songs, and religious revelations. We will immerse ourselves in the narrators' perspectives, discovering how they experienced the world, what they thought was important to tell their readers, and who they thought they really were. We will read historical scholarship in order to place these personal narratives in broader context, but we will not assume that historians know all the answers. Instead, as we read, we will pay close attention to the ways in which personal narratives continue to defy historical interpretation

HIST GU4426 PEOPLE OF THE OLD SOUTH. 4.00 points.

No place or period in American history has ignited more passion or brought into being a richer trove of first-rate scholarship than the South during the years before the Civil War. On the other hand, no place or period in American history has generated more misguided scholarship or more propaganda. In this course, students will sample historical literature and primary sources about the Old South, evaluating the interpretations historians have offered and scrutinizing some of the documents on which historians of the Old South have based their conclusions

HIST GU4438 POLITICAL HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICA. 4 points.

This course offers a survey of the political history of contemporary Africa, with a focus on the states and societies south of the Sahara. The emphasis is on struggle and conflict—extending to war—and peace.

HIST GU4455 TRANSNATL MIGRATION/CITIZENSHIP. 4.00 points.

This course will read both classic and recent scholarship on transnational migration and citizenship as well as theoretical work by historians and social scientists in the U.S. and Europe on the changing conceptual frameworks that are now shaping the field. The course is comparative, with readings in the contexts of empire, colonialism and contemporary refugee and migration issues in the U.S. and Europe. The course will be conducted jointly with a class at Sciences Po in Paris, led by Professor Riva Kastoryano, and will be conducted with a video (zoom) connection that will create one classroom out of two. This is an advanced seminar that is reading and discussion intensive. It will be taught in English. Students at Columbia and Sciences Po will prepare presentations together for the joint class. Graduate and Undergraduate students at Columbia may apply for the course; undergraduates should be at least in the junior year and have some reading background in the subject. There will be a maximum of 12 students at each location for combined class of 24

HIST GU4470 Cold War Power. 4 points.

Cold War “soft power” ideological campaigns for the “hearts and minds of men” abutted “hot war” confrontations between 1945 and 1991 and beyond. This seminar examines the history of government and private sector mechanisms used to export national ideals and ideas about America in order to enact foreign policy agendas in contested regions. The class will open with an examination of power - hard and soft - propaganda, "truth," and "informational" practices - and then continue to explore cultural diplomacy. Primary sources including radio broadcasts, music, agriculture, and architecture are examined in the context of secondary readings about the Cold War. Because New York City became postwar “cultural capital of the world,” student trips include the Rockefeller Archives Center, the Museum of Radio and Television, Columbia University’s Avery Architectural and Fine Arts archives, and the Oral History Research Center, Rare Book and Manuscript Library.   This course has three purposes: (i) to examine the role of culture as a reflection and enactment of Cold War politics; (ii) to provide an understanding of cultural forces in building ideas in foreign markets; (iii) to reframe the understanding of “soft” and “hard” power as a strategy of Cold War battles.

HIST GU4481 CULTURE, MEMORY, CRISIS IN US. 4.00 points.

This course examines how Americans have used culture as a means to respond to, interpret, and remember acute social crises over the last century. Why do some periods of social upheaval create breaks in cultural forms and practices while others encourage an impetus to defend cultural practices, thereby facilitating the “invention of tradition”? How are the feelings released in such moments—whether trauma, outrage, rage, insecurity, or fear—turned into cultural artifacts? What is at stake in how they get memorialized? To answer these questions, this course examines responses to the lynching of black Americans, the Great Depression, World War II and the black freedom struggle during the postwar period. We will examine a wide range of individually and collectively produced artifacts about these events, including photography, plays, songs, movies, comic books, novels, government sponsored programs, and world fairs

HIST GU4489 Early American Law and Society. 4.00 points.

How does law shape the way that people live together in society, and how do changes in society bring about changes in the law? How is law lived on the ground, and how did its subjects think about it and use it for their own purposes? In this class, we will read recent and significant scholarship in the history of the early American republic (c. 1776-1840) that explores these questions, drawing on the history of the law and legal sources. Although this class will touch on some of the better-known arguments among scholars of legal history, its approach will be more practical than theoretical. Its primary focus will not be on the evolution of American law as a conceptual matter, or on philosophical arguments about the nature of the law. Rather, students in this class will read in order to become better researchers: to learn more about how law worked in the early American republic, about the institutions through which it operated, about how it changed over time, and how it formed (and was formed by) American society. This reading-intensive class is intended for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students who are interested in the history of the law, or in conducting research projects that draw extensively on legal sources. For undergraduates, previous coursework in US history is strongly recommended

HIST GU4501 History of the Climate Crisis. 4.00 points.

The climate crisis is a defining feature of contemporary life. How did we get here? This course considers the historical, social, ethical, and political life of global warming in an effort to better understand the present climate age. Themes and topics include: the origins of fossil fuel-based energy systems and the cultural life of oil; the history of climate science and the geopolitics of climate knowledge production; the emergence of climate change as a global political issue; debates about political responses to climate change versus market-based approaches; the question of culpability and who should be held responsible for causing global warming; and the recent emergence of a global climate justice movement and its relationship to racial justice and indigenous rights movements

HIST GU4509 PROBLEMS IN INT'L HISTORY. 4.00 points.

The 1970s were a pivotal decade for the United States, both as a society and a superpower. Runaway spending and an energy crisis brought on the worst recession since the 1930s, revealing the tenuous basis of American prosperity and ending the spectacular “postwar boom.” The Vietnam War’s conclusion and revelations of CIA perfidies prompted soul-searching and eventually human rights as a new justification for U.S. foreign policy, yet those rights—and who deserved them—remained unclear. A radical “New Left” and “New Right” challenged the political center, each with lasting (though disproportionate) impacts on American politics. This course will explore these and other major changes in American society and foreign relations in the 20th century through the lens of the 1970s. Familiarity with the contours of post-1945 American and/or international history is useful, but there are no requirements beyond an interest in the readings, topics, and current affairs

Spring 2024: HIST GU4509
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4509 001/18945 Th 12:10pm - 2:00pm
302 Hamilton Hall
Michael Franczak 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4511 The Philosophical Life. 4.00 points.

The history of philosophy is not only the story of how particular concepts and doctrines — regarding cosmology, metaphysics, mind, language, ethics, politics — developed in the past. It also is the story of different conceptions of the philosophical life itself. In recent decades historians and philosophers have become increasingly interested in this subject. This seminar is devoted to examining different themes and episodes in this history, from antiquity to the present. In the spring of 2022 we will focus on ideas about the philosophical life in classic modern thinkers, from Bacon to Kant

Fall 2023: HIST GU4511
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4511 001/10384 T 4:10pm - 6:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Mark Lilla 4.00 12/14

HIST GU4512 Property and Power in 20th Century U.S.. 4.00 points.

This seminar examines debates over meanings, value, and enforcement of property rights in the US over the twentieth century. The course begins with a focus on landed property and its management as real estate and natural resources, raising questions about ownership, tenancy, zoning, eminent domain, public trust doctrines, and contests in Indian Country. It then takes up corporate property and debates over shareholder and managers’ rights and responsibilities, changing structures of investment, and countervailing claims of workers to the property and value of labor and the means of production. With a brief examination of neo-classical economists’ theories and policies of transactional property rights, the course ends with the history of intellectual property rights. Readings include classic theoretical/ideological texts (e.g. MacPherson, Ely, Berle and Means, Coase, Sax, Epstein); social histories, and major legal opinions. Students will write a 20 page research paper using primary sources on a topic of their own interest in this broad field of inquiry

HIST GU4522 Jews, Magic, and Science in Premodern Europe. 4 points.

This seminar explores the historical relationship between Jews, magic, and science in premodern Europe. We will consider magical and scientific beliefs as both separate and intersecting endeavors that provide a window into understanding how Jews viewed, made sense of, and tried to manipulate the world around them. Through close reading of secondary and primary sources on the subject, we will discuss the boundaries between conceptions of natural and supernatural, science and magic, reason and faith.

HIST GU4525 Immigrant New York. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores the intersection of immigration, race, and politics in New York City, both from the perspective of history and in relation to contemporary realities. In this course we will discuss the ways in which immigration has reshaped the cultural, economic, and political life of New York City both in the past as well as the present. Readings will focus on the divergent groups who have settled in New York City, paying close attention to issues of gender, class, race, the role of labor markets, the law, and urban development. At several points during the semester, the class will relocate to various locations in New York City, so that the class can meet those shaping the image of immigrant life in New York [in places such as the Tenement Museum] as well as leaders shaping immigrants’ lived experience of the city today

Fall 2023: HIST GU4525
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4525 001/10396 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
317 Hamilton Hall
Rebecca Kobrin 4.00 14/15

HIST GU4530 Politics, Labor and Economy in 20th-Century America. 4.00 points.

This course will explore the tumultuous political, economic and labor history of twentieth-century America. We will consider the central economic transformations of this time period—including the rise of industry and large-scale corporate enterprise; the birth of the labor movement; the Great Depression and the New Deal; mass consumption and postwar economic growth; deindustrialization and the rise of finance and the service economy; and the market-oriented economic policies of the late 20th century. Throughout, we will consider politics from below (social movements and the impact of politics on daily life) as well as elections, legislation, and social policy. We will look at economic life from the perspective of workers as well as the broad trends and decisions of captains of industry. We will look at how politics and economic life are closely bound up with each other. Authors we will read include Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Michael Harrington, Frances Beal, Marcia Chatelain, Ronald Reagan, and Gary Gerstle, among many others

HIST GU4531 Nature, Labor, and Capital in the Archives. 4 points.

This course explores the connections between workers, capitalists, and the natural environment.  Individual sessions will examine factory labor and the industrial revolution; slavery, farming, and transportation technologies; the rise of the city, and the growth of labor and environmental movements.  Working with Columbia's Rare Book and Manuscript Library.....

HIST GU4532 TOPICS IN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION. 4.00 points.

Few events in American history can match the significance of the American Civil War and Reconstruction and few left a better cache of records for scholars seeking to understand its signal events, actors, and processes. Starting with the secession of eleven southern states, white southerners’ attempts to establish a proslavery republic (the Confederate States of America) unleashed an increasingly radical, even revolutionary war. Indeed, as the war assumed a massive scope it drove a process of state building and state-sponsored slave emancipation in the United States that ultimately reconfigured the nation and remade the terms of political membership in it

HIST GU4547 Telling LGBT History. 4 points.

LGBT history is a story that has just begun to be told. By focusing on LGBT history, this course will explore how history gets told to a popular audience. Students will learn the process of telling popular history from gathering archival material, to writing a good story, to presenting it in
books, film/television and museum exhibits. Working directly with artifacts in the archives students will learn how to view artifacts with an eye to raising new questions. Students will meet curators, authors, tour guides and filmmakers who tell LGBT history for a living. Outside of the classroom, students will take a walking tour of LGBT New York and visit the NYPL, the LGBT Community Center National History Archive and the Museum of Sex.
This course will explore the issue of protecting historical landmarks by examining the current battle to preserve the Stonewall Inn. Students will acquire skills in public history and digital history and apply them by contributing to an upcoming exhibit on LGBT history at Columbia. By exploring and telling the history of LGBT at Columbia, students will learn how to tell history in general. And by learning the process of telling history, students will learn how to read history in a whole new way.

HIST GU4562 Black Britain, 1919-2019. 4 points.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for the course, but previous coursework with a focus on modern race, ethnicity, or immigration would be advantageous.

This course will explore the past one-hundred years of the black presence in Britain, focusing on the debates around immigration, integration, and resistance in British society. Topics to be covered include Pan-Africanism, gender and sexuality, the Second World War, colonial and post-migration, black radicalism and anti-racism, and the black arts movement. Students will have research opportunities at the Schomburg Center and the Columbia Special Collections. There are no prerequisites for the course, but previous coursework with a focus on modern race, ethnicity, or immigration would be advantageous.

HIST GU4569 American Nuclear History, 1940s-1960s. 4.00 points.

This course looks at the role nuclear issues played in American history, politics and society from the instigation of the Manhattan project to the beginnings of arms control negotiations in the 1960s. As well as looking at the political, diplomatic and moral issues raised by the development and possible use of nuclear weapons, the course will also cover the influence of nuclear fears on US culture, and the domestic political controversies and grass roots activism triggered by US nuclear policies, including in such areas as nuclear testing. Classes will also feature discussion of contemporary documents from the period, as well as film clips

Fall 2023: HIST GU4569
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4569 001/13435 W 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Matthew Jones 4.00 14/15

HIST GU4571 HIV and AIDS in Black America. 4.00 points.

Through a series of thematically-arranged secondary and primary source readings and research writing assignments, students in this seminar course will explore the public health, medical, political, and social histories of HIV and AIDS in Black American communities. The course’s chronological focus begins roughly two decades before the first recognition of the syndrome to the first decade of the twenty-first century. Thematically, the course will address several issues, including syndemic theory; stigma, homophobia and political marginalization; late capitalism and public health; the health effects of segregation; and mass incarceration. Admission to this course is by application: https://forms.gle/aomWYHiqHaGyumBn9. Please note that students enrolling in this course must do so for a grade, and not on a pass/fail or audit basis. GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS Undergraduate and masters students are welcome in this course by application. Due to the higher level of course material, students should have an academic or professional background in African-American history or public health history. Students may not enroll this course on a pass/fail basis or as an auditor. Please consult the “Class Performance Guidelines” document for details. Student assessment will be based on various criteria: Class discussion participation 35% Presentation of the readings 15% Writing assignments 50% Policy on Academic Integrity Please note that all students are bound to the guidelines set forth in the College’s statement on Academic Integrity (http://www.college.columbia.edu/academics/academicintegrity)

Fall 2023: HIST GU4571
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4571 001/14161 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
401 Hamilton Hall
Samuel Roberts 4.00 7/15

HIST GU4573 AMERICAN RADICALISM. 4.00 points.

This seminar examines the history of the radical left in the United States from the Revolutionary era to the present.  Readings treat influential individuals, organizations, intellectual currents, and social movements on the left with an attention to their relationship to prevailing understandings of American citizenship, personal fulfillment and equality.  After exploring early forms of artisans´ and workingmen´s radicalism, as well as the antebellum abolitionist and women´s rights movement, we will focus on the development and the fate of the modern left--from the Populist, labor, anarchist, socialist, and Communist movements through the African-American freedom struggle, radical pacifism and the New Left of the 1960s, feminism, the religious left, union democracy movements and beyond. We will try to understand the aspirations and ideas, forms of organization and activism, relations to mainstream politics and state authority, successes and failures in each of these cases.

HIST GU4584 Drug Policy and Race. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: previous coursework in African-American history or social science; United States social history; or sociomedical sciences required.

Students will gain a solid knowledge and understanding of the health issues facing African Americans since the turn of the twentieth century. Topics to be examined will include, but will not be limited to, black women's heath organization and care; medical abuses and the legacy of Tuskegee; tuberculosis control; sickle cell anemia; and substance abuse. 

HIST GU4588 RACE, DRUGS, AND INEQUALITY. 4.00 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.
Note: Admission to this course is by application only. Please use the form found in the SSOL course message. Through a series of secondary- and primary-source readings, digital archive research, and writing assignments, we will explore the history of harm reduction from its origins in syringe exchange, health education, and condom distribution, to the current moment of decriminalization, safe consumption politics, and medically assisted treatment (MAT). At the same time, we will think about how harm reduction perspectives challenge us to rethink the histories and historiography of substance use, sexuality, health, and research science. Along with harm reduction theory and philosophy, relevant concepts and themes include syndemic and other epidemiological concepts theory; structural inequities (structural violence, structural racism); medicalization; biomedicalization; racialization; gender theory and queer theory; mass incarceration, hyperpolicing, and the carceral state; the “housing first” approach; political and other subjectivities; and historical constructions of “addiction”/“addicts”, rehabilitation/recovery, what are “drugs,” and the “(brain) disease model”/NIDA paradigm of addiction. Readings are multidisciplinary and include works in history, epidemiology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, and other disciplines, and the syllabus will include at least one field trip to a harm reduction organization. Students will complete a short research project. There are no official prerequisites. However, students should have some academic or professional background in public health, African-American/ethnic studies history or social science, and/or some other work related to the course material. Admission to this course is by application only. Please use the form found in the SSOL course message. Students may not enroll in this course on a pass/fail basis or as an auditor without instructor permission. Student assessment will be based on various criteria: Class discussion participation - 35% Presentation of the readings - 15% Writing assignments - 50%

Spring 2024: HIST GU4588
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4588 001/11652 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
401 Hamilton Hall
Samuel Roberts 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4594 American Society, 1776-1861. 0 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar examines the transformation of American society from national independence to the Civil War, paying particular attention to changes in agriculture, war, and treaty-making with Indian nations, the rise of waged labor, religious movements, contests over slavery, and the ways print culture revealed and commented on the tensions of the era. The readings include writings of de Tocqueville, Catherine Beecher, and Frederick Douglass, as well as family correspondence, diaries, and fiction. Students will write a 20 page research paper on primary sources. Field(s): US

Fall 2023: HIST GU4594
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4594 001/10390 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
212d Lewisohn Hall
Elizabeth Blackmar 0 11/15

HIST GU4607 RABBIS FOR HISTORIANS. 4.00 points.

This course introduces the central historical issues raised by ancient Palestinian and Babylonian rabbinic literature through exploration of some of the crucial primary texts and analysis of the main scholarly approaches to these texts

HIST GU4610 JEWS IN ANCIENT MEDITERREAN. 4.00 points.

HIST GU4622 A Global History of Jewish Migration and the State. 4.00 points.

Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, millions of Jews uprooted themselves from their places of birth and settled in new homes around the world. This mass migration not only transformed the cultural and demographic centers of world Jewry, but also fundamentally changed the way in which state’s organized their immigration regimes. In this course, we shall analyze the historiography in migration studies, state formation and Jewish history to make sense of the different factors shaping Jewish immigrants’ experiences in different parts of the world

HIST GU4632 Jews in the Ancient City: Politics and Materiality. 4.00 points.

This course will examine the experience of Jews in the cities of the eastern Roman Empire, offering a challenge to modern hypotheses of Jewish corporate stability in that setting and contributing to modern discussions of the relations between the Roman state, Greek cities, and Jewish and Christian subjects

HIST GU4641 HOLOCAUST GENOCIDE-AMER CULTRE. 4.00 points.

When the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. opened in 1993, some people asked why a "European" catastrophe was being memorialized alongside shrines to Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln while there was still no museum documenting the experience of African slaves in the United States or the effort to exterminate the Native Americans on this continent. How American intellectuals have thought about the Nazi regime and the Holocaust in Europe since before the Second World War and in the latter half of the twentieth century is te focus on this course. The course will also compare the ways the United States narrates, conceptualizes and deals with the Holocaust as oppsed to other genocidal events. This course is comparative at its core as it examines how intellectuals and institutions spanning from Hannah Arendt to the United Nations to the US Holocaust Museum have woven this event into American culture

HIST GU4655 Indigenous Peoples and Wars of National Expansion. Comparative Borderlands of Patagonia, 19th Cent.. 4.00 points.

The seminar proposes a connected history of the borderlands with the native people in the U.S.-Mexico, Argentina, and Chile during the 19th Century Wars of National Expansion. We follow the interactions of travelers, technicians, and soldiers with Comanches, Kiowas, Apaches, Navajos, etc., and on the South America borders with the Mapuches, Pampas, and Tehuelches, paying attention to how warfare, diplomacy, indigenous social structures, and resistance shaped the formation of modern States. The seminar shows the professor’s own methodological experience in historical research, combining heterogeneous archives alongside disciplines like Anthropology, Archaeology and Geography. Though not required, it would be helpful for the students to have basic Spanish reading level

HIST GU4660 Indigenous Worlds in Early Latin America. 4.00 points.

This seminar deals with the presence of indigenous peoples in Latin American colonial societies and aims to analyze indigenous responses to conquest and colonization. How did indigenous people see themselves and interact with other groups? What roles did they play in shaping Latin American societies? What spaces were they able to create for themselves? These and similar questions will guide our discussion through the semester. Every week, we will read documents written by the indigenous people themselves, as well as academic studies of their cultures and societies. The course will offer a survey of the main indigenous groups; however, the case studies are by necessity just a selection. The seminar is conceived for students interested in race and ethnic relations and in the mechanisms of colonization and responses to it, as seen through the lenses of Latin America, between the 16th and the 18th centuries

Spring 2024: HIST GU4660
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4660 001/11500 Th 10:10am - 12:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Caterina Pizzigoni 4.00 17/15
HIST 4660 AU1/18965 Th 10:10am - 12:00pm
Othr Other
Caterina Pizzigoni 4.00 4/4

HIST GU4682 Histories of the Public Sphere in Latin America: History, Justice, and Memory. 4.00 points.

The history of the recent history of dictatorship, justice, memory and democracy in Latin America is examined in this seminar through the lens of the theory of the public sphere. We will also look at the paradigmatic cases of the processes that followed crimes against humanities in other regions in order to identify the specificity of the Latin American experience

Spring 2024: HIST GU4682
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4682 001/15414 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Alfred Lerner Hall
Pablo Piccato 4.00 10/15
HIST 4682 AU1/18966 Th 2:10pm - 4:00pm
Othr Other
Pablo Piccato 4.00 1/1

HIST GU4684 POPULAR REVOLTS IN 19TH CENTURY BRAZIL. 4 points.

For long scholars have been studying the rebellious movements that rattled Brazil after its Independence and during the so-called Regency period. The majority, though, devoted themselves to the understanding of the political and economical elites’ whom either took the lead in such occasions or whose interests were at stake, either by joining or fighting the rebels. Thus, no particular attention was generally paid to those who actually fought those battles, the poor free (native Americans included) and freed people that amassed the majority of the country’s population. Men and women that had their own demands and expectations, a population that not only took up arms, but occasionally also ended up leading the upheavals. If that is the case concerning rebellions that broke out during the First Reign and the Regency, historical accounts regarding upheavals that occurred from the 1850s on are even scarcer.


In the past decades, though, impressive new interpretations on popular revolts during the Empire have totally changed that scenario, enabling scholars in general to reappraise how the free and freed poor (either of Portuguese, African or Native American descent) and, of course, slaves (were they born in Africa or in Brazil) experienced changes, or continuities, brought by the country’s independence and the long process of State building.


In order to do so, multiple readings – whose authors address questions regarding the last decades of the 18th century or the final years of the Brazilian Empire (remembering that slavery was only abolished in 1888, roughly 18 months before the Republican coup) – shall enable students to further their knowledge regarding not only Brazilian History, but also specificities and interpretations (in time, space and social composition) of an array of different movements, were they insurrections, rebellions, seditions, riots and so on.

HIST GU4692 Violence in Mexico: A Historical Approach. 4 points.

The course will develop the analytical tools to understand violence as a complex phenomenon with multiple causes and effects. It will also take a deep look at key moments and places in the history of modern Mexico in order to build the context of those forms of violence. The goal will be to let students deploy the tools of history to understand critically a problem of great contemporary relevance. Students should have reading proficiency in Spanish.

HIST GU4693 WRITERS ON HISTORY: THOMAS MANN. 4.00 points.

This seminar is devoted to examining the work of writers who address the nature and course of history in their imaginative and non-fiction work. This semester we will be exploring the work of Thomas Mann in the context of the First and Second World Wars. This will include his relation to the German “conservative revolution,” the Weimar political experience, and the United States, where he spent several years in exile. We will pay particular attention to his conceptions of modern history as expressed in his novels

HIST GU4696 The Social Question and State Building in Latin America. 4 points.

The social question emerged in Latin America at the end of the nineteenth century as a consequence of the process of modernization and economic expansion of the region, coinciding with processes of state consolidation in the new nations.  In his study of the Chilean system of industrial relations, James Morris defined the social question as "all the social, labor and ideological consequences of emerging industrialization and urbanization...

HIST GU4699 Medieval Franciscans and their World. 4.00 points.

This course will offer an examination of the birth and development of the Franciscan Order between 1200-1350. The topics will include Francis of Assisi, the foundation of the three orders of Franciscans, education, poverty, preaching, theology internal strife, antifraternalism, and relations with secular governments and papacy

Spring 2024: HIST GU4699
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4699 001/11515 T 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Neslihan Senocak 4.00 15/15

HIST GU4704 Sunnis, Shias, and Others. 4 points.

This seminar explores historical formations of religiously-defined identities in Islam. The most commonly known religiously-defined identities in Islamic history are those of Sunnis and Shias (for the sake of convenience, the word Shia is used consistently throughout this course instead of Shi'i or Shiite, etc.). Besides Sunni and Shia, many other religiously-defined identity labels have been and continue to be used in the history of Muslim societies. Sufis, for instance, may identify themselves as either Sunni or Shia: sometimes they are shunned by both Sunnis and Shias. Tens of different Sufi group affiliations, also known as Sufi Brotherhoods are known. Still, there have existed so many other such identity labels that mostly now are forgotten, deemed irrelevant or sometimes subsumed other labels: Salafis, Ismailis, Qadiyanis or Ahmedis, Azalis, Panjpris, Nusayris, Alewis, and ghulat are but few examples of such religiously-defined identities. The notion of "sect" is often used, but the applicability of this term which has strong roots in Christian history to Islamic identities needs clarification. This seminar also examines the modes in which religiously-defined identities may become obsolete or otherwise be rendered insignificant. The historical process of making and unmaking "orthodoxy" is linked with the ways in which various religiously-defined identities may come under a unifying rubric. The notion of Schools of law (maz'habs) and Schools of theology (Mu'tazili, Ash'ari, Maturidi, etc.) is linked with local dynasties, patrician families, community & neighborhood dynamics, etc. The effect of ritual practice, rites of passage, geographical localization, etc is discussed, drawing on primary sources and contemporary studies mostly in history and anthropology. Examples are drawn from the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Europe, the Americas and elsewhere. The course is divided into three chronologically defined parts: classical (7th-16th centuries), post-classical (17th-19th centuries) and modern (20th century).

HIST GU4706 THE OTTOMANS AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. 4 points.

The Ottomans ruled in South East Europe, Anatolia, the Middle East, and North Africa for six hundred years. The objective of this seminar is to understand the society and culture of this bygone empire whose legacy still continues, in one way or another, in some twenty-five contemporary successor states from the Balkans to the Arabian Peninsula. The seminar is designed to place the Ottomans within the broader structures of global and regional histories with a particular focus on the cultural and trans-cultural history of the Ottoman Empire in the early modern era. Students will be familiarized with a number of key issues that explore identities and mentalities, status of minorities and confessional politics, governance of the empire and legitimation tactics of the political authority against its rivals, literacy and the use of the public sphere, or legal culture and pluralism.

HIST GU4711 OCCULT IN THE MUSLIM PAST. 4.00 points.

This seminar is designed to explore the rich but sorely understudied occult scientific lore in the pre-modern Islamic world. For over a millennium, from the seventh through even the twenty-first century, and spanning a broad geographical spectrum from the Nile to Oxus, different forms and praxis of occult scientific knowledge marked intellectual and political endeavors, everyday lives and customs, and faith-based matters of individuals constituting the so-called Islamicate world. However, despite the impressive array of textual, material, and visual sources coming down to us from the Muslim past, the topic has been severely marginalized under the post-Enlightenment definitions of scientific knowledge, which also shaped how the history of sciences in the Islamicate world was written in the last century. One of this seminar’s main objectives is to rehabilitate such biased perspectives through a grand tour of occult knowledge and practice appealed in the pre-modern Muslim world. Over the semester, by relying on a set of secondary studies and translated primary sources, we will revisit the question of the marginalization of Islamicate occult sciences, explore the actors’ definitions and discussions about the epistemic value of these sciences, trace their social and political implications in everyday life and imperial politics, and examine the key textual, technical, and material aspects of the occult tradition. In several of our sessions, we will have hands-on practice to better familiarize ourselves with the instructed techniques and methods in different branches of occult sciences. We will also regularly visit the Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library to view texts and materials available in our collection

Fall 2023: HIST GU4711
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4711 001/10380 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Tunc Sen 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4714 MOD ARAB INTELLECTUAL HISTORY. 4.00 points.

This seminar will introduce advanced history students to key themes in modern Arabic thought from the eighteenth century to present. Examining the history of ideas against their institutional, political, and metatextual backgrounds, it also considers the role these played in constructing new narratives and imaginaries

HIST GU4717 History of Feminism in Mexico. 4 points.

Prerequisites: Ability to read historical work and sources in Spanish.

The course presents a history of feminism in Mexico. It addresses the connections of feminism with mainstream Mexican history and with similar process in other Latin American during the twentieth century. Unlike many approaches to the history of feminism, this course explores both feminist and antifeminist interventions and analyzes how advocates and opponents of feminism have exerted influence on state and institution formation, on revolutions and social movements, on policies and legislative reforms and on nationalism. The readings include historical works as well as  sources such as archival materials, newspapers, photographs and pamphlets. An effort has been made to include materials in English, however some of the readings are in Spanish language, therefore it is required that the students are able to understand historical accounts and sources.

HIST GU4723 Politics of Archaeology. 4.00 points.

“Who owns antiquities?” “Who owns culture?” These questions that appear frequently today in both popular and scholarly discourse are deeply embedded in political issues and have a long history, going back to the nineteenth century. The seminar will investigate the origins of the battles over antiquities and their links empire building, colonialism, Orientalism, modernity, power, identity construction, racial hierarchies, and money. The chronological frame is from the 1850s to1914 and the geographical focus in the Ottoman Middle East, which was the major theater of contestations. We will look closely into two areas: archaeological excavations and museums. If objects were unearthed (“discovered”) in the first, they were displayed in the second; the Middle East was crowded with the first, while the major museums were in the West, with the exception of the Museum of Antiquities in Istanbul. We will also consider the vast and complex human landscape around the antiquities. In addition to archaeologists, this community included emperors, sultans, diplomats, spies, artists, inspectors, bureaucrats, technocrats, and workers, hence a cohort of individuals from many nationalities, economic strata, ethnic groups, and religions

Spring 2024: HIST GU4723
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4723 001/11567 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Zeynep Celik 4.00 15/15

HIST GU4727 The History of the End of the World. 4.00 points.

For thousands of years people have been getting ready for the end of the world, giving rise to millenarian movements that have sometimes changed history. More than once, large numbers of people have experienced events such as the Black Death, the Little Ice Age, colonial conquest, and “strategic” bombing that seemed very much like the end of their world. And over the last seventy-five years, governments and international organizations have made major investments in predicting and preparing for catastrophic threats. Efforts to manage or mitigate these dangers have had world-changing consequences, including “preventative” wars, and new forms of global governance. The very idea of the end of the world, in other words, has a long history, with a demonstrable impact, which provides instructive lessons as we contemplate things to come. This course will explore this history, beginning with eschatology and millenarian movements. In part two, students will learn how different conceptual frameworks can be applied to assessing and managing risk, and understanding how people perceive or misperceive danger. They will learn how they can be applied to identify the most important challenges, drawing insights from different disciplinary approaches. The third and main part of the course will consist of comparative and connected analyses of the age-old apocalyptic threats -- war, pestilence, and famine -- in their modern forms, i.e. nuclear armageddon, pandemics, and ecological collapse. By examining them together, we can compare the magnitude and probability of each danger, and also explore their interconnections. We will see, for instance, how nuclear testing helped give rise to the environmental movement, and how modeling the aftereffects of nuclear exchanges helped advance understanding of climate change. Similarly, scenario exercises have shaped threat perceptions and disaster-preparedness for pandemics and bio-warfare as much as they did for nuclear war and terrorism. Readings and discussions will explore how planetary threats are interconnected, and not just in the techniques used to predict and plan for them. Applying nuclear power to the problem of global warming, for instance, could undermine longstanding efforts to stop nuclear proliferation. Climate change and mass migration, on the other hand, create new pandemic threats, as a more crowded and interconnected world becomes a single ecosystem. Yet billions spent on building up defenses have created more capacity and opportunity for bio-terrorism. Who would actually use a nuclear or biological weapon? Perhaps a millenarian group hoping to ride death, the fourth horse of the apocalypse, straight to heaven

HIST GU4729 Sources and Methods in Islamic History. 4.00 points.

This course trains students in approaching sources in Arabic and Persian from the premodern period. Depending on interest and experience, the course will expand to include Turkic and Hindvi/Urdu as well too. Students will gain a solid understanding of the wide range of historical writings in these languages, the conceptual and methodological problems involved in working with each, and how this source base changed over the centuries all the while reading exemplary historical studies that creatively and proficiently engaged with these materials. Students will gain proficiency in archival research while also reading a wide swathe of primary texts in the target languages (or in translation if students lack the proper language training). Upper intermediate Arabic and/or Persian preferred

Spring 2024: HIST GU4729
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4729 001/14734 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
Sat Alfred Lerner Hall
Ali Karjoo-Ravary 4.00 7/15

HIST GU4743 MANUSCRIPTS OF THE MUSLIM WORLD. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Knowledge of a relevant research language (Arabic, Persian, or Ottoman Turkish) is required to be able to work on a particular manuscript to be chosen by the student. Students who lack the necessary skills of any of these languages but are interested in pre-modern book culture are still encouraged to contact the course instructor.
This course is designed to provide the foundations for exploring the rich and fascinating history of Islamic manuscripts from the 9th through the 19th century. Its structure is shaped mainly by thematic considerations in a notable chronological fashion. The meetings amount to a series of “cuts” through the topic and cover themes such as the paper revolution, authorship, scribal culture, technologies of book production, readers and their notes, libraries and book collections, or textual as well as extra-textual components of manuscripts. Over the semester, we will study key material, textual, and visual elements of Islamic book culture spanning many centuries and continents, and visit major historiographical questions on the millennium-long history of Islamic manuscript tradition before the widespread adoption of print technology

HIST GU4747 Engineering the Modern Middle East: Histories of Science, Technology and Medicine. 4.00 points.

This course examines the history of science, technology and medicine in the modern Middle East. We will consider a number of themes from energy infrastructures and communication and transportation systems to modern medical, agricultural and environmental developments

HIST GU4773 American Women’s History; Society, Politics, & the State, 1968-2008. 4 points.

This course explores the history of women in the United States post 1968. This chronological beginning locates the history of women at the moment of the so-called birth of second wave feminism. But this beginning it seeks to provide of an overview of the broad contours of change effecting women at work, in the family, and as a subject of interest by the American state. Three themes will be of particular interest in this admittedly idiosyncratic survey.  The first involves interrogating the era’s competing definition of what women’s liberation meant and how the idea was used for a variety of political purposes in the ongoing culture wars of the period. The second theme involves exploring instances in which women came together—as during the civil rights movement or the anti-ERA drive—in grassroots political organizing to influence society and the state.  And finally, the course examines how core issues defining women’s experiences over this half century—issues involving the role and value in the family, workplace justice, and reproductive rights—became fault lines that repeatedly split American society.

HIST GU4779 AFRICAN FRANCE, FRENCH AFRICA. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores a tradition of historical writing (historiography) that constructs “Africa and France,” or “France and Africa,” or “FrançAfrique” as an historical object and as an object of knowledge. That body of writing accounts in various and sometimes contadictory ways for the peculiar, intense, and historically conflictual relationship that exists between France and the sub-Saharan nation-states that are its former African colonies

Spring 2024: HIST GU4779
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4779 001/11680 Th 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Gregory Mann 4.00 14/15

HIST GU4800 GLOBAL HISTORY OF SCIENCE. 4.00 points.

The course is organized around a series of select conceptual and historical topics and themes. We begin with a discussion of how to define “global history” itself, including the genealogy of this and allied terms, and their value as heuristic categories. We then move on to a series of topics, including: the international politics of infrastructure and of development; curing and caring, the environment and the politics of the body in comparative perspective; and finally, debates over international intellectual property rights and questions of secrecy and transparency in scientific research. Through these examples we aim to investigate the ways in which STM were variously adopted, reconfigured or resisted around the world and how they, in turn, might shape our understanding of the different norms and paradigms in STM studies itself. 

HIST GU4801 GENDER AND WOMEN IN ISLAM: SOUTH ASIA AN. 4.00 points.

This course will examine various roles that a religion can play in shaping its believers’ socio-political and religious identities on the basis of their natural/social differences i.e. sex and gender. Further, an attempt will be made to search for historical explanations through the lens of class, rural/urban economies and geo-ethnic diversities which have shaped gender relations and women’s status in various Muslim countries. The main focus of the course will be on Islam and its role in the articulation of gendered identities, the construction of their socio-religious images, and historical explanation of their roles, rights and status in the regions of South Asia and Middle East since 1900. The central argument of the course is that, for historical understanding of a set of beliefs and practices regarding gender relations and women’s status in any religious group, one needs to examine the historical context and socio-economic basis of that particular religion. By using the notion of gender and historical feminist discourses as tools of analysis, this course intends to understand and explain existing perceptions, misperceptions, myths and realities regarding gender relations and Muslim women’s situations in the distant and immediate past. This course begins with a historical materialist explanation of the religion of Islam and examines men - women’s roles, rights and responsibilities as described in the religious texts, interpretations, traditions and historical sources such as the Quran, Hadith, Sunnah and Sharia. It will further attempt to study these issues by situating them in histories of local and regional diversities (i.e. South Asia, Middle East). A historical perspective will facilitate students’ understanding of male and female Muslim scholars’ ventures to re/read and re/explain the Islamic texts in modern contexts of South Asia and the Middle East

HIST GU4811 Encounters with Nature: The History and Politics of Environment, Health and Development in South Asia and Beyond. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course offers an understanding of the interdisciplinary field of environmental, health and population history and will discuss historical and policy debates with a cross cutting, comparative relevance: such as the making and subjugation of colonized peoples and natural and disease landscapes under British colonial rule; modernizing states and their interest in development and knowledge and technology building, the movement and migration of populations, and changing place of public health and healing in south Asia. The key aim of the course will be to introduce students to reading and analyzing a range of historical scholarship, and interdisciplinary research on environment, health, medicine and populations in South Asia and to introduce them to an exploration of primary sources for research; and also to probe the challenges posed by archives and sources in these fields. Some of the overarching questions that shape this course are as follows: How have environmental pasts and medical histories been interpreted, debated and what is their contemporary resonance? What have been the encounters (political, intellectual, legal, social and cultural) between the environment, its changing landscapes and state? How have citizens, indigenous communities, and vernacular healers mediated and shaped these encounters and inserted their claims for sustainability, subsistence or survival? How have these changing landscapes shaped norms about bodies, care and beliefs? The course focuses on South Asia but also urges students to think and make linkages beyond regional geographies in examining interconnected ideas and practices in histories of the environment, medicine and health. Topics will therefore include (and students are invited to add to these perspectives and suggest additional discussion themes): colonial and globalized circuits of medical knowledge, with comparative case studies from Africa and East Asia; and the travel and translation of environmental ideas and of medical practices through growing global networks

Spring 2024: HIST GU4811
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4811 001/11592 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Kavita Sivaramakrishnan 4.00 10/15

HIST GU4812 The People’s Republic of China and the World. 4 points.

This seminar will examine the history of the People’s Republic of China’s relations, struggles, and interconnections with the wider world since its founding in 1949. Spanning the dramatic upheavals of revolution and the Cold War, the profitable transformations of “reform and opening,” and China’s reemergence as a global power, this course centers on the ways in which China’s leaders have understood and interacted with the world outside their borders since 1949. It focuses primarily on: (1) diplomatic and security engagements, (2) international economic interactions, and (3) transnational intellectual and cultural exchanges. The seminar is designed to enable students to examine major themes in the history of socialism, development, and globalization; to discuss methods in the study of modern Chinese history and international and transnational history, and to develop a deeper historical understanding of China’s rise at a moment when it is dramatically reshaping the world.

HIST GU4821 Italy’s Material Culture, 1945-2015. 4.00 points.

Italy’s Material Culture, 1945-2015. The evolution of Made in Italy, drawing on cases from craft industry, fashion design, and consumer and life-style movements

HIST GU4842 The City & the Archive. 4.00 points.

How to write the city? What is an archive for writing the city? What liminal and marginal perspectives are available for thinking about writing the city? What is the place of the city in the global south in our historical imagination? Our attempt in this seminar is to look at the global south city from the historical and analytical perspectives of those dispossessed and marginal. Instead of ‘grand’ summations about “the Islamic City” or “Global City,” we will work meticulously to observe annotations on power that constructs cities, archives and their afterlives. The emphasis is on the city in South Asia as a particular referent though we will learn to see Cairo, New York, and Istanbul

Spring 2024: HIST GU4842
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4842 001/11588 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Manan Ahmed 4.00 12/15

HIST GU4844 Outlaws in Asian History. 4.00 points.

What kind of historical actors were outlaws? How did they interact with and in turn shape their societies, governments, and politics? In what ways did the outlaws’ transgressions destabilize ideas about national boundary, state sovereignty, political legitimacy, and legality? Over the course of the semester, students will engage with debates over the characterization of outlaws as well as case studies delving into particular places and times. The case studies, which span much of Asia, focus on multiethnic smugglers in island Southeast Asia, bandits on the Sino-Vietnamese border, revolutionary gangsters in Indonesia, nationalist yakuza in Japan, among others. In the process, we will compare and assess the theoretical and methodological approaches scholars have taken to study figures that often reside in the shadows

HIST GU4848 PAKISTAN IN MODERN S ASIA: 1924-2022. 4.00 points.

Since the decade of 1980s, the region of South Asia has become alarmingly visible in the Western academia and media due to increasing religio-ethnic militancy in national and regional politics. Among the traditionally identified list of the South Asian states (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal Bhutan, Maldives), Pakistan stands distinct due to its peculiar colonial and postcolonial history, tumultuous domestic politics, civil-military tensions, extremist tendencies in religion, and making and breaking of international alliances. Pakistan is the second largest Muslim nation and the sixth most populous country in the world. Entangled in multiple political, economic, and social conflicts, the citizens of the country are likewise engaged in multiple struggles for re-imagining identity, resistance, and survival. This course will situate Pakistan in the context of modern South Asia, and examine its colonial and postcolonial experiences, diverse domestic struggles and challenges from a historical perspective. It will cover the topics such as history of; A nation in making since 1900, Demand for a new nation-state since 1935, Emergence of an independent country in 1947, Challenges, tensions and debates in politics, religion and ethnicity since 1977, Impact of regional/international crises on internal politics, culture and religion since 9/11 A survey of socio-political and religious history will be done in chronological order with a blend of theoretical and thematic approaches (i.e. historical materialism, post-coloniality, sub-altern studies). The course will engage with the most recent historiographic debates in studying Pakistan within the South Asian and global contexts

HIST GU4871 History of Asian Communism. 4.00 points.

From the hereditary rule of a single family in Pyongyang to the eighteen different Communist Parties contesting democratic elections in Nepal; from the brave women warriors of the Filipino and Malayan Communist Parties to the fiercely independent Global South leaders who charted unique courses for their Communist Parties and countries; this course invites students to take a deep dive into the many adaptations and evolutions of communist thought and practice in Asia. Students will familiarize themselves with the works of key Asian communist figures in the historical and political contexts in which they lived and struggled. By showcasing the incredible diversity of communist theories, systems, experiences, and personalities, while providing analytical tools and documentary resources, History of Asian Communism will help students grow as critical readers and knowledge producers through facilitating lively and informed debate and praxis of communist thought and history

Spring 2024: HIST GU4871
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4871 001/14733 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Alfred Lerner Hall
Hoang Vu 4.00 17/17

HIST GU4904 WRITING LIVES: A SURVEY OF HISTORICAL APPROACHES AND TECHNIQUES. 4 points.

Ranging from ancient chronicles and saints’ lives to the emergence of modern subjectivity, the rise of the diary, the novel and the bureaucratic questionnaire, this course explores how historians across the ages have written about people’s lives. It asks what has happened to the notion of a life as a moral example, the changing value of ‘experience’ and the ‘ordinary person’, and charts how democracy altered the sense of what was worth recording and commemorating. It draws for its sources on a very wide range of cultures and epochs and concludes by asking the student to conduct their own life history research.

Spring 2024: HIST GU4904
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4904 001/11581 M 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Mark Mazower 4 16/15

HIST GU4923 NARRATIVES OF WWII. 4.00 points.

HIST GU4924 Spatial History and Historical GIS. 4 points.

This course introduces students to the emerging methodologies that combine geographic information systems (GIS) with historical thinking. Students will study and evaluate the benefits and limitations of key works in historical GIS, become familiar with basic principles of cartographic design, and learn technical skills to create their own HGIS project.

HIST GU4925 THE BODY IN GLOBAL HISTORIES OF MEDICINE. 4.00 points.

The body is an unstable object. It leaks, bleeds, swells, mutates. It is also historically unstable, in the way it is understood and represented by men and women, patients and practitioners, scholars and laypeople. This course explores cases of the volatile body across historical and geopolitical contexts. By comparing how different people understand and inhabit the body, you will develop new research questions to rethink what it means to study the body at all. Each week takes on different themes of practice, process, classification, ontology, technology, techniques, and theory to offer new genealogies of reading the body. While the body is not a universal entity across time and space, similarities still emerge. What role can history play in conceptualizing emerging fields of “global” studies?

HIST GU4926 Spatial History Lab. 2.00 points.

Spatial History Lab for graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Students will learn theory and methods in spatial history while exploring key topics from the corequisite research seminar. This course will train students in the fundamentals of geographic information systems (GIS). Students will use skills learned in this lab to conduct a final research project in the corequisite research seminar. No previous experience necessary, but basic computer literacy highly recommended. Corequisite- HIST GU4927

HIST GU4927 Mapping 19th Century New York. 4.00 points.

Spatial history of New York City in the 19th century for graduate students and advanced undergraduates.Students explore key topics in New York City spatial history, and learn historical GIS skills in an attached lab. For their final projects, students will use newly constructed, large GIS data from the Mapping Historical New York project. Corequisite - HIST GU4926

HIST GU4933 American Radicalism in the Archives. 4.00 points.

“American Radicalism in the Archives” is a research seminar examining the multiple ways that radicals and their social movements have left traces in the historical record. Straddling the disciplines of social movement history, public humanities, and critical information studies, the seminar will use the archival collections at Columbia University’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library to trace the history of social movements and to consider the intersections of radical theory and practice with the creation and preservation of archives

Spring 2024: HIST GU4933
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4933 001/11639 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
Chang Rm Butler Library
Thai Jones 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4935 Science and Art in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

This course will investigate the relations between science and art in early modern Europe, bringing together scholarly works by historians of science and art historians as well as original sources from the period. We tend to think today of science and art as polarized cultural domains, but in the early modern period the very definitions of the terms, as well as a range of other factors, created conditions for a much different configuration between the two. Organized chronologically, this course will focus on a range of representative moments in that developing configuration, from ca. 1500 to 1800. Topics include the nature of the spaces where artworks and natural specimens met, the circulation of tools, materials and techniques between the laboratory and the artist workshop, common norms and practices of representation, and shared aspirations to objective knowledge. The course is designed as a discussion seminar and is open to undergraduate and graduate students. No prior knowledge of the subject is required, but intense engagement with the material is expected.




 

HIST GU4940 History of the Arctic and Its Climate. 4.00 points.

The course provides an overview of the main aspects of history of the Arctic. However, it differs from the courses on history of the Arctic exploration by deeper attention to the Arctic environment, especially climate, as an important actor and driving force of the colonization of the Arctic space. It does not take climate to be the determining factor in history, but as one of the distinctive characteristics of ‘Arcticality’. Medieval warm period, Little Ice Age, ‘warming of the Arctic’ of the 1930s as well as Global Warming that goes much faster in the Arctic than in other parts of the globe are discussed in connection with human socio-economic activities and knowledge accumulation. In addition to climate and environmental history that includes history of use of biological and mineral resources, animal history, analysis of ecological imperialism, the course is enriched with history of Arctic science and technology, especially of the last century. It also touches upon such significant subjects as race and gender in polar exploration and reflections of Arctic ice in media and culture, including the indigenous ones

Fall 2023: HIST GU4940
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4940 001/13395 Th 4:10pm - 6:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Julia Lajus 4.00 12/20

HIST GU4943 MODERN BALKAN HISTORIES. 3.00 points.

The Balkans, Winston Churchill famously said, “produce more history than they can consume.” In this course, we will consume recent scholarship on Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania in the twentieth century. The course will not provide a comprehensive coverage of these countries. Rather, we will address select historical key episodes and discuss how historians have addressed specific historiographical challenges: Is there such an entity as the “Balkan”? How does its history relate to European history? How do we understand nations, ethnicity, and identity? What historical perspectives in addition to political history are available to understand processes of state-building?

HIST GU4945 SPORT & SOCIETY IN EASTERN EUROPE. 3.00 points.

This seminar examines the history of sport in twentieth century Eastern Europe including the Soviet Union. We will explore the rise of athleticism and mass sports in the context of state-building in East Central Europe; the intimate link between politics, globalization, and spectator sports; and debate how sport promised to help the revolutionary cause. Moving into the postwar era, we will question whether sport is truly war without the shooting and explore new ways in which historians conceptualize sport in the Cold War. We will also read two national histories written through the lens of football and think about how cultural ideas of sex and gender determine the course of sport history and vice versa. The course is structured around readings and discussion sections and will culminate in a final research paper. The course offers participants the opportunity to refine their professional skills as historians through in-built peer-review processes and a class-internal conference. Although there are no formal prerequisites, familiarity with the broad outlines of twentieth century Central and Eastern European history is of significant advantage

HIST GU4949 The Passions: Introduction to the History of Emotions. 4 points.

This course is designed to introduce students to the history of emotions. We look at classical and contemporary philosophy and history as well as art and poetry on “the passions” – defined variously as emotions, feelings, physical or non-rational sensations or states of consciousness or affects. We begin by asking what is an emotion, and by considering the various historical and philosophical responses to that question. We then look at a number of key emotions from a similarly eclectic, episodic historical perspective. Among those we look at are such classic affective states as love, pleasure, pain, compassion, anger, and fear and terror, and the rise of later more contemporary ones like stress and anxiety, paranoia and trauma.

Fall 2023: HIST GU4949
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4949 001/10377 T 12:10pm - 2:00pm
Othr Other
Marwa Elshakry, Line Lillevik 4 8/15

HIST GU4954 Visualizing History: Photography in conflicts and crisis. 4.00 points.

Photographs capture history as it happens, before events becomes history in the conventional sense, and these same photographs provide a visual archive of the past available to later historians. This course explores the relationship between photography and history in selected conflicts and crises across the world in modern times, from the Crimean War to the war in Ukraine, from a Portuguese fascist internment camp for political prisoners to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, the Arab Spring, and the current refugee crisis. In each case we use a combination of text and visual materials, with the focus on the latter, in order to trace the role of photography in history as well as the impact of changing photographic media, from large format cameras to cell phones. Course requirements center on projects rather than papers and emphasize the analysis of visual materials as well as words

Spring 2024: HIST GU4954
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4954 001/11583 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Joao Pina 4.00 16/15

HIST GU4956 Mesopotamian Culture and Society in the first millennium BCE. 4.00 points.

In this seminar we will investigate various aspects of the cultural and social practices of the ancient Mesopotamian Assyrian and Babylonian empires of the first millennium BCE richly documented in textual sources and elements of material culture

HIST GU4961 Crime: Practices and Representations. 4 points.

This seminar is intended to introduce students to the study of crime from two perspectives: historical and cultural. On the one hand, the seminar will read introductory and representative texts on the history of crime, particularly in Europe and the Americas. Themes to be discussed include urbanization and cultural change on historical patterns of crime; transgression and punishment in the construction of collective identities; everyday relationship of urban populations with the law, the police, and the judiciary, and the gendered meanings of violence. Movies and literature will be used to discuss the themes, genres and explanations that characterize popular understandings of crime. These cultural products will be set in a dialogue with our historical knowledge of criminal practices.

HIST GU4962 Making and Knowing in Early Modern Europe: Hands-On History. 4.00 points.

This course introduces undergraduate and graduate students to the materials, techniques, contexts, and meanings of skilled craft and artistic practices in early modern Europe (1350-1750), in order to reflect upon a series of topics, including craft knowledge and artisanal epistemology; the intersections between craft and science; and questions of historical methodology in reconstructing the material world of the past. The course will be run as a “Laboratory Seminar,” with discussions of primary and secondary materials, as well as hands-on work in a laboratory. The first semester long course to use the published Edition of Fr. 640 as its focus, it will test the use of the Edition in a higher education classroom to inform the development of the Companion. This course is associated with the Making and Knowing Project of the Center for Science and Society at Columbia University.The first semester-long course to use the published Edition of Fr. 640 as its focus, it will test the use of the Edition in a higher education classroom to inform the development of Phase II of the Making and Knowing Project - a Research and Teaching Companion. Students’ final projects (exploratory and experimental work in the form of digital/textual analysis of Ms. Fr. 640, reconstruction insight reports, videos for the Companion, or a combination) will be published as part of the Companion or the Sandbox depending on content and long-term maintenance considerations

HIST GU4963 Nations and Nationalisms. 4.00 points.

This seminar offers a critical overview of recent literature on the historical emergence of national identities and the creation of national states. We will examine a series of books that present new ways of problematizing the nation and its construction and consolidation. These works take novel approaches foregrounding gender, temporality, memory, religion, economic development, local affinities, networks, and empire, among other frameworks. Building on classic literature on the nation and its origins from history, anthropology, political science, and political economy, the texts covered in this course nevertheless suggest new conclusions about the foundations, conditions of emergence, and persistence of national states and national identities. What is a nation? How are nations formed? What could the nation have been, what other forms could it have taken, and what other types of political organization could have provided the basis for group identification or the structure of global order? To what extent did regional identities, on one hand, and imperial or supranational identities, on the other hand, affect the development of specific nations and of the nation-state in general? Why does every national group implicitly deserve or possess a state? Why are those nation-states territorial? How do nation-states generate and maintain the allegiance of their citizens and instill or ascribe membership in a national group? How do nations police or depend upon the gender, racial, and class identities of their subjects? This seminar also seeks to raise a set of other questions about historical method and craft. How do we write and think about nationalism today? With histories of the nation rightly challenged by transnational approaches, does the nation still constitute a meaningful unit of historical analysis, and if so, in what ways? How do we take account of the nation as a historical fact while acknowledging the nation as a construction? With more virulent forms of right-wing nationalism and nationalist populism on the rise around the world, on the other hand, how should national histories and mythologies be questioned, reframed, and undermined? Drawing on this recent literature, this seminar will seek to propose provisional answers to these questions and others about the nation and nationalism. Texts examined will cover both classic works on the nation and new works that revise or supplement them, as well as works that take novel approaches. Part of the course will historicize earlier theories of nationalism. New approaches will be situated within these traditions and in terms of how they depart from them and offer new avenues for research or theorization. Geographical areas covered will include Eastern Europe, Western Europe, North America, the Caribbean, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Upper-level undergraduate students will learn not only about the nation, nationalism, and foundational historical interpretations of their development, but also about new trends in historical scholarship and new ways of writing national histories. The seminar will emphasize how national identity intersects with other forms of identity and other interests. Students will engage with related literature on Marxism, modernity, anti-colonialism, and the history of social thought

Spring 2024: HIST GU4963
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 4963 001/11780 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Samuel Coggeshall 4.00 17/18

HIST GU4967 Environmental History of Central Eurasia. 4.00 points.

This course introduces students to recent research on the environmental history of Central Eurasia, with a focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. As a region, Central Eurasia has seen radical environmental interventions under quite different regimes: tsarist, socialist, and capitalist, each carrying its own priorities and visions of extraction, transformation, management, and protection. Environmental history is a relatively recent arrival among the sub-disciplines engaged by historians of the region, and yet scholarship produced over the last decade has already shown us how a focus on the environment makes it possible to approach long standing concerns about empire, colonialism, revolution, and socialist development in new and productive ways. The course will thus offer a new perspective on a region (somewhat) familiar to students in the program, while also helping identify ways in which research on the region could inform ongoing debates in environmental history beyond Eurasia. The course will begin with an introduction to environmental history and how it has evolved in recent decades, including the different kinds of perspectives and methodologies grouped under that term. From there we will zoom in slightly to examine environmental history in studies of Russia and the USSR, and then moved on to the imperial and Soviet periods in Central Asia. Finally, we will look at the work being done by anthropologists, sociologists, and other social scientists on contemporary environmental issues in the region

HIST GU4971 What Can States Really Do? State Power & Popular Resistance in Global Historical Perspective. 4.00 points.

The Covid-19 pandemic showed that states had various ways of mobilizing their populations and imposing regulations. Some resorted to authoritarian measures, others to suasion, voluntary participation, or social pressure. People's compliance or resistance to these requirements greatly varied across countries and regions, as in the case of face-mask or vaccination mandates. Whatever the circumstances, trust in the state and law obedience played a crucial role for anti-epidemic policy and its effectiveness. This raises a fundamental historical issue about how states build legitimacy and compliance over time and space, despite facing numerous popular resistances and oppositions. How are state obligations such as vaccination, conscription, taxation, compulsory education, social insurance, etc., implemented, respected, or contested? Is it a mere story of violence and power, or does it also imply collective negotiation, voluntary participation, and consent? Why are some states fiercely resisted by their population, while others inspire trust and compliance? The goal of this discussion seminar is to explore this puzzle through the lenses of comparative and global history, in a longue durée perspective and in close interaction with social sciences (anthropology, political science, sociology, and psychology). Each session will be devoted to one facet of the state, bringing together European, American, and imperial situations and case studies

HIST GU4984 HACKING THE ARCHIVE: LAB FOR COMP. HIST. 4.00 points.

This is a hands-on, project-driven, Laboratory Seminar that explores the frontiers of historical analysis in the information age. It harnesses the exponential growth in information resulting from the digitization of older materials and the explosion of “born digital” electronic records. Machine learning and natural language processing make it possible to answer traditional research questions with greater rigor, and tackle new kinds of projects that would once have been deemed impracticable. At the same time, scholars now have many more ways to communicate with one another and the broader public, and it is becoming both easier – and more necessary – to collaborate across disciplines. This course will create a laboratory organized around a common group of databases in 20th century international history. Students will begin by learning about earlier methodological transformations in literary, cultural, and historical analysis, and consider whether and how the “digital turn” might turn out differently. They will then explore new tools and techniques, including named-entity recognition, text classification, topic modeling, geographic information systems, social and citation network analysis, and data visualization. As we turn to specific projects, you will be able to either write a traditional history paper or try an alternative project, either working alone or as part of a team. Papers will entail applying one or more of the digital tools to a specific historical literature/debate or a novel historical topic. Projects might include assembling and “cleaning” a large dataset of documents, prototyping a new tool, launching a web-based exhibit, or drafting a grant application. You will be encouraged to seek out additional training as necessary, conduct experiments, and design ambitious projects that might extend beyond the life of the course. The seminar will meet every week, and start with a discussion of the readings. The second hour will be devoted to training in new tools for historical research, as well as individual and small group work. Students will also be encouraged to attend weekly lab meetings, and that will be a requirement of those undertaking alternative projects. The course is open to students with no training in statistics or computer programming, and no knowledge of international history. But all participants should be open to learning both historical and computational research skills, such as the critical reading of primary source documents and oral history interviewing on the one hand, and scraping websites, querying databases, and using data visualization tools on the other

HIST OC3152 Byzantine Encounters in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course examines western Europeans' encounters with Constantinople and Byzantine culture after the separation of the "Latin" from the "Greek." We will follow merchants, pilgrims and merchants as they visit, trade with, or march into Constantinople, study the sources they have left recording their impressions and their encounters, and consider what westerners took from Byzantium in the way of art forms, learning, sociopolitical practices, and material artifacts.

HIST Q2900 History of the World to 1450 CE. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement, Discussion Section Required

This course presents and at the same time critiques a narrative world history from prehistoric times to 1500. The purpose of the course is to convey an understanding of how this rapidly growing field of history is being approached at three different levels: the narrative textbook level, the theoretical-conceptual level, and through discussion sections, the research level. All students are required to enroll in a weekly discussion section. Graded work for the course consists of two brief (5 page) papers based on activities in discussion sections as well as a take-home midterm and a final examination. Field(s): *ANC/ME 

HIST Q3008 Wealth and Poverty in the Classical World. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

The seminar will combine cultural with economic history, but with more stress on the former. The aim is to investigate the meaning of being rich and being poor among the Greeks and Romans, that is to say in a pre-industrial society, with special attention to methods of research. We shall discuss among other topics ways of getting rich, contempt for wealth, safety nets, ostentation, consumption choices, bribery, markers of well-being - and money. The time period will extend from Homer to about 250 CE. Field(s): *ANC

HIST Q3010 The Roman World in Late Antiquity. 4 points.

This course explores the social history, cultural and economic history of the Roman Empire in late antiquity.  This period, from 284 to 642 AD, begins with the accession of Diocletian and ends with the Islamic conquest of Egypt.  The course focuses primarily on the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which presents a political unity absent from the western half of the Roman Empire and its successor states in the same period.  It will explore the decline of traditional (pagan) religions and the role of Christianity in this period.  The rise of monasticism; the role of Christian holy men; and the doctrinal disputes that caused internal rifts throughout the Christian world will require special attention.  The course will approach the social history of the city and the countryside through specific case studies: riots in Alexandria and peasant agency in Syria and Egypt.  The course will explore the poetry, rhetoric and philosophy that comprised an important part of elite culture in this period, and also attempt to use chariot racing and the circus factions to access the culture of the masses.  Exploration of economic history will focus on an emerging gap in the field’s historiography between materialists who see the period as one of rising oppression of the peasantry by a profit-driven elite on the one hand and papyrologists who see a risk-averse elite working alongside an entrepreneurial and growing middle class on the other hand.  The semester will close with a study in micro-history, the Roman Egyptian village of Aphrodito, its leading families and its agricultural working classes whose lives are recorded in the documentary papyri.

HIST Q3101 The World We Have Lost: Daily Life in Pre-Modern Europe. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

What was daily life like for the "average" European in pre-industrial society? This course will examine the material circumstances of life in Europe from 1400-1800, and will investigate how historians are able to enter into the inner life and mental world of people who lived in past. How did people respond intellectually and emotionally to their material circumstances? The readings and discussions in the course aim to examine such questions, with an eye both to learning about the material conditions of life in pre-modern Europe, and to understanding the techniques by which historians are able to make the imaginative leap back into the mental world of the past. Field(s): *EME

HIST Q3104 Family, Sexuality & Marriage in Pre-Modern Europe. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This course examines the meaning of marriage in European culture from the early Middle Ages until the eighteenth century, concentrating on the period from 1200 to 1800. It begins with a study of Jewish and Christian teachings about marriage – the nature of the conjugal bond, the roles of men and women within marriage, and marital sexuality. It traces changes in that narrative over the centuries, analyzes its relationship to actual practice among various social groups, and ends in the eighteenth century with an examination of the ideology of the companionate marriage of modern western culture and its relation to class formation. Group(s): A Field(s): EME

HIST Q3115 Culture, Politics, and the Economy in the Low Countries in the Later Middle Ages. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course will examine the relation between a rich and urban elite and artistic creativity during The Low Countries' several and successive ‘Golden Ages'. Therefore, the course will address the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century, Antwerp and Brabant from c. 1480 to c. 1580, and the southern Low Countries as a whole from c. 1380 to c. 1480. The following questions will be considered: Who were the sponsors, and why did they invest in specific artistic genres? Why did the gravity centers regularly shift to a neighboring region, from south to north? What were the reasons for the dynamics in the system as a whole, which surely also have political dimensions? All these questions will be discussed for the period from the 13th to the 16th-early 17th century, keeping in mind that these patterns may have a more general character. Field(s): EME

HIST Q3223 Personality and Society in 19th-Century Russia. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

A seminar reviewing some of the major works of Russian thought, literature, and memoir literature that trace the emergence of intelligentsia ideologies in 19th- and 20th-century Russia. Focuses on discussion of specific texts and traces the adoption and influence of certain western doctrines in Russia, such as idealism, positivism, utopian socialism, Marxism, and various 20th-century currents of thought. Field(s): MEU

HIST Q3227 Empire and Nation: Nationality Issues in the Russian Empire. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This senior seminar deals with nationalist challenges and nationality policies in imperial Russia. Particular emphasis will be placed on the imperial policies vis-à-vis national peripheries (primarily Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic, and Volga region) as well as religious minorities (particularly Jews, Roman Catholics, and Muslims). We will also analyze the relationship between the imperial government and Russian nationalism. The gap between nation and empire in Russia will be considered. The main chronological focus of the seminar is the long nineteenth century, the late eighteenth-the early twentieth centuries. Field(s): MEU

HIST Q3300 Modern Greece. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This is an undergraduate research seminar which will allow students with an interest in the Balkans, eastern Europe and the Ottoman empire to trace in detail the emergence of the independent Greek nation-state in the early 19th century and to draw on contemporary literature and the secondary historiography to evaluate theories of ethnicity, nationalism and state formation. It is open to all students with a background in modern European or Middle Eastern history and covers the period from the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries.

HIST Q3303 HISTORY OF SOFT POWER IN EUROPE AND THE U.S. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar examines the history of the ambiguous concept "Soft Power," by bringing together literatures in European and U.S. history, international relations, and communications studies that are normally treated in isolation. After thoroughly familiarizing seminar participants with the recent U.S. evolution of the concept and comparing its usage to related terms, such as "normative power," "hegemony," "propaganda," "strategic communication," and "public diplomacy," weekly classes focus on several case studies. These span the period from the 19th to 21st centuries and include Napoleon's Propaganda Wars, France's "Civilizing Mission" in Africa, Germany's Kultur Empire, Wilson versus Lenin, The Nazi-Fascist Effort to coopt Muslim peoples, Vatican Diplomacy and the Holocaust, The Marshall Plan, Soviet Soft Power in Eastern Europe, and U.S. Public Diplomacy in the wake of 9/11. Class requirements include weekly reading, organizing class discussion, and a 15-page research paper to be presented at a final student-organized workshop.

HIST Q3311 European Romanticism. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course will introduce students to the manifold expressions of Romanticism in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the late nineteenth century. It is geared both at History majors, particularly but not exclusively those specializing in European Intellectual History and at students interested in the literature and culture of Germany, France, and Graet Britain, as well as brief looks at Romantic writers in Eastern Europe.

HIST Q3335 20th Century New York City History. 4 points.

This course explores critical areas of New York's economic development in the 20th century, with a view to understanding the rise, fall and resurgence of this world capital. Discussions also focus on the social and political significance of these shifts. Assignments include primary sources, secondary readings, film viewings, trips, and archival research. Students use original sources as part of their investigation of New York City industries for a 20-page research paper. An annotated bibliography is also required. Students are asked to give a weekly update on research progress, and share information regarding useful archives and websites.

HIST Q3371 Europe in International Thought, 1815-1914. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar explores the changing meaning of the term 'Europe" from its emergence as an organizing principle of international life after Napoleon's defeat in 1815 until the end of the First World War.  It aims to combine an exploration of the term's conceptual and intellectual history with a study of its deployment in practice in the realms of diplomacy, international law, and radical politics.  Topics to be covered include: the establishment and transformation of the Concert of Europe; the idea of European civilization, its rise and fall; the international thought of Mazzini, Mill, Marx, Cobden, Burckhardt and Nietzsche among others.

HIST Q3400 Native American History. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course introduces students to the forces that transformed the aboriginal inhabitants of the Americas into "Indians." The class takes a very broad approach, moving chronologically and thematically from the dawn of time to the present. The course aims to expose students to the diversity of the Native American experience by including all of the inhabitants of the Americas, from Greenland to Tierra del Fuego, within its purview. Group(s): A, D Field(s): *US 

HIST Q3412 Americans and the Good Life, 1750-1910. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Americans have not always agreed about the nature of the good life or about how to achieve it. In this course we focus on a range of compelling writers, among the best in American history, each with a different perspective on what matters and each articulated within a different context. Among the paths to good life examined will be religion, nature, aesthetics or beautify, farming or country life, urban living, untrammeled individual expression, and money and consumption. We begin with the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and end with Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. In between are works by Benjamin Franklin, Henry Thoreau, Walt Whitman, George Santayana, Liberty Hyde Bailey, Anna Comstock, Charles Cooley, and William James.   Field(s): US

HIST Q3413 Archives and Knowledge. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will examine interdisciplinary approaches to the writing of history using archival material. We will look at how knowledge is organized, stored, described, accessed, and replicated through the use of digital and material objects held in archives. The seminar takes as its point of departure the University of Michigan Sawyer Seminar's conception of archives "not simply as historical repositories but as a complex of structures, processes, and epistemologies situated at a critical point of the intersection between scholarship, cultural practices, politics, and technologies." Among the topics we will explore are how archives and archiving intersect with the production of knowledge, with social memory, and with politics. This is a U.S. history course. While the theoretical approaches we will study are, of necessity, interdisciplinary, the application of them will be to archival material related to U.S. history. This seminar requires participants to commit substantial time outside of class working with unpublished materials in Columbia's Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) both for reading assignments and as part of a final project. Field(s): US

HIST Q3431 Making the Modern: Bohemia from Paris to Los Angeles. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course interrogates the function of art and artists within modern capitalist societies. We will trace the cultural productions, internal dynamics, and social significance of bohemian communities from their origins in 1840s Paris to turn of the century London and New York to interwar Los Angeles to present day Chicago. Students will conduct research exploring the significance of some aspect of a bohemian community. Field(s): US

HIST Q3434 The Atlantic Slave Trade. 4 points.

This seminar provides an intensive introduction to the history of the Atlantic slave trade. The course will consider the impact of the traffic on Western Europe and the Americas, as well as on Africa, and will give special attention to the experiences of both captives and captors. Assignments include three short papers and a longer research paper of 20 to 25 pages. Field(s): INTL 

HIST Q3485 Politics and Culture in Cold War America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

An examination of the years from the end of World War II to the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on three areas:  the Cold War, the “Affluent Society,” and the “Haunted Fifties,” It includes both works of history and works of literature. Field(s): US

HIST Q3568 The American Landscape to 1877. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Field(s): US

HIST Q3577 Culture and Politics in the Progressive Era, 1890-1945. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This class begins during the fabled "Gilded Age," when the nation's capitalist expansion created the world's largest economy but splintered Americans' ideals. From the fin-de-siècle through the cataclysms of World War II, we will explore how Americans defined, contested, and performed different meanings of American civilization through social reform movements, artistic expressions, and the everyday habits and customs of individuals and groups. The class will pay particular attention to how gender, race, and location--regional, international, and along the class ladder--shaped perspectives about what constituted American civilization and the national discourse about what it should become. Field(s): US

HIST Q3594 American Society, 1776-1861. 0 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar examines the transformation of American society from national independence to the Civil War, paying particular attention to changes in agriculture, war, and treaty-making with Indian nations, the rise of waged labor, religious movements, contests over slavery, and the ways print culture revealed and commented on the tensions of the era. The readings include writings of de Tocqueville, Catherine Beecher, and Frederick Douglass, as well as family correspondence, diaries, and fiction. Students will write a 20 page research paper on primary sources. Field(s): US

HIST Q3644 Modern Jewish Intellectual History. 4 points.

This course analyzes Jewish intellectual history from Spinoza to 1939. It tracks the radical transformation that modernity yielded in Jewish life, both in the development of new, self-consciously modern, iterations of Judaism and Jewishness and in the more elusive but equally foundational changes in "traditional" Judaisms. Questions to be addressed include:  the development of the modern concept of "religion" and its effect on the Jews; the origin of the notion of "Judaism" parallel to Christianity, Islam, etc.; the rise of Jewish secularism and of secular Jewish ideologies, especially the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), modern Jewish nationalism, Zionism, Jewish socialism, and Autonomism; the rise of Reform, Modern Orthodox, and Conservative Judaisms; Jewish neo-Romanticism and neo-Kantianism, and Ultra-Orthodoxy. 

HIST Q3645 Spinoza to Sabbatai: Jews in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

A seminar on the historical, political, and cultural developments in the Jewish communities of early-modern Western Europe (1492-1789) with particular emphasis on the transition from medieval to modern patterns. We will study the resettlement of Jews in Western Europe, Jews in the Reformation-era German lands, Italian Jews during the late Renaissance, the rise of Kabbalah, and the beginnings of the quest for civil Emancipation. Field(s): JWS/EME

HIST Q3669 The Dictatorship that Changed Brazil, 1964-1985. 0 points.

This course seeks to analyze the period of military dictatorship in Brazil (1964-1985), supported by many civilians as well. Different conjunctures will be studied, since the years before the coup of 1964 until the process of democratization. The course aims to understand a paradox: the dictatorship was established in the name of democracy, allegedly threatened. The main hypothesis is that the paradox was due to the character of the conservative modernization of society imposed by the military regime and its civilian allies. The dictatorship had ambiguities and distinct phases, involving a complex set of political and military forces. The involvement with the modernization also implied the use of illegitimate brute force against its enemies, which allows to characterize the regime as a dictatorship, in spite of its democratic façade. Special attention will be given to the opponents of the order. The relationship between the dominant and the dominated, even in authoritarian regimes, must be understood not only based on confrontation and repression, but also on negotiation and concessions to the opponents, without which it is impossible to build a base of legitimacy. The topics will be examined in the light of concepts such as conservative modernization (Barrington Moore Jr.), legitimate domination (Weber), hegemony (Gramsci), among others. The course also introduces students to critical interpretations of society and politics produced by Brazilian and Brazilianist historians and social scientists. Field(s): LA

HIST Q3670 Culture and Politics in Brazil, 1960-1989. 4 points.

This course seeks to elucidate the elective affinities between culture and politics in the activities of artists and intellectuals, especially those who opposed the military dictatorship in Brazil. The problem of the identity of the Brazilian people was essential for them. They sought alleged popular roots and wanted to overcome underdevelopment. At the time there was a revolutionary romanticism which involved the utopia of integrating intellectuals with the common man of the people, which could give life to an alternative project of society that was eventually defeated by the military dictatorship (1964-1985). Many artists and intellectuals engaged in the opposition to the regime, in spite of its efforts of modernization, which gave them good job opportunities, in a complex process that involved both dissent and integration to the established order. The lectures will analyze different conjunctures, from the years before the coup of 1964 until the end of the democratization process that was completed with the free elections of 1989. Particularly the decades of 1960 and 1970 were some of the most creative periods of Brazilian culture, including the Cinema Novo, the Teatro de Arena, the Bossa Nova and the Tropicalism. The topics will be examined in the light of concepts such as structures of feeling (Raymond Williams), field (Bourdieu), engagement (Sartre), commodity fetishism and reification (Karl Marx, G. Lukacs, Walter Benjamin, F. Jameson), society of the spectacle (Guy Debord), culture industry (Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer), revolutionary romanticism (Michael Löwy and Robert Sayre), among others. The course also introduces students to critical interpretations of society and culture produced by Brazilian and Brazilianist historians and social scientists.

HIST Q3700 Utopia. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

The idea of utopia can be traced across many different periods and places. This seminar explores (imagined or reasoned) conceptions of the perfect society in literary, intellectual, and political texts. The ambiguous character of the utopian ideal holds out the promise of human perfection but also encodes a precariousness that speaks to some inevitable future disorder. Reading across a variety of genres and times, examining this interplay between visions of collective redemption and human suffering allows us to consider the ways in which authors have recorded the ideals and fears of their own political or social orders. It thus examines the very idea, whether historical or "mythical", of human progression or retrogression (understood as the "fall") to examine conceptions of time, history and humanity across numerous discursive traditions. The course will pay special attention to a number of themes and ideals. Among these are: the idea of a "golden age," as exemplified in some of the earliest cosmological and other writings and found in number of "visions of paradise"; the rise of millenarianist movements, ideas of eschatology and apocalypse; the ideal republic, whether as a proper political order or as exemplified through a new epistemic community, or "republic of letters"; the "perfect state," ranging from revolutionary, democratic, anarchist and socialist ones; and, finally, ending finally with modernist visions of dystopia which many of these same ideals would come to inspire. We will read a selection of texts ranging from Hesiod's Works and Days, Plato's Republic, works by Augustine and Farabi, and Thomas More's Utopia to Voltaire's Candide and Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto.

HIST Q3714 Modern Arabic History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This undergraduate seminar course will introduce students to major trends in modern Arabic intellectual history. Drawing on a range of intellectual movements from the 18th century to the present, we will cover such themes as: the history of readers and the role of publics and 'counter-publics' in the Middle east; encounters with Europe, Orientalism and its critics; the impact of liberalism, positivism and colonialism, and, finally, the rise of new discourses around law, science, socialism and religious reform.  We will end by paying special attention to contemporary religious movements, from the Salafiyya reformers to the Muslim Brotherhood and contemporary expressions of the new 'global Islam'. This is a general introductory course: no knowledge of Arabic or previous experience in modern Middle East history is necessary. Students who can work with Arabic of other language sources, however, are encouraged to do so, particularly for their final assignment. Field(s): ME

HIST Q3718 Theories of Islamic History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Unlike European history, which divides into generally agreed upon eras and is structured around a clear narrative of religious and political events from Roman times down to the present, the broad sweep of Islamic and Middle Eastern history appears in quite different lights depending on who is wielding the broom. Theories of Islamic history can embody or conceal political, ethnic, or religious agendas; and no consensus has gained headway among the many writers who have given thought to the issue. The study of theories of Islamic history, therefore, provides a good opportunity for history majors to explore and critique broad conceptual approaches. A seminar devoted to such explorations should be a valuable capstone experience for studnets with a special interest in Islam and the Middle East. One or two works will be read by the entire class each week, and two students will be assigned to lead the discussions of the week's readings. Grades for the course will be based half on class participation and half on a 15-page term paper devoted to a topic approved by the instructor. Field(s): ME

HIST Q3768 Writing Contemporary African History. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

An exploration of the historiography of contemporary (post-1960) Africa, this course asks what African history is, what is unique about it, and what is at stake in its production. Field(s): AFR

HIST Q3858 Islam in India since 1526: Coexistence and Conflict, Gender and Personhood. 4 points.

This course explores five hundred years of the history of Islam and Muslims in India. It is concerned with understanding the many faces of Islam and the many ways of being Muslim in India and how these have changed over time. On one level we will study the connection between Islam and political power in South Asia: the course explores the ruling ideologies of the Mughal Emperors, the different ways in which Muslims responded to the rise of British power on the subcontinent, and the various responses Muslims articulated in response to the introduction of democracy in India. These questions naturally ensure that the course is also concerned the question of how different Muslims interacted with members of other religious groups in India. We will interrogate moments of coexistence and conflict between religious communities to try to understand their origins and nature. At another level, the course is concerned with the changing shape of Muslim lives over the same period. It explores everyday practices of Muslim belief as well as notions of gender, family and personhood, and explores the interplay of these with political, economic and cultural changes over five centuries of history.

HIST Q3865 Vietnam War: History, Media, Memory. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

The wars in Vietnam and Indochina as seen in historical scholarship, contemporary media, popular culture and personal recollection. The seminar will consider American, Vietnamese, and international perspectives on the war, paying particular attention to Vietnam as the "first television war" and the importance of media images in shaping popular opinion about the conflict. Group(s): B, C, D

HIST Q3900 Historian's Craft. 4 points.

Intended for history majors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This course raises the issues of the theory and practice of history as a discipline.  Considers different approaches to the study of history and offers an introduction to research and the use of archival collections. Special emphasis on conceptualization of research topics, situating projects historiographically, locating and assessing published and archival sources. Field(s): METHODS

HIST Q3911 Medicine and Western Civilization. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors, but other majors are welcome.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar seeks to analyze the ways by which medicine and culture combine to shape our values and traditions. To this end, it will examine notable literary, medical, and social texts from classical antiquity to the present.

HIST Q3914 The Future as History. 4 points.

An introduction to the historical origins of forecasting, projections, long-range planning, and future scenarios. Topics include apocalyptic ideas and movements, utopias and dystopias, and changing conceptions of time, progress, and decline. A key theme is how relations of power, including understandings of history, have been shaped by expectations of the future. Group(s): ABCD

HIST Q3915 History of Domestic Animals. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will consider the evolution of human-animal relations on a global basis over the entire course of human history.  Student papers will engage specific topics from different times and places. Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3917 Children of the Revolution. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In 1972 the British rock band Tyrannosaurus Rex sang "no, you won't fool the children of the revolution" implying the commitment of the 1968ers to the revolutionary cause; in 1987 David Horowitz, one of the most prominent figures of 1960s radicalism, publicized his regret for belonging to the "destructive generation". What happens to revolutionary movements when the "great steam engine of history" seems not to be heading to the desired destination? Main goal of this course is to explore the transformation of revolutionary generations and the connection between disillusioned radicals and the shaping of political and intellectual trends of the 20th century.

HIST Q3919 History of Public Policy: Diplomacy from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

History of changes in the concept and practice of public diplomacy, mainly American. The course focuses on state-coordinated efforts to influence foreign public opinion, examining these against the background of major shifts in U.S. hegemonic strategies since the 1930s. Class topics and readings, drawing on histories, political science, communications theory, are mainly devoted to comparing two periods, the Cold War and the Global War on Terrorism. Class work includes analysis of military-strategic and other primary sources and a research paper to be presented at end-of-the semester workshop. Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3928 Comparative Slavery and Abolition in the Atlantic World. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar investigates the experiences of slavery and freedom among African-descended people living and laboring in the various parts of the Atlantic World. The course will trace critical aspects of these two major, interconnected historical phenomena with an eye to how specific cases either manifested or troubled broader trends across various slaveholding societies. The first half of the course addresses the history of slavery and the second half pertains to experiences in emancipation. However, since the abolition of slavery occurs at different moments in various areas of the Atlantic World, the course will adhere to a thematic rather than a chronological structure, in its examination of the multiple avenues to freedom available in various regions. Weekly units will approach major themes relevant to both slavery and emancipation, such as racial epistemologies among slaveowners/employers, labor regimes in slave and free societies, cultural innovations among slave and freed communities, gendered discourses and sexual relations within slave and free communities, and slaves’ and freepeople’s resistance to domination. The goal of this course is to broaden students’ comprehension of the history of slavery and freedom, and to promote an understanding of the transition from slavery to freedom in the Americas as creating both continuities and ruptures in the structure and practices of the various societies concerned. Group(s): ABCD Field(s): US/LA 

HIST Q3931 The Golden Age of Athens. 4 points.

The 5th century BCE, beginning with the Persian Wars, when the Athenians fought off the might of the Persian Empire, and ending with the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War in 404, is generally considered the "Golden Age" of ancient Athens. This is the century when Athenian drama, both tragedy and comedy, throve; when the Greeks began to develop philosophy at Athens, centered around the so-called "Sophistic movement" and Sokrates; when classical Greek art and architecture approached perfection in the monuments and sculptures of the great Athenian building programs on and around the Akropolis. This seminar will cover the political, military, economic, social, and cultural history of Athens' "Golden Age". Much of the course reading will be drawn from the ancient Athenian writing themselves, in translation. Everyone will be required to read enough to participate in weekly discussions; and all students will prepare two oral reports on topics to be determined. The course grade will be based on a ca. 20-25 page research paper to be written on an agreed upon topic. Group(s): A Field(s): *ANC

HIST Q3932 Medieval Society, Politics, and Ethics: Major Texts. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar examines major texts in social and political theory and ethics written in Europe and the Mediterranean region between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries CE.  Students will be assigned background readings to establish historical context, but class discussion will be grounded in close reading and analysis of the medieval sources themselves. Field(s): MED

HIST Q3933 Empires and Cultures of the Early Modern Atlantic World. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course follows historical developments in the Atlantic World-across Western Europe, the Americas, West Africa, and-from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth century. It highlights both the comparative, structural evolutions of European colonial empires and the cultural experiences and perspectives of Atlantic World inhabitants-including soldiers, merchants, slaves, missionaries, and revolutionaries. 

HIST Q3936 Wars within a War: A History of the Second World War in Eastern Europe. 4 points.

Traditionally, the Second World War on the Eastern Front has been analyzed as a military conflict between two behemoths, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, as well as a battle driven by two personalities, Stalin and Hitler (due to the “Great Man” theory of history). However, since the fall of the Soviet Union and opening up of eastern European archives, a reevaluation of this conflict through the lenses of local populations and local conflicts has begun. Scholars have begun to tackle the complex issues of collaboration/resistance, nationalist uprisings, inter-ethnic conflict, and local internecine struggles that are shot through this larger war. Nowhere are these struggles more apparent than in the lands that make up current-day Ukraine. This seminar will analyze new scholarship on these controversial topics in the Eastern European borderland region, with a focus on Ukraine as the centerpiece. Students will become acquainted with the literature on these topics and learn to think critically not only about how these topics relate to the larger history of the Second World War, but how they influence politics and society in contemporary Eastern Europe.

HIST Q3938 Americans and the Natural World, 1800 to the Present. 4 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar deals with how Americans have treated and understood the natural world, connected or failed to connect to it, since 1800. It focuses on changing context over time, from the agrarian period to industrialization, followed by the rise of the suburban and hyper-technological landscape. We will trace the shift from natural history to evolutionary biology, give special attention to the American interest in entomology, ornithology, and botany, examine the quest to save pristine spaces, and read from the works of Buffon, Humboldt, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Darwin, Aldo Leopold, Nabokov, among others. Perspectives on naming, classifying, ordering, and most especially, collecting, will come under scrutiny.  Throughout the semester we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the environmentalist movement, confront those who thought they could defy nature, transcend it, and even live without it. Field(s): US

HIST Q3939 Colonial American History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This reading seminar will examine the history of colonial North America from the sixteenth through mid-eighteenth centuries.  Employing a comparative Atlantic framework to study Spanish, French, Dutch, and English settlements in North America, this course will explore key themes of conflict and community in the societies that developed during this era.  Readings will include some of the most important recent literature in the field and cover topics such as European-indigenous relations, race and slavery, religious culture, and gender construction. This seminar requires two response papers, a final historiographical essay, and class participation, including an oral presentation. Field(s): US

HIST Q3940 The U.S. and Latin America in the Cold War and Beyond: Revolution, Globalization and Power. 4 points.

This course seeks to understand the Cold War and what it meant for the United States, inter-American relations and Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century. The course encourages students to consider to what extent the Cold War is helpful as a way of understanding Latin American nations and people, and their relationships with their Northern neighbor.

HIST Q3941 Jews and Muslims in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar examines aspects of the history of the Jews in the medieval Islamic world, beginning with the historiographical debate about this contentious subject. The seminar will move from discussion of the early encounter between Islam and the Jews at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, discussing the Qur'an and other foundational texts, to the legal and actual status of the Jews. We will examine how the famous Cairo Geniza documents illuminate Jewish economic life, and how the realities of economic life affected commercial autonomy, with its foundations in the Geonic period. Through a discussion of the problem of adjudication we will address the large problem of how much autonomy the Jews actually had. Comparisons will be drawn with the situation of the Jews in medieval Latin Europe, as well as with Christian communities under Islam. In addition to discussion of secondary readings, classes will focus on the close reading of seminar primary resources in English translation.   Field(s): MED/JEW

HIST Q3942 Constitutions and Democracy in the Middle East. 4 points.

Prerequisites: application requirements: SEE UNDERGRAD SEMINAR SECTION OF DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

Where the establishment of sustainable democracies is concerned, the Middle East has perhaps the poorest record of all regions of the world since World War II. This is in spite of the fact that two of the first constitutions in the non-Western world were established in this region, in the Ottoman Empire in 1876 and in Iran in 1906. Notwithstanding these and other subsequent democratic and constitutional experiments, Middle Eastern countries have been ruled over the past century by some of the world's last absolute monarchies, as well as a variety of other autocratic, military-dominated and dictatorial regimes. This course, intended primarily for advanced undergraduates, explores this paradox. It will examine the evolution of constitutional thought and practice, and how it was embodied in parliamentary and other democratic systems in the Middle East. It will examine not only the two Ottoman constitutional periods of 1876-78 and 1908-18, and that of Iran from 1905 onwards, but also the various precursors to these experiments, and some of their 20th century sequels in the Arab countries, Turkey and Iran. This will involve detailed study of the actual course of several Middle Eastern countries' democratic experiments, of the obstacles they faced, and of their outcomes. Students are expected to take away a sense of the complexities of the problems faced by would-be Middle Eastern democrats and constitutionalists, and of some of the reasons why the Middle East has appeared to be an exception to a global trend towards democratization in the post-Cold War era.

HIST Q3944 Subaltern Studies and Beyond: History and the Archive. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This is an advanced undergraduate seminar course that will retrace the history of the making of the Subaltern Studies problematic, considered a major intervention in both Indian nationalist history and the wider discipline of history itself, with a focus on the relationship between method, archives, and the craft of history writing. Group(s): A, C Fields: *SA

HIST Q3945 World War II. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A global examination of the coming, course, and consequences of World War II from the differing viewpoints of the major belligerents and those affected by them.  Emphasis is not only on critical analysis but also on the craft of history-writing. Group(s): B, C, D Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3946 International Criminal Law: History and Theory. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Many people in our time think some of the highest ethical purposes today were achieved in the struggle to establish the International Criminal Court in 2002, and continue to be at stake in the institution's first steps. Why do people think so, and of what use are the tools of history (assisted by theory) to put this belief in perspective? Answering this question is the main purpose of this course, which presupposes covering the court's origins and several dimensions of its doctrines and workings during its short existence. A main theme is the politics of law, and whether Judith Shklar's brilliant account of legalism is defensible. Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3947 History of the Wheel in Transport. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will address critical turning points in the world history of wheeled transport, starting with the time, place, and rationale for the first appearance of wheels; moving onto the diffusion of wheeled transport to other parts of the world; and thence to the emergence of modern wheeled transport out of technological innovations that became evident in eastern Europe in late medieval times. Student papers may be devoted either to these early historical developments, or to episodes in motor-driven vehicular history from more recent times. Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3949 The Passions: Introduction to the History of Emotions. 4 points.

This course is designed to introduce students to the history of emotions. We look at classical and contemporary philosophy and history as well as art and poetry on “the passions” – defined variously as emotions, feelings, physical or non-rational sensations or states of consciousness or affects. We begin by asking what is an emotion, and by considering the various historical and philosophical responses to that question. We then look at a number of key emotions from a similarly eclectic, episodic historical perspective. Among those we look at are such classic affective states as love, pleasure, pain, compassion, anger, and fear and terror, and the rise of later more contemporary ones like stress and anxiety, paranoia and trauma.

HIST Q3951 Supervised Individual Research I. 4 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST Q3952 Supervised Individual Research II. 4 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies.

HIST Q3960 Global Justice in Historical Perspective. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In Anglo-American political philosophy today, "global justice" is a booming field. How did this happen? Where did it come from? This course offers an alternative introduction to the field, assuming that history helps place it in a different perspective. In 1971, John Rawls published his Theory of Justice, which arrived at social principles through abstraction - from the constraints and particularities of body, class, and culture, but taking extant national spaces as fixed architecture. Within a few years, however, some of his own followers challenged this constraint. After 1989, a long-term canon emerged, casting "cosmopolitanism" as long-brewing since the time of the Greeks, running through Immanuel Kant, into our own day. We will revisit this canon as intellectual historians, attempting to reconcile it with the sudden turn to global justice in our own age of globalization.

HIST Q3976 Symbolic Geography: East and West in Modern European Political Thought. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar discusses how frequent changes in European political borders during the 19th and 20th centuries have been reflected in the political thought of the continent. It focuses on 20th century Eastern and Central European interpretations of the regions. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST Q3977 History, Big and Deep. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will engage in close readings of recent works that attempt to understand human history within broader contexts of natural history, evolution and complexity theory. In addition to looking carefully at the kinds of logic and evidence used in each work, we will also follow these works into broader discussions of the relationship of human history to the natural world, the development and significance of consciousness and human culture, and the relevance of huge scales of time and space to understanding human life.   Field(s): INTL

HIST Q3985 Citizenship, Race, Gender and the Politics of Exclusion. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course explores the surge of increasingly radical political revolutions that crisscrossed the Atlantic beginning with Britain's Glorious Revolution, extending through the US and French Revolutions to the Haitian Revolution and efforts to establish an Irish Republic in the 1790s. These successive revolutions created the first modern republics and the first modern republican citizens. In the process, they raised a host of questions: What rights could the modern citizen claim? Who could claim those rights? Do the rights of citizens war with human rights? As one revolution led to another, the answers to these questions became progressively democratized and radicalized - until Caribbean slaves' bloody assertion of their freedom and independence (the Haitian Revolution) sent a shudder through Europe and the Americas leading to a retreat from the radical inclusionary vision initially espoused by both the American and the French Revolutions. Field(s): INTL 

HIST Q4006 Ancient Political Theory. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course is a review of Greek and Roman political theory as it developed through historical events from the Homeric age of Greece to the Augustan principate at Rome. One of the principal contributions of the ancient Greco-Roman civilization to the western tradition is the rich and varied legacy of political theory developed over many centuries. It is the aim of this course to place ancient political theories in their historical contexts. Much ancient political theory can only be recovered from a close analysis of actual practice, since a good deal of ancient writing on the subject is lost. Even in the cases where great works of political theory survive, however, the historical context must always be emphasized. To take an obvious and well known example, much of the difference between Plato?s ideal state in the Republic and that of Aristotle in his Politics is due to the fact that Sparta, the admired and successful model for many of Plato?s ideas in the Republic, had declined into defeat and obscurity by the time Aristotle wrote, and hence was no longer an attractive model for political theorists. It is a truism, no doubt, that political theory can only be fully grasped and understood within a historical context: this course will apply that truism, and also the reverse notion that theory influences practice and hence history.

HIST Q4020 Roman Imperialism. 3 points.

How did the Roman Empire grow so large and last so long? This course will examine the origins of the Romans' drive to expand, the theory of "defensive" imperialism, economic aspects, Roman techniques of control, questions about acculturation and resistance, and the reasons why the empire eventually collapsed.   Field(s): ANC

HIST Q4026 Roman Social History. 3 points.

Social structure, class, slavery and manumission, social mobility, life expectation, status and behavior of women, Romanization, town and country, social organizations, education and literacy, philanthropy, amusements in the Roman Empire, 70 B.C. - 250 A.D. Field(s): *ANC

HIST Q4488 Warfare in the Modern World. 3 points.

This course is a survey of the transformation of warfare between the American Civil War and 1945. Emphasis will be placed on military strategy, weaponry, and leadership.

HIST Q4923 Narratives of World War II. 4 points.

An examination of literary and cinematic narratives of the Second World War produced in the decades since 1940 in Europe, America, and Asia. The analytic approach centers both on the historicity of, and the history in, the texts, with the goal of questioning the nature of narrative in different forms through a blend of literary and historical approaches.

HIST S2461 American Slavery, 1619-1877. 3.00 points.

Over four hundred years, twelve million Africans were enslaved and forcibly transported to the Americas. This course traces the emergence of Atlantic slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, focusing on British North America. Students will study the consolidation of African slavery in different settings as well as the changing role of race in justifying the institution. Moving forward, this course studies how slavery and enslaved Africans affected the foundation of the United States. Students will examine how the institution shaped the development of American politics, the economy, and society more broadly. Centered around the enslaved experience, this course also delves into the world of slave owners to better understand how slavery grew, flourished, and developed into a uniquely American institution before its rapid, bloody demise

HIST S3116 HISTORY OF CAPITALISM. 4.00 points.

Capitalism shapes every aspect of our daily lives. Thinkers on both the left and the right of the political spectrum agree that capitalism structures our economic, social, and political relationships. Yet, there is little agreement as to the definition of capitalism and its normative implications. The definition and interpretation of capitalism differs across time and space, always evolving in response to challenges, crises, and contradictions. The aim of this course is to provide students with analytical tools to think critically and historically about the concept of capitalism. By studying how philosophers, economists, and political theorists have defined and described the concept of capitalism throughout its history (from the early seventeenth century to the present), students will be provided with a set of terminologies and analytical frameworks that enable them to interrogate the various dimensions of capitalism. The readings in the course are selected to illustrate the fact that capitalism has always been controversial. We will read texts authored by both proponents and critics of capitalism. We will explore how various canonical figures have thought about private property, markets, money, economic growth, injustice, inequality, alienation, and socialism

HIST S3123 CENSORHSP/FREEDOM-EXPRESS-EURO. 3.00 points.

In this course we examine theoretical and historical developments that gave rise to notions of censorship and free expression in early modern Europe. The role of censorship has become one of the significant elements in discussions of early modern culture. The new technology of printing, the rise national political cultures and their projections of control, religious wars and denominational schisms are some of the factors that intensified debate over the free circulation of ideas and speech. We will analyze categories of prohibited speech such as political, religious, and offensive to civil society. We will look at the mechanisms of censorship: who served as censors? How consistently was censorship applied? How effective was censorship in suppressing unwanted expression? What were its unintended consequences? We will look at ways in which censorship triggered significant reaction, such as martyrdom or created a culture of dissimulation, such as marranism and nicodemism. Index, Inquisition, Star Chamber, book burnings and beheadings have been the subjects of an ever growing body of scholarship. Finally, we will ask whether early-modern censorship can be said to have had a constitutive role in the formation of modern culture. Students will be encouraged to discuss and form research projects on contemporary freedom of expression issues related to the themes raised in the class

HIST S3299 TYRANNY & AUTOCRACY-RUSS/SOV UNION. 4.00 points.

HIST S3455 GLOBAL HIST OF THE US MILITARY. 3.00 points.

America's wars in context, from King Philip's War in 1675 to present conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East. This course charts the expansion of U.S. military power from a band of colonists to a globe-girdling colossus with over two million personnel, some 800 bases around the world, and an annual budget of approximately $686 billion - about 57 percent of federal discretionary spending, and more than the next 14 nations combined. It introduces students to the history of American military power; the economic, political, and technological rise of the military-industrial complex and national security state; the role of the armed services in international humanitarian work; and the changing role of the military in domestic and international politics. A three-point semester-long course compressed into six weeks. Syllabus is located here: http://www.bobneer.com/empireofliberty/

HIST S3535 HIST OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 3.00 points.

The social, cultural, economic, political, and demographic development of America's metropolis from colonial days to present. Slides and walking tours supplement the readings

HIST S3596 HIST OF LATINOS/AS IN THE U.S.. 3.00 points.

As a population, Latino, Latina, Latine, and Latinx peoples have been prominent in the public sphere in popular culture, the media, and especially around discussions of immigration. Though individuals with a tapestry of Spanish-Indian-African ancestry (who may be described as “Latinas/os” “Hispanics” or “Latinxs” today) explored the lands of present-day Florida and New Mexico long before English colonizers reached Plymouth Rock, Latina/o/x communities are continually seen as foreigners, immigrants, and “newcomers” to American society. This course aims to place Latina/o populations in the United States within historical context. We begin by asking: Who are Latinas/os in the U.S. and how did they become part of the American nation-state? Why are they identified as a distinct group? How have they participated in American society and how have they been perceived over time? The course will familiarize students with the broad themes, periods, and questions raised in the field of Latinx History. Topics include conquest and colonization, immigration, labor recruitment, education, politics, popular culture, and social movements. The course emphasizes a comparative approach to Latinx history aiming to engage histories from the Southwest, Midwest, and Eastern United States and across national origin groups—Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, Central Americans, and South Americans. This class is taught in mostly the modern period (after 1750) within United States history so it can count toward the history major or concentration. Where the course points may be applied depends on a student’s field of specialization within their major or concentration. The course can also count toward the Global Core requirement, which is reflected on the Columbia online registry. The class can, moreover, serve as three elective points toward degree progress or as non-technical elective credits. Finally, the course is regularly cross-listed with both the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and the Institute for the Study of Human Rights as well as with American Studies

HIST S4327 CONSUMER CULTURE IN MOD EUROPE. 4.00 points.

The development of the modern culture of consumption, with particular attention to the formation of the woman consumer. Topics include commerce and the urban landscape, changing attitudes toward shopping and spending, feminine fashion and conspicuous consumption, and the birth of advertising. Examination of novels, fashion magazines, and advertising images

HIST S4931 SEM IN GLOBAL STRATEGY II. 4.00 points.

HIST S4981 REVOL/RAD POLITICS-MARX-MAY'68. 4.00 points.

This seminar will expose students to classical texts in political theory relating to revolutionary action, political ethics and social militancy from the Communist Manifesto to 1968. The course will explore the idea of revolutionary ethics as conceived by Western and non-Western political philosophers and militants. The discussion will stress the connection between philosophers and revolutionary leaders and the transformation of the idea of radical politics through the dialogue between these two discourses (the philosophical and the militant) and the public reception of revolutionary events in the media and commemorative writings. Authors will be examined according to their historical context and their role in the tradition of political thought and the history of radical politics from 1848 to the mid-sixties. Students will be exposed to different discourses of political militancy and radical politics and to reflect on the ethical implications of the history of radical thought and action in comparative perspective

HIST S6999 GRADUATE SEMINAR. 3.00 points.

This section is reserved for graduate students only as a graduate section for undergraduate seminars

HIST UN1002 ANC HIST-MESOPOTAMIA&ASIA MINOR. 4.00 points.

A survey of the political and cultural history of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Iran from prehistory to the disappearance of the cuneiform documentation, with special emphasis on Mesopotamia. Groups(s): A

HIST UN1004 ANCIENT HISTORY OF EGYPT. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

A survey of the history of ancient Egypt from the first appearance of the state to the conquest of the country by Alexander of Macedon, with emphasis of the political history, but also with attention to the cultural, social, and economic developments

HIST UN1007 ANC HIST-MESOPOTAMIA&ASIA MINOR-DISC. 0.00 points.

HIST UN1008 ANCIENT HIST OF EGYPT-DISCUSSION. 0.00 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 1004 Ancient History of Egypt. Students must also be registered for HIST UN 1004

HIST UN1010 ANCIENT GREEK HIST, 800-146 BC. 4.00 points.

A review of the history of the Greek world from the beginnings of Greek archaic culture around 800 B.C. through the classical and hellenistic periods to the definitive Roman conquest in 146 B.C. with concentration on political history, but attention also to social and cultural developments.Field(s): ANC

Fall 2023: HIST UN1010
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1010 001/10428 T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm
313 Fayerweather
Richard Billows 4.00 46/60

HIST UN1011 ANC GREEK HIST 800-146 BC-DISC. 0.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN1011
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1011 001/10429  
Claire Dwyer, Charles Steinman 0.00 34/60

HIST UN1020 The Romans and Their World. 4 points.

This course examines the history of the Roman Empire from the formation of the Roman monarchy in 753 BCE to the collapse of the Western Empire in 476 CE. At the heart of the class is a single question: how did the Roman Empire come to be, and why did it last for so long? We will trace the rise and fall of the Republic, the extension of its power beyond Italy, and the spread of Christianity. Epic poetry, annalistic accounts, coins, papyri, inscriptions, and sculpture will illuminate major figures like Cleopatra, and features of daily life like Roman law and religion. The destructive mechanics by which Rome sustained itself--war, slavery, and environmental degradation--will receive attention, too, with the aim of producing a holistic understanding this empire.  Discussion Section Required.

Spring 2024: HIST UN1020
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1020 001/11462 M W 2:40pm - 3:55pm
310 Fayerweather
Sailakshmi Ramgopal 4 70/70

HIST UN1021 DISC - The Romans and Their Empire, 754 BCE to 641 CE. 0 points.

DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN 1020 The Romans and their World. 

Spring 2024: HIST UN1021
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1021 001/11463  
0 19/70

HIST UN1037 Introduction to History of Ukraine. 4 points.

Our goal is to gain a general understanding of the history of the country, with the ability to identify its disputed and controversial topics. Often, sharply different and politically loaded viewpoints and interpretations circulate. Like other European countries, Ukraine has not existed as a national entity throughout history, but has emerged in a historical process.


We will discuss different interpretations of medieval Rus, and then survey the history of the region from the end of the sixteenth century to present, paying attention to politics, economy, social structure, ideas, ethnic groups and nationalities, and gender. The topics to be discussed include the Church Union of Brest, Cossack Wars, the autonomous Hetmanate under Russian suzerainty, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Habsburg Empire, Russian Empire, World War I, revolution and short-lived Ukrainian states 1917-21, Ukrainians in the interwar Poland and the Soviet Union, Holodomor or the Great Famine 1932-33, World War II and Holocaust in Ukraine, destalinization in Ukraine, independent Ukraine and its political upheavals, including the recent Russian attack on Ukraine.

HIST UN1038 DISC - Introduction to History of Ukraine. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 1037 Introduction to History of Ukraine.  Students must also be registered for HIST UN 1037.

HIST UN1061 INTRO-EARLY MID AGES: 250-1050. 4.00 points.

HIST UN1063 DISC - INTRO-EARLY MID AGES: 250-1050. 0.00 points.

Required discussion for lecture HIST UN1061 (INTRO-EARLY MID AGES: 250-1050)

HIST UN1488 Indigenous History of North America. 4.00 points.

This course is an introduction to the history of the Native peoples of North America. Instruction will focus on the idea that indigenous people in North America possess a shared history in terms of being forced to respond to European colonization, and the emergence of the modern nation-state. Native peoples, however, possess their own distinct histories and culture. In this sense their histories are uniquely multi-faceted rather than the experience of a singular racial group. Accordingly, this course will offer a wide-ranging survey of cultural encounters between the Native peoples of North America, European empires, colonies, and emergent modern nation-states taking into account the many different indigenous responses to colonization and settler colonialism. This course will also move beyond the usual stories of Native-White relations that center either on narratives of conquest and assimilation, or stories of cultural persistence. We will take on these issues, but we will also explore the significance of Native peoples to the historical development of modern North America. This will necessarily entail an examination of race formation, and a study of the evolution of social structures and categories such as nation, tribe, citizenship, and sovereignty

Fall 2023: HIST UN1488
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1488 001/10403 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
303 Hamilton Hall
Michael Witgen 4.00 25/35

HIST UN1512 The Battle for North America: An Indigenous History of the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. 4.00 points.

This course will explore the struggle to control the continent of North America from an Indigenous perspective. After a century of European colonization Native peoples east of the Mississippi River Valley formed a political confederation aimed at preserving Native sovereignty. This Native confederacy emerged as a dominant force during the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, and the War of 1812. At times Native political interests aligned with the French and British Empires, but remained in opposition to the expansion of Anglo-American colonial settlements into Indian country. This course is designed to engage literature and epistemology surrounding these New World conflicts as a means of the colonial and post-colonial past in North America. We will explore the emergence of intersecting indigenous and European national identities tied to the social construction of space and race. In this course I will ask you to re-think American history by situating North America as a Native space, a place that was occupied and controlled by indigenous peoples. You will be asked to imagine a North America that was indigenous and adaptive, and not necessarily destined to be absorbed by European settler colonies. Accordingly, this course we will explore the intersections of European colonial settlement and Euro-American national expansion, alongside of the emergence of indigenous social formations that dominated the western interior until the middle of the 19th century. This course is intended to be a broad history of Indigenous North America during a tumultuous period, but close attention will be given to use and analysis of primary source evidence. Similarly, we will explore the necessity of using multiple genres of textual evidence – archival documents, oral history, material artifacts, etc., -- when studying indigenous history

Spring 2024: HIST UN1512
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1512 001/11676 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
303 Hamilton Hall
Michael Witgen 4.00 32/35

HIST UN1513 Battle for North America DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for HIST UN1512

Spring 2024: HIST UN1513
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1513 001/11677  
0.00 13/35

HIST UN1768 European Intellectual History. 4.00 points.

This course provides an introduction to some of the major landmarks in European cultural and intellectual history, from the aftermath of the French Revolution to the 1970s. We will pay special attention to the relationship between texts (literature, anthropology, political theory, psychoanalysis, art, and film) and the various contexts in which they were produced. Among other themes, we will discuss the cultural impact of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, industrialism, colonialism, modernism, the Russian Revolution, the two world wars, decolonization, feminism and gay liberation movements, structuralism and poststructuralism. In conjunction, we will examine how modern ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, imperialism, fascism, totalitarianism, neoliberalism) were developed and challenged over the course of the last two centuries. Participation in weekly discussion sections staffed by TAs is mandatory. The discussion sections are 50 minutes per session. Students must register for the general discussion (“DISC”) section, and will be assigned to a specific time and TA instructor once the course begins

HIST UN1769 DISC - European Intellectual History. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST 1768 European Intellectual History. Students must first register for HIST 1768

HIST UN1786 History of the City in Latin America. 4.00 points.

This course covers the historical development of cities in Latin America. Readings, lectures, and discussion sections will examine the concentration of people in commercial and political centers from the beginnings of European colonization in the fifteenth century to the present day and will introduce contrasting approaches to the study of urban culture, politics, society, and the built environment. Central themes include the reciprocal relationships between growing urban areas and the countryside; changing power dynamics in modern Latin America, especially as they impacted the lives of cities’ nonelite majority populations; the legalities and politics of urban space; planned versus unplanned cities and the rise of informal economies; the way changing legal and political rights regimes have affected urban life; and the constant tension between tradition and progress through which urban society was formed. There are no prerequisites for this course. Attendance at weekly Discussion Sections required

HIST UN1787 DISC - History of the City in Latin America. 0.00 points.

REQUIRED DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN 1786 History of the City in Latin America. Students must first register for HIST UN 1786

HIST UN1942 The Year 1000: A World History. 4.00 points.

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of premodern history, with a substantive focus on the variety of cultures flourishing across the globe 1000 years ago. Methodologically, the course will emphasize the variety of primary sources historians use to reconstruct those cultures, the various approaches taken by the discipline of history (and neighboring disciplines) in analyzing those sources, and the particular challenges and pleasures of studying a generally “source poor” period. The course queries the concepts of “global history” and “world history” as applied to the “middle millennium” (corresponding to Europe’s “medieval history”), by exploring approaches that privilege connection, comparison, combination, correlation, or coverage

Spring 2024: HIST UN1942
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1942 001/11510 T Th 8:40am - 9:55am
142 Uris Hall
Adam Kosto 4.00 70/70
HIST 1942 AU1/18960 T Th 8:40am - 9:55am
Othr Other
Adam Kosto 4.00 5/5

HIST UN1943 The Year 1000: A World History - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required zero-credit/ungraded discussion for The Year 1000: A World History lecture (HIST UN1942). Discussion section day & times to be determined

Spring 2024: HIST UN1943
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 1943 001/11511 Th 4:10pm - 5:00pm
327 Uris Hall
Caitlin Liss 0.00 15/17
HIST 1943 002/18904 Th 5:10pm - 6:00pm
327 Uris Hall
Caitlin Liss 0.00 4/17
HIST 1943 003/18905 T 4:10pm - 5:00pm
328 Uris Hall
Charles Steinman 0.00 17/17
HIST 1943 004/18906 W 9:10am - 10:00am
327 Uris Hall
Charles Steinman 0.00 17/17

HIST UN2002 Empire and Nation-Building: East Central Europe. 0 points.

This lecture course investigates the European world of empires and nation-states from the Enlightenment to contemporary illiberal democracy. We will focus on political, social and intellectual history of peoples and societies, who formed a unique anti- imperial space of ‘small peoples’ that preceded non-European anti-imperial and anti-colonial movements. Geographically, we will focus on social, political, and intellectual history of East Central Europe. The course closely investigates the relationship between empires and movements of self-determination; between the collapse of European land-empires and the rise nation-state; and the accommodation of modern nationalism by communist dictatorship and post-communist democracy. The lecture will introduce the seminal political ideas that formed a turbulent history of Eastern Europe: Marxism/socialism, living space or Lebensraum, race, genocide, peasantism and socialist modernization. Finally, we will study how ordinary Eastern Europeans experienced and gave meaning to these processes (Bohumil Hrabal, Herta Müller, Slovenka Drakulic) through the lens of literature, films and visual sources The course is intended for students interested in modern Europe, intellectual history, histories of empire, nation-state and communist state, as well as an array of Eastern European ‘peoples’ (Jewish, German, Russian, Ottoman Muslim, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Roma).

HIST UN2003 Empire & Nation-Building East Central Europe. 4.00 points.

This lecture course investigates nation-building as a process of decolonization of Europe’s land empires (Ottoman, German, Russian, and Habsburg) from 18th century to present. It was a turbulent historical process: decolonization of European East’s ‘small peoples’ paved the way to anti-imperial and anti-colonial movements outside Europe only to be crushed, in the mid-twentieth-century, by imperial politics of Hitler’s Germany and the Soviet Union. We will study different ways in which culture – local languages, vernacular heritage, religion, and material culture – became politically weaponized to achieve goals of national self-determination and social revolution. Throughout the 19th and 20th century nation-building in the European East produced particular forms of non-Western modernity that found expression in built environments, visual arts, letters, music, public activism, and domestic sphere. We will study how resistance and enforced accommodation to Empire turned into spaces of cultural production, mass movements, economic upheaval, state-building, and last but not least, physical violence. Finally, we will investigate how ordinary Eastern Europeans experienced and gave meaning to the processes of nation-building. The course is intended for students interested in cultural, intellectual, social and gender history, histories of nationalism and communism, as well as local and transnational histories of Eastern European ‘peoples’ (Jewish, Muslim, Christian Slavic; German, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Southern Slavic/Yugo-Slav, Greek, and Roma)

HIST UN2004 The Mediterranean World After Alexander the Great. 4 points.

The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Greek Civilization all around the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. This course will examine the Hellenised (greek-based) urban society of the empires of the Hellenistic era (ca. 330-30BCE).

Spring 2024: HIST UN2004
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2004 001/11461 T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm
307 Uris Hall
Richard Billows 4 29/35

HIST UN2026 Roman Social History. 3 points.

Social structure, class, slavery and manumission, social mobility, life expectation, status and behavior of women, Romanization, town and country, social organizations, education and literacy, philanthropy, amusements in the Roman Empire, 70 B.C. - 250 A.D. 

HIST UN2049 Colonizers & Colonized: Violence, Resistance, and Cooperation. 4 points.

The course is a general introduction to colonization and its consequences in the Ancient Mediterranean. Special attention will be given to the populations who experiences and often resisted Phoenician, Greek, and Roman colonization.

HIST UN2050 The Historical Jesus and the Origin of Christianity. 4 points.

The goal of this course will be to subject the source materials about Jesus and the very beginnings of Christianity (before about 150 CE) to a strictly historical-critical examination and analysis, to try to understand the historical underpinnings of what we can claim to know about Jesus, and how Christianity arose as a new religion from Jesus' life and teachings. In addition, since the search or quest for the "historical Jesus" has been the subject of numerous studies and books in recent times, we shall examine a selection of prominent "historical Jesus" works and theories to see how they stand up to critical scrutiny from a historical perspective.

HIST UN2051 Europe in the Age of Total War - 1900-1950. 4 points.

This course explores the experience of men and women in Europe during the two world wars using written sources, films, memoirs, and popular cultural artifacts. This course covers the major transformations in European politics, technology, culture, philosophy, economy, art, and music in the first half of the century. Topics include the rush to arms in 1914; treatment of shell shock; the war poets; life on the home front; women's roles; pacifism between the wars; Nazi "blitzkrieg" and total war; terror in everyday life; civilian reactions to aerial bombing and psychology in war; the Holocaust, and postwar reconstruction and the treatment of refugees.

HIST UN2052 DISC - Europe in the Age of Total War - 1900-1950. 0 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST UN 2051 Europe in the Age of Total War 1900-1950.  Students must first register for main course.

HIST UN2060 LAWS OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 4.00 points.

HIST UN2072 DAILY LIFE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE. 4.00 points.

This course is designed as travellers guide to medieval Europe. Its purpose is to provide a window to a long-lost world that provided the foundation of modern institutions and that continues to inspire the modern collective artistic and literary imagination with its own particularities. This course will not be a conventional history course concentrating on the grand narratives in the economic, social and political domains but rather intend to explore the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants, and attempts to have a glimpse of their mindset, their emotional spectrum, their convictions, prejudices, fears and hopes. It will be at once a historical, sociological and anthropological study of one of the most inspiring ages of European civilization. Subjects to be covered will include the birth and childhood, domestic life, sex and marriage, craftsmen and artisans, agricultural work, food and diet, the religious devotion, sickness and its cures, death, after death (purgatory and the apparitions), travelling, merchants and trades, inside the nobles castle, the Christian cosmos, and medieval technology. The lectures will be accompanied by maps, images of illuminated manuscripts and of medieval objects. Students will be required to attend a weekly discussion section to discuss the medieval texts bearing on that weeks subject. The written course assignment will be a midterm, final and two short papers, one an analysis of a medieval text and a second an analysis of a modern text on the Middle Ages

HIST UN2073 DAILY LIFE IN MED EUR-DISC. 0.00 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2072 Daily Life in Medieval Europe. Students must also be registered for HIST UN 2072

HIST UN2088 The Historical Jesus and the Origin of Christianity. 4 points.

The goal of this course will be to subject the source materials about Jesus and the very beginnings of Christianity (before about 150 CE) to a strictly historical-critical examination and analysis, to try to understand the historical underpinnings of what we can claim to know about Jesus, and how Christianity arose as a new religion from Jesus' life and teachings. In addition, since the search or quest for the "historical Jesus" has been the subject of numerous studies and books in recent times, we shall examine a selection of prominent "historical Jesus" works and theories to see how they stand up to critical scrutiny from a historical perspective.

HIST UN2089 DISC - The Historical Jesus and the Origin of Christianity. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2088 The Historical Jesus and the Origin of Christianity.  Students must also be registered for HIST 2088.

HIST UN2100 EARLY MOD EUR: PRINT & SOCIETY. 4.00 points.

HIST UN2101 EARLY MOD EUR: PRINT & SOCI-DIS. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2112 The Scientific Revolution in Western Europe: 1500-1750. 4 points.

Introduction to the cultural, social, and intellectual history of the upheavals of astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, alchemy from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Field(s): EME

HIST UN2133 Britain and the World Since World War II. 4 points.

This course is a history of Britain and its relationship with the wider world since World War II. We will be discussing the chaotic and violent end of Britain’s empire, the transformation of international politics through institutions such as the UN and Britain’s fraught relationship with Europe. Along the way we will cover the rise and fall of Britain’s welfare state, the transformation of its cities, the new communities and political allegiances formed by mass migration and the new ideas about gender, race, sexuality and youth culture that were formed during these decades. We will also study some of the music, film, literature and architecture produced during this turbulent period. 

HIST UN2176 REVOLUTION & EMPIRE: HAITI & FRANCE, 1789-1820. 3.00 points.

Few periods in history have stirred imaginations and been debated as much as the so-called “Age of Revolution” at the turn of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Long seen through a self-righteous North-Atlantic lens, this era of (democratic) revolutions has today been decentered both spatially and conceptually to encompass other revolutionary upheavals around the globe and their twin other: empire. This course takes stock of these developments to explore how revolution and empire developed in tandem in France and Haiti, with ramifications across the Caribbean, Europe and beyond from 1789 to 1820. Topics covered include: the end of an “old” regime and birth of several new ones; the largest and most successful slave revolt in history; revolutionary politics and social transformation; the terror; Napoleon, Toussaint Louverture, and charismatic leadership; the first “total war” and new forms of empire-building; the legacies, memory, and forgetting of these events. Throughout, the course considers revolutionary upheaval and imperialism as intertwined processes driven both by determinate logics and by unintended consequences. This course is lecture-based although students are expected to engage in short document-based discussions in class. All classes and readings will be English, and no prior knowledge of the period is required

HIST UN2211 Introduction to Ukrainian History: Nation and Identity. 4 points.

This course will offer an introduction to Ukrainian history from 1800 to contemporaneity. The course will analyze how different political actors conceived the Ukrainian nation and imagined a Ukrainian state. The lectures will emphasize the importance of transnational contamination in the emergence of Ukrainian national culture in the last two centuries and will encourage students to think of national belonging in a more critical way.

HIST UN2213 Early Russian History (to 1800). 4 points.

Prerequisites: Must register for corequisite discussion section HIST UN2214

Early Russian History is the first semester of a full-year survey of Russian history; the second semester, Modern Russian History (Since 1800), will be offered in 2017-18. (Each may also be taken independently.) During this semester, we will first look at societies in the Black Sea region and Eurasian plain – their formation, evolution, and sometimes demise – until the emergence of an early modern empire centered in Moscow. The history of the Russian Empire proper begins with the conquest of the Khanate of Kazan in 1552, and culminates in the modern European empire of Peter I and Catherine II. We will examine, in turn, the Black Sea civilizations of antiquity and the medieval age; the Mongol Empire and its westernmost projection, the Golden Horde; the city of Moscow and the Muscovite Empire (15th –17th centuries) over which it presided; and, finally, the new imperial capital of St. Petersburg and the monarchs, the empire, the foreign policy and society of the eighteenth century. We will pay special attention to religion, cultural interaction, myth, monarchy, empire – all themes essential to current historical scholarship.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2213
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2213 001/10381 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
307 Uris Hall
Catherine Evtuhov 4 19/35

HIST UN2215 MODERN RUSSIAN HISTORY. 4.00 points.

An introductory survey of the history of Russia, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union over the last two centuries. Russia’s role on the European continent, intellectual movements, unfree labor and emancipation, economic growth and social change, and finally the great revolutions of 1905 and 1917 define the “long nineteenth century.” The second half of the course turns to the tumultuous twentieth century: cultural experiments of the 1920s, Stalinism, World War II, and the new society of the Khrushchev and Brezhnev years. Finally, a look at very recent history since the East European revolutions of 1989-91. This is primarily a course on the domestic history of Russia and the USSR, but with some attention to foreign policy and Russia’s role in the world

HIST UN2216 MODERN RUSSIAN HISTORY-DISCUSSION. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2222 NATURE & POWER: ENV HIST NORTH AMERICA. 4.00 points.

Environmental history seeks to expand the customary framework of historical inquiry, challenging students to construct narratives of the past that incorporate not only human beings but also the natural world with which human life is intimately intertwined. As a result, environmental history places at center stage a wide range of previously overlooked historical actors such as plants, animals, and diseases. Moreover, by locating nature within human history, environmental history encourages its practitioners to rethink some of the fundamental categories through which our understanding of the natural world is expressed: wilderness and civilization, wild and tame, natural and artificial. For those interested in the study of ethnicity, environmental history casts into particularly sharp relief the ways in which the natural world can serve both to undermine and to reinforce the divisions within human societies. Although all human beings share profound biological similarities, they have nonetheless enjoyed unequal access to natural resources and to healthy environments—differences that have all-too-frequently been justified by depicting such conditions as “natural.”

Spring 2024: HIST UN2222
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2222 001/11628 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
517 Hamilton Hall
Karl Jacoby 4.00 64/70
HIST 2222 AU1/18961 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
Othr Other
Karl Jacoby 4.00 5/5

HIST UN2223 NATURE & POWER: ENV HIST NORTH AMER-DIS. 0.00 points.

Spring 2024: HIST UN2223
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2223 001/11631  
0.00 5/70

HIST UN2231 Russia and the Soviet Union in the 20th Century. 4 points.

The course offers an introduction into the history of Russia and the Soviet Union in the twentieth century. It combines lectures and discussion sections as well as survey texts and a selection of sources, including documents generated by state/party bodies, various documents produced by individual authors (especially diaries, letters, and memoirs), and some film materials. Putting the Soviet phenomenon into its wider intellectual, cultural, and geographical contexts, we will also address questions of modernity and modernization, socialism and communism, and authoritarian practices in politics, culture, and society.  

HIST UN2234 Dictators and Dictatorships in 20th Century Europe, 1900-1946. 4 points.

Prerequisites: Corequisite discussion HIST UN2335

In this course we focus on the origins and causes of dictatorship, beginning with the consequences of the Great War.  How do dictatorships and authoritarian regimes compare and contrast in the East and West of Europe?  To what extent can we trace the origins of leftist, Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist dictatorship and those of the right-wing (fascist and Nazi) dictatorships back to the 19th century philosophical and ideological antecedents?

HIST UN2235 The First American Gilded Age, 1870-1919. 4 points.

Pundits and scholars have in recent years dubbed our current era of heightened inequality “the second American Gilded Age.”  This course examines the first Gilded Age,  named by Mark Twain and Charles Warner Dudley  in 1873,  with a focus on issues that continue to resonate today: the structures of social inequality, technological innovation and the changing conditions of work, immigration, the power of corporations and banks, the origins of the Jim Crow regime, American polices toward Indian Country, international interventions, ecological degradation, the structure of government (from separation of powers to states’ rights and municipal initiatives),  political corruption, and grassroots political mobilizations. By comparing and contrasting both institutional change and the experiences of ordinary people in the two eras,  the course aims to sharpen our analysis of how debates over political economy and Constitutional rights at the turn of the twentieth century structured possibilities of democracy in the decades that followed.  Readings include novels, memoirs, diaries, and legislative hearings as well as  historical scholarship.

HIST UN2236 DISC - The First American Gilded Age, 1870-1919. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST UN 2235 The First American Gilded Age, 1870-1919

HIST UN2241 Revolutionary Ukraine 1917-2017. 4.00 points.

Over the last hundred years there have been four dramatic periods of revolutionary upheaval on the territory of today’s Ukraine: the events of 1917-20, Stalin’s “second” revolution of 1933-34, the “nationalist revolution” of the 1940s, and the Euromaidan Revolution of 2013-14. These flashpoints in history play an important role in current memory wars. The course provides a guide to the most controversial issues and the conflicting ways in which each revolutionary cycle has been interpreted. It also indicates neglected episodes and suggests how new approaches can bridge narrative divides

HIST UN2242 Revolutionary Ukraine 1917-2017 DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for HIST UN2241 - Revolutionary Ukraine 1917-2017

HIST UN2257 Self-Determination and the Making of the Twentieth-Century World. 4.00 points.

This lecture course reconstructs the global spread and development of ideas and practices of self-determination in the twentieth century. Starting on the eve of World War I and concluding in the wake of the Soviet Union’s downfall, we will examine how successive episodes of imperial crisis and collapse reshaped how, where, and by whom the right to self-determination historically came to be claimed, contested, and exercised. Taking the Wilsonian and Leninist interpretations of self-determination as its point of departure, our inquiry will expand to encompass primary texts spanning major currents of liberal, nationalist, pan-nationalist, internationalist, socialist, communist, anarchist, fascist, federalist, and feminist thought. Recurring regions of emphasis include the North Atlantic world, East Asia, East-Central Europe, Russia and the Soviet Union, and the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, British, and French Empires, while key institutions include the Communist International, the League of Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations. Our study of self-determination features central topics such as the comparative histories of empires and nation-states, the relationship between nationalism and internationalism, concepts of racial hierarchy and supremacy, diasporas and transnational networks, world war, decolonization, global governance, international development, imperial reform, and the fate of neoliberalism since the 1990s

HIST UN2258 Self-Determination and the Making of the Twentieth-Century World - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for “Self-Determination and the Making of the Twentieth-Century World” lecture (HIST UN2257)

HIST UN2298 The Soviet Century: Russia and Eurasia 1917-present. 4 points.

The Soviet Union in many ways defined the previous century. An experiment in social engineering that took place in the largest country in the world (1/6th of the globe) from 1917-1991, the world’s first socialist state inspired and terrified people around the world. We will explore how the Bolsheviks tried to turn Marxist ideology into social policy, providing education and social mobility on an unprecedented scale while also building one of the most repressive states in world history. This lecture course follows attempts to create a new type of state, a new type of person and how both of these projects evolved over time. We will also see how this system defeated fascism in the largest war in world history, only to crumble after a period of relative stability. We will watch a number of films, as well as read novels, memoirs and major government publications. In the course of the semester you will take two exams and write one research paper on a topic of your choice. In addition to lectures, there will be a recitation section to discuss these texts and films.




 

HIST UN2299 DISC - The Soviet Century: Russia and Eurasia 1917-present. 0 points.

DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN 2298 "The Soviet Century Russia and Eurasia: 1917-present"

HIST UN2302 EUROPEAN CATASTROPHE, 1914-1945. 4.00 points.

This course is intended to provide an introduction to some major debates in European history in the era of the two world wars. It is not an introductory-level survey course, and students should either have taken such a survey already or be willing to read a background textbook as the course proceeds. Beginning with the condition of Europe on the eve of the First World War, it explores the causes, experience and long-term impact of the First World War on European politics, societies and individual lives. It ranges from a consideration of the transformation of European capitalism, and the challenge presented by Soviet Bolshevism to the crisis of liberal democracy and the European embrace of the authoritarian and fascist Right. At the same time, it traces the way writers, artists, film-makers and poets came to terms with their age and exposes the way that beneath the creative expressions of a literate elite, long-term changes in the composition of society – the plight of the peasantry in an era of falling commodity prices, the immiseration of the urban working class faced with mass unemployment and the Slump – enhanced international tensions and complicated diplomacy. It explores the unraveling of the post-1918 stabilisation and the undermining of the authority of the League of Nations as Europe split into warring camps for a second time. Finally, it traces the emergence of a Nazi Europe underwritten by Germany military power and transformed by racist ideas, the collapse of this edifice and the nature of the political and ideological reconstruction that followed after 1945

HIST UN2303 DISC-European Catastrophe 1914-1945. 0 points.

REQUIRED Discussion Section for UN2302, European Catastrophe 1914-1945

HIST UN2305 WAR IN GERMANY 1618-2018. 4.00 points.

For much of modern history Germany was Europe’s battlefield. Its soldiers wrote themselves into the annals of military history. But it was also a place where war was discussed, conceptualized and criticized with unparalleled vigor. Nowhere did the extreme violence of the seventeenth century and the early twentieth century leave a deeper mark than on Germany. Today, as we enter the twenty-first century, Germany is the nation that has perhaps come closest to drawing a final, concluding line under its military history. This course will chart the rise and fall of modern militarism in Germany. For those interested in military history per se, this course will not hold back from discussing battles, soldiers and weapons. But it will also offer an introduction to German history more generally. And through the German example we will address questions in political philosophy that haunted modern European history and continue to haunt America today. How is state violence justified? How can it be regulated and controlled? What is its future?

Spring 2024: HIST UN2305
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2305 001/11686 M W 2:40pm - 3:55pm
517 Hamilton Hall
Adam Tooze 4.00 70/70

HIST UN2306 WAR IN GERMANY 1618-2018-DIS. 0.00 points.

Spring 2024: HIST UN2306
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2306 001/11688  
0.00 19/70

HIST UN2307 ITALY IN THE WIDER WORLD. 4.00 points.

HIST UN2308 ITALY IN THE WIDER WORLD - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for Lecture Course HIST UN2307

HIST UN2310 European Intellectual History. 4.00 points.

This course provides an introduction to some of the major landmarks in European cultural and intellectual history, from the aftermath of the French Revolution to the 1970s. We will pay special attention to the relationship between texts (literature, anthropology, political theory, psychoanalysis, art, and film) and the various contexts in which they were produced. Among other themes, we will discuss the cultural impact of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, industrialism, colonialism, modernism, the Russian Revolution, the two world wars, decolonization, feminism and gay liberation movements, structuralism and poststructuralism. In conjunction, we will examine how modern ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, imperialism, fascism, totalitarianism, neoliberalism) were developed and challenged over the course of the last two centuries. Participation in weekly discussion sections staffed by TAs is mandatory. The discussion sections are 50 minutes per session. Students must register for the general discussion (“DISC”) section, and will be assigned to a specific time and TA instructor once the course begins

HIST UN2311 DISC - European Intellectual History. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST 2310 European Intellectual History. Students must first register for HIST 2310

HIST UN2314 Modern France and its Empire: 1789-present. 3 points.

This lecture course surveys the main currents of French history from the Revolution to the present, with particular attention to the interaction between continental France and the rest of the empire. Throughout this course, the main questions will be: to what extent has the French Revolution served as point of political and cultural reference throughout the 19th and 20th centuries? Who is a citizen? And how has the response to this question been impacted by imperial developments? What is French Republicanism? And how to understand it in the imperial context? What have been the relations between political, social, economic and cultural developments? How have continental conflicts and World Wars impacted French history? How have the post WWII interrelated processes of decolonization, immigration and building of Europe deeply impacted contemporary France? We will tackle these questions by reading primary sources: works of political philosophy; literature; film; legal documents; and memoirs from the time, and by watching films.

HIST UN2323 Nineteenth-Century Britain. 3 points.

This course covers all aspects of British history – political, imperial, economic, social and cultural – during the century of Britain’s greatest global power.  Particular attention will be paid to the emergence of liberalism as a political and economic system and as a means of governing personal and social life.  Students will read materials from the time, as well as scholarly articles, and will learn to work with some of the rich primary materials available on this period.

HIST UN2330 Europe: from the Nazi New Order to the European Union. 4 points.

The history of Europe in the wider world from the Allies' victorious war against the Nazi New Order to the triumph of the European Union after the collapse of Soviet Empire. Lectures bring Eastern and Western Europe into one focus, to study the impact of the Cold War, the exit from colonial empire, Europe's "Economic Miracle, the sexual revolution, Europe's slowdown after the 1970s Oil Shock, Euro-Reaganism, and the impact of globalization from the 1990s to the 2008 crisis.  

HIST UN2332 European Intellectual History. 4 points.

This course provides an introduction to some of the major landmarks in European cultural and intellectual history, from the aftermath of the French Revolution to the 1970s. We will pay special attention to the relationship between texts (literature, anthropology, political theory, psychoanalysis, art, and film) and the various contexts in which they were produced. Among other themes, we will discuss the cultural impact of the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, industrialism, colonialism, modernism, the Russian Revolution, the two world wars, decolonization, feminism and gay liberation movements, structuralism and poststructuralism. In conjunction, we will examine how modern ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, imperialism, fascism, totalitarianism, neoliberalism) were developed and challenged over the course of the last two centuries. Participation in weekly discussion sections staffed by TAs is mandatory. The discussion sections are 50 minutes per session. Students must register for the general discussion (“DISC”) section, and will be assigned to a specific time and TA instructor once the course begins.

HIST UN2336 Everyday Communism. 4 points.

Prerequisites: Coreq discussion section HIST UN2237

This lecture course comparatively and transnationally investigates the twentieth-century communism as a modern civilization with global outreach. It looks at the world spread of communism as an ideology, everyday experience, and form of statehood in the Soviet Union, Europe, Asia (Mao’s China), and post-colonial Africa. With the exception of North America and Australia, communist regimes were established on all continents of the world. The course will study this historical process from the October Revolution (1917) to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster (1986), which marked the demise of communist state. The stress is not just on state-building processes or Cold War politics, but primarily on social, gender, cultural and economic policies that shaped lived experiences of communism. We will closely investigate what was particular about communism as civilization: sexuality, materiality, faith, selfhood, cultural identity, collective, or class and property politics. We will explore the ways in which “ordinary people” experienced communism through violence (anti-imperial and anti-fascist warfare; forced industrialization) and as subjects of social policies (gender equality, family programs, employment, urban planning). By close investigation of visual, material and political representations of life under communism, the course demonstrates the variety of human experience outside the “West” and capitalist modernity in an era of  anti-imperial politics, Cold War, and decolonization, as well as current environmental crisis.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2336
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2336 001/10386 T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm
301 Uris Hall
Malgorzata Mazurek 4 120/140

HIST UN2337 DISC - Everyday Communism. 0 points.

DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN 2336 Everyday Communism

Fall 2023: HIST UN2337
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2337 001/10387  
Ella Coon 0 118/145

HIST UN2341 DISC - Britain, Ireland and Empire, 1789-1901. 0.00 points.

Required discussion for lecture HIST UN2342 (Britain, Ireland and Empire, 1789-1901)

Spring 2024: HIST UN2341
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2341 001/11585  
0.00 13/35

HIST UN2342 Britain, Ireland and Empire, 1789-1901. 4.00 points.

Nineteenth-century Britain has traditionally been portrayed as the dominant power in the world of its time: one that forged a path towards various kinds of ‘modernity’ at home, while ruthlessly subjugating and exploiting the peoples subject to its colonial empire. In this course, we will take a sceptical look at these claims. How coherent a political entity was ‘Britain’—a monarchy composed of at least four distinct and fractious nations, presiding over a scattered empire of trade, conquest and settlement? Who in Britain really benefited from the prosperity made possible by the dramatic industrial and imperial expansion that characterised the period? What forms of freedom, and what kinds of social control, were made possible by Victorian ideologies of ‘liberal’ government and laissez-faire economics? Why were British elites so often uncertain and divided when it came to questions of imperial rule—especially in Ireland, the oldest and nearest dependency of the empire? In the course of asking these questions, we will of course be learning about the history of Britain itself, alongside the parts of the world it interacted with during the nineteenth century: something that, thanks to a wealth of primary sources (many of them now online) and a strong tradition of sophisticated historiography, will be a highly rewarding intellectual experience. We will also, however, be learning and thinking about other things—the histories of capitalism, religion, gender, empire, fossil fuels, migration, agriculture, slavery and political ideology, among others—that are of a much more general, and contemporary relevance. We do not have to buy into simplistic narratives of nineteenth-century Britain’s importance or distinctiveness to recognize it as an interesting place for thinking through some of the central problems of global history and modern politics

Spring 2024: HIST UN2342
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2342 001/11584 T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm
303 Hamilton Hall
James Stafford 4.00 28/35
HIST 2342 AU1/18962 T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm
Othr Other
James Stafford 4.00 3/3

HIST UN2353 Shadow of the Sun King: Early Modern France. 4.00 points.

This course will offer a survey of French history from the Wars of Religion to the Revolution, when the kingdom was the predominant power in Europe. Topics to be addressed include the rise of the Bourbon monarchy, the crystallization of absolutism as a political theology, the spectacular rise and collapse of John Law’s financial system, the emergence of the philosophe movement during the Enlightenment, and the gradual de-legitimation of royal power through its association with despotism. Thematically, the course will focus on shifting logics of representation—that is, the means by which political, economic, and religious power was not only reflected, but also generated and projected, through a range of interrelated practices that include Catholic liturgy, courtly protocols, aristocratic codes of honor, financial experimentation, and the critical styles of thinking and reading inculcated by the nascent public sphere

HIST UN2354 Shadow of the Sun King: Early Modern France - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for HIST UN2353

HIST UN2360 TWENTIETH CENTURY BRITAIN. 4.00 points.

This course surveys the main currents of British history from 1900 to the present, with particular attention to the changing place of Britain in the world and the changing shape of British society and politics. Throughout this course, we will ask: Where is power located? What held Britain and the empire together, and what tore them apart? What was life like for Britons – young and old, men and women, rich and poor, Black and white – across the course of this century? When and how did social change happen? How did people respond? We will tackle these questions by looking closely at some key periods of social and political conflict and resolution, by reading key texts from the time (novels, plays, reportage, speeches), by viewing contemporary newsreels and films, and by conducting research in online newspaper and record collections. We will discuss these materials in section; section attendance is mandatory. Course objectives The course aims to provide students with (a) a good foundational knowledge of the course of British history from 1900 to the present; (b) an understanding of how historians do research and basic research skills; (c) the ability to analyze historical materials (speeches, novels, memoirs, government documents, films), placing them in context and deploying them to make analytical arguments about the past

HIST UN2361 TWENTIETH CENT BRITAIN-DISCUSSION. 0.00 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2360 20th Century Britain: Between Democracy and Empire. Students must also be registered for HIST 2360

HIST UN2377 WORLD HISTORY SINCE WW II. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

In this course students will explore contemporary international and global history, focusing on how states have cooperated and competed in the Cold War, decolonization, and regional crises. But lectures will also analyze how non-governmental organizations, cross-border migration, new means of communication, and global markets are transforming the international system as a whole. Group(s): B, C, D Field(s): INTL

HIST UN2378 WORLD HIST SINCE WW II-DISC. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2398 The Politics of Terror: The French Revolution. 4 points.

 This course examines the political culture of eighteenth-century France, from the final decades of the Bourbon monarchy to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Among our primary aims will be to explore the origins of the Terror and its relationship to the Revolution as a whole. Other topics we will address include the erosion of the king's authority in the years leading up to 1789, the fall of the Bastille, the Constitutions of 1791 and 1793, civil war in the Vendée, the militarization of the Revolution, the dechristianization movement, attempts to establish a new Revolutionary calendar and civil religion, and the sweeping plans for moral regeneration led by Robespierre and his colleagues in 1793-1794.

Spring 2024: HIST UN2398
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2398 001/11493 T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm
602 Hamilton Hall
Charly Coleman 4 55/70
HIST 2398 AU1/18963 T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm
Othr Other
Charly Coleman 4 6/5

HIST UN2399 DISC - The Politics of Terror: The French Revolution. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2398 The Politics of Terror: The French Revolution.  Students must also be registered for HIST 2398.

Spring 2024: HIST UN2399
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2399 001/11494  
0 26/70

HIST UN2406 Chinese Religious Traditions - Discussion. 0 points.

This course provides a chronological and thematic introduction to Chinese religions from their beginnings until modern times. It examines distinctive concepts, practices and institutions in the religions of China. Emphasis will be placed on the diversity and unity of religious expressions in China, with readings drawn from a wide-range of texts: religious scriptures, philosophical texts, popular literature and modern historical and ethnographic studies. Special attention will be given to those forms of religion common to both “elite” and “folk” culture: cosmology, family and communal rituals, afterlife, morality and mythology. The course also raises more general questions concerning gender, class, political patronage, and differing concepts of religion.

HIST UN2411 The Rise of American Capitalism. 4 points.

Examines the social conflicts that accompanied the transformation of the United States from an agrarian republic and slave society to one of the most powerful industrial nations in the world. Particular attention will be paid to the building of new social and economic institutions and to cultural and visual representations of the nation and its people. Readings include major secondary works and primary documents. Formerly: American Society in the age of Capital, 1819-1897.

HIST UN2415 Immigrant New York. 4 points.

This seminar explores the intersection of immigration, race, and politics in New York City, both from the perspective of history and in relation to contemporary realities. In this course we will discuss the ways in which immigration has reshaped the cultural, economic, and political life of New York City both in the past as well as the present. Readings will focus on the divergent groups who have settled in New York City, paying close attention to issues of gender, class, race, the role of labor markets, the law, and urban development.

HIST UN2418 Indigenous History of North America - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for Indigenous History of North America (HIST UN1488)

Fall 2023: HIST UN2418
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2418 001/13432  
Taylor Reynolds 0.00 22/35

HIST UN2432 U.S. ERA OF CIVIL WAR & RECON. 4.00 points.

It is difficult to exaggerate the significance of the American Civil War as an event in the making of the modern United States and, indeed, of the western world. Indeed the American Civil War and Reconstruction introduced a whole series of dilemmas that are still with us. What is the legacy of slavery in U.S. history and contemporary life? What is the proper balance of power between the states and the central government? Who is entitled to citizenship in the United States? What do freedom and equality mean in concrete terms? This course surveys the history of the Civil War and Reconstruction in all of its aspects. It focuses on the causes of the war in the divergent development of northern and southern states; the prosecution of the war and all that it involved, including the process of slave emancipation; and the contentious process of reconstructing the re-united states in the aftermath of Union victory. The course includes the military history of the conflict, but ranges far beyond it to take the measure of the social and political changes the war unleashed. It focuses on the Confederacy as well as the Union, on women as well as men, and on enslaved black people as well as free white people. It takes the measure of large scale historical change while trying to grasp the experience of those human beings who lived through it

HIST UN2438 POLITICAL HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICA. 4.00 points.

This course offers a survey of the poltiical history of contemporary Africa, with a focus on the states and societies south of the Sahara. The emphasis is on struggle and conflict—extending to war—and peace

Fall 2023: HIST UN2438
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2438 001/10541 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
331 Uris Hall
Gregory Mann 4.00 11/35

HIST UN2439 Political History of Contemporary Africa. 0.00 points.

Discussion course for lecture UN2438 description below: This course offers a survey of the political history of contemporary Africa, with a focus on the states and societies south of the Sahara. The emphasis is on struggle and conflict - extending to war - and peace

Fall 2023: HIST UN2439
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2439 001/10513  
Lorna Kimaiyo 0.00 1/35

HIST UN2441 Making of the Modern American Landscape. 4 points.

Social history of the built environment since 1870, looking at urban and rural landscapes, vernacular architecture of industry, housing, recreation, and public space. Considers government policies, real estate investment, and public debates over land use and the natural environment. 

HIST UN2442 DISC - Making of the Modern American Landscape. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2441 Making of the Modern American Landscape.  Students must also be registered for HIST 2441.

HIST UN2444 The Vietnam War. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

Prerequisites: Register for discussion section HIST UN2445

This lecture course examines the origins, evolution, and conclusion of the Vietnam War, a war whose history and legacy continues to be debated today. Rather than view the war as an event in American history, this course will examine the war from a multitude of perspectives by analyzing primary documents, dissecting novels and memoirs, screening war films, and drawing from the rich historiography of that war. Throughout this course, we will ask questions that continue to elicit fierce debate: What brought the United States and Vietnam to war? What impact did the war have on North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese, and American politics? How did decisions made in the corridors of power on both sides of the Pacific affect every day people on the battlefronts and homefronts? Why did it end the way it did? What lessons can we draw from the Vietnam War? Participation in weekly discussion sections, which will begin no later than the third week of classes, staffed by TAs or by the instructor, is mandatory. In addition, we will have course-wide screenings for the films, but they are also on reserve in Butler Media Reserves. You can view them in the library provided you do so before the section discussion. 

HIST UN2447 America, 1918-1945: Prosperity, Depression, and War. 4 points.

This course examines one of the most turbulent periods in modern American history: an era that began with the Great War, saw the nation in both its greatest economic boom and its worst economic collapse, led to another, even more catastrophic world war, and ended with the United States as the most powerful nation in the world. This course will provide students an understanding of how Americans navigated these major events and shaped the following developments that created the American experience as we might know it: the rise of the modern federal state in the New Deal; the transformation of work and business from the Roaring Twenties to the Great Depression and beyond; the crisis of democracy at home and abroad; the rise of the civil rights movement; and the foreign policy struggle between isolationism and internationalism. 

HIST UN2449 Evolution of Cities. 4 points.

“The Evolution of Cities” focuses on how urbanization became the dominant influence in determining where and how we live in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. In the 21st century, more Americans and Europeans live in cities than anywhere else, a significant historical shift. While there were a few great cities in the ancient and medieval world, they proliferated in the early modern era, particularly after 1800. By the 20th century, cities emerged as critical indicators of societal trends in demographics, economics, transportation, culture, politics, ethnicity, religion, gender, and architecture.
This course explores how modern cities work by examining their complex infrastructures, transportation systems, racial and ethnic composition, gender issues, economic development, political intricacies, and physical structure. We will discuss the origins and development of cities, and how they became places of commerce and culture in the contemporary world. The course will examine the complex relationship between cities and suburbs, the central issue in my book Crabgrass Frontier. Cities offer diverse culture, work opportunities, and aspirational opportunities, but they also bring pollution, congestion, sprawl, and disorder.
Our methodology includes primary sources, expert secondary material, and statistical data in our quest to understand the contemporary urban predicament. This course can serve as an essential foundation for urban-related work in law, planning, architecture, historic preservation, social work, sociology, public health, and journalism

HIST UN2478 US INTELLECTUAL HIST 1865-PRES. 4.00 points.

This course examines major themes in U.S. intellectual history since the Civil War. Among other topics, we will examine the public role of intellectuals; the modern liberal-progressive tradition and its radical and conservative critics; the uneasy status of religion ina secular culture; cultural radicalism and feminism; critiques of corporate capitalism and consumer culture; the response of intellectuals to hot and cold wars, the Great Depression, and the upheavals of the 1960s. Fields(s): US

Spring 2024: HIST UN2478
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2478 001/11599 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
602 Hamilton Hall
Casey Blake 4.00 70/70

HIST UN2479 US INTELLCT HIST 1865-PRES-DIS. 0.00 points.

Spring 2024: HIST UN2479
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2479 001/11600 Th 3:10pm - 4:00pm
315 Hamilton Hall
0.00 17/17
HIST 2479 002/18901 Th 4:10pm - 5:00pm
317 Hamilton Hall
0.00 16/17
HIST 2479 003/18902 Th 5:10pm - 6:00pm
703 Hamilton Hall
0.00 7/17
HIST 2479 004/18903 Th 6:10pm - 7:00pm
717 Hamilton Hall
0.00 11/17

HIST UN2488 Warfare in the Modern World. 4 points.

This course is a survey of the transformation of warfare between the American Civil War and 1945. Emphasis will be placed on military strategy, weaponry, and leadership.

HIST UN2490 US FOREIGN RELATIONS 1775-1920. 4 points.

Between 1775 and 1920 the US grew from a disparate set of colonies nestled along the eastern seaboard of North America to a sprawling empire that stretched across the continent and projected its influence into the wider world. In this course we will examine this transformation and evaluate the major trends in US foreign relations that drove it. We will comparatively analyze the competing visions for expansion advocated by various groups inside the US and the impact of expansion on peoples outside the growing nation. We will explore the domestic, economic, intellectual, and political origins of expansionism, survey the methods used to extend the nation's borders and influence, and evaluate the impact of these changes on the nation's values, institutions and history. Lectures and readings will introduce a variety of historical controversies and conflicting interpretations, which students will be expected to analyze critically in writing and discussions.

HIST UN2491 US FOREIGN RELATIONS 1890-1990. 4.00 points.

This course has three purposes: (i) to examine the role and identity of the United States in the world, roughly between the 1890s and the late 20th century; (ii) to provide an empirical grasp of U.S. foreign relations during that period; and (iii) to subject to critical inquiry the historiographical views on the various periods and events which have come to make up that history. The lectures, on the whole, will be supplementary to the readings, not a commentary on them

HIST UN2492 US FOR RELATNS 1890-1990-DISC. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST UN2491: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1890-1990. Students must also register for HIST UN2491: U.S. Foreign Relations, 1890-1990

HIST UN2497 Colonial America, Imperial America: 1776-1920. 3.00 points.

Since independence, Americans have fiercely debated the United States’ place in the world. Was the U.S. a nascent empire or an anti-colonial state? Caught between Western Europe, its remaining colonies, and the young nations of Central and South America, the United States struck a tense balance between imperial and anti-imperial tendencies. This course examines the transformation of the United States from an insular conglomeration of states to an imperial power. Alongside political debates in Washington and diplomatic wrangling in North America, South America, and Europe this course centers western expansion as a defining feature of the United States’ internal and international identity, placing the U.S.’s violent dispossession of indigenous peoples and commitment to slavery in conversation with other formative events like the Mexican-American and Spanish-American Wars

HIST UN2498 The Carceral United States. 4.00 points.

This class introduces students to major changes, developments, continuities, and institutions of carceral control in nineteenth and twentieth century United States history. Students will understand how prisons, policing, jails, and related apparatuses developed in the United States and will learn how opposition to carceral expansion has taken shape at different historical moments. We will focus on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and will engage the centrality of patriarchy, capitalist antiblackness, zenophobia, and nationalism to the consolidation of the modern carceral state. The class combines social and cultural history to understand how the United States emerged as the largest carceral behemoth in the world. Students will also develop skills in critical analysis especially primary source analysis

HIST UN2499 DISC - The Carceral United States. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for The Carceral United States (HIST UN2498)

HIST UN2501 THE EARLY AMERICAN REPUBLIC. 4.00 points.

The American Revolution is often imagined as a rebellion against a mighty empire that gave rise to a self-governing republic. But during the first decades of American independence, some of the new republic’s political leaders set about building an empire of their own. This introductory-level course lays out a narrative of the early American republic in which one Anglo-American empire was broken and another arose to take its place. The course also asks: at what cost came this new American empire, and what alternatives—practical, radical, or utopian—were passed over in the course of its creation? 

HIST UN2523 HEALTH INEQUALITY: MODERN US. 4.00 points.

Through assigned readings and a group research project, students will gain familiarity with a range of historical and social science problems at the intersection of ethnic/racial/sexual formations, technological networks, and health politics since the turn of the twentieth century. Topics to be examined will include, but will not be limited to, black women's health organization and care; HIV/AIDS politics, policy, and community response; benign neglect; urban renewal and gentrification; medical abuses and the legacy of Tuskegee; tuberculosis control; and environmental justice. There are no required qualifications for enrollment, although students will find the material more accessible if they have had previous coursework experience in United States history, pre-health professional (pre-med, pre-nursing, or pre-public health), African-American Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, or American Studies

Fall 2023: HIST UN2523
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2523 001/10416 M W 10:10am - 11:25am
428 Pupin Laboratories
Samuel Roberts 4.00 83/105

HIST UN2524 DISC-HEALTH INEQUALITY: MODERN US. 0.00 points.

Required DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN2523, History of Health Inequality in Modern US. Students must first register for main class

Fall 2023: HIST UN2524
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2524 001/10417 T 2:10pm - 3:00pm
106b Lewisohn Hall
Autumn Galindo 0.00 15/18
HIST 2524 002/20783 W 2:10pm - 3:00pm
C01 80 Claremont
Samuel Niu 0.00 17/18
HIST 2524 003/20784 W 6:10pm - 7:00pm
707 Hamilton Hall
Autumn Galindo 0.00 15/18
HIST 2524 004/20785 Th 8:10am - 9:00am
401 Hamilton Hall
Samuel Niu 0.00 11/18
HIST 2524 005/21061 W 6:10pm - 7:00pm
313 Pupin Laboratories
Heath Rojas 0.00 14/18
HIST 2524 006/21062 Th 5:10pm - 6:00pm
608 Lewisohn Hall
Heath Rojas 0.00 8/15

HIST UN2533 US LESBIAN & GAY HISTORY. 4.00 points.

This course explores the social, cultural, and political history of lesbians, gay men, and other socially constituted sexual and gender minorities, primarily in the twentieth century. Since the production and regulation of queer life has always been intimately linked to the production and policing of “normal” sexuality and gender, we will also pay attention to the shifting boundaries of normative sexuality, especially heterosexuality, as well as other developments in American history that shaped gay life, such as the Second World War, Cold War, urbanization, and the minority rights revolution. Themes include the emergence of homosexuality and heterosexuality as categories of experience and identity; the changing relationship between homosexuality and transgenderism; the development of diverse lesbian and gay subcultures and their representation in popular culture; the sources of antigay hostility; religion and sexual science; generational change and everyday life; AIDS; and gay, antigay, feminist, and queer movements

Fall 2023: HIST UN2533
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2533 001/10392 M W 11:40am - 12:55pm
301 Uris Hall
George Chauncey 4.00 137/140
HIST 2533 AU1/19011 M W 11:40am - 12:55pm
Othr Other
George Chauncey 4.00 15/15

HIST UN2534 US LGBT HIST-DISC. 0.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2534
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2534 001/10393  
Nicholas Shepard, Jackson Springer, Vayne Ong, Aaron Freedman 0.00 49/140

HIST UN2535 HIST OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 4.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2535
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2535 001/10400 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
209 Havemeyer Hall
Kimberly Phillips-Fein 4.00 51/70
HIST 2535 AU1/19009 T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm
Othr Other
Kimberly Phillips-Fein 4.00 15/15

HIST UN2536 HIST OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK-DIS. 0.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2536
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2536 001/10399  
Emily Hawk, Jordan Villegas-Verrone 0.00 46/70

HIST UN2540 HISTORY OF THE SOUTH. 4.00 points.

A survey of the history of the American South from the colonial era to the present day, with two purposes: first, to afford students an understanding of the special historical characteristics of the South and of southerners; and second, to explore what the experience of the South may teach about America as a nation

HIST UN2541 HISTORY OF THE SOUTH-DISCUSSION. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST UN 2540 History of the South.  Students must also register for HIST UN 2540.

HIST UN2542 DISC - History of the South. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN2540: History of the South.  Students must also be registered for HIST 2540.

HIST UN2555 America in Depression and War. 4 points.

This lecture examines the transforming effect of two cataclysmic events in the twentieth century.  We will study the ways in which both the Great Depression and World War II led to a major reordering of American politics and society.  By focusing on how the government and the country dealt with these national crises, we will explore a significant moment in the evolution of American political culture. Throughout the semester, we will examine how ordinary people experienced depression and war and how those experiences changed their outlook on politics and the world around them. Topics include unemployment and economic decline, the rise of organized labor, New Deal politics, women in the war effort, the Japanese internment, the development of atomic science, and America as a world superpower.

HIST UN2564 American History at the Movies - DISC. 0.00 points.

The purpose of this course is to increase the history department’s offerings in American cultural history and to familiarize students with how to use and interpret cultural documents and sources in the writing of history. To this end, it also designed to expose students to interdisciplinary scholarship in the context of research firmly rooted in historical practice. A second goal is to increase students’ sophistication as media consumers by increasing their awareness of how industrial practices and outside institutions work to shape what we do and don’t see on movie screens. It will pay particular attention to two related issues: how Hollywood’s shifting attitudes toward its audience and the controversies the industry sparked in American society, reflected broader changes in the American cultural landscape. In this way, students will come to understand the agendas and desires of those who supported, disliked, or simply sought to control the nation’s first mass cultural form of entertainment

Spring 2024: HIST UN2564
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2564 001/11604  
0.00 32/70

HIST UN2565 American History at the Movies. 4.00 points.

This lecture explores major topics in modern American history through an examination of the American film industry and some of its most popular films and stars. It begins with the emergence of “Hollywood” as an industry and a place in the wake of WWI and ends with the rise of the so-called ‘New Hollywood’ in the 1970s and its treatment of the 1960s and the Vietnam War. For much of this period, Hollywood’s films were not protected free speech, making movies and stars peculiarly reflective of, and vulnerable to, changes in broader cultural and political dynamics. Students will become familiar with Hollywood’s institutional history over this half-century in order to understand the forces, both internal and external, that have shaped the presentation of what Americans do and don’t see on screens and to become skilled interpreters of American history at the movies

Spring 2024: HIST UN2565
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2565 001/11603 T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm
702 Hamilton Hall
Hilary-Anne Hallett 4.00 57/70

HIST UN2566 Popular Music in American History. 4 points.

This course examines the history of American popular culture through music and radio, beginning in the 1830s with minstrelsy, the first distinctively "American" popular culture, and ending in the 1960s with Motown.  The course acquaints students with key concepts that aim to "read" cultural production and to explore what's unique about culture primarily experienced through the ears.  It examines debates over culture's qualifiers, from popular to mass, high to low. 

HIST UN2568 DISC - Popular Music in American History. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN2566: Popular Music in American History.  Students must also be registered for UN2566.

HIST UN2575 Power and Place: Black Urban Politics. 4 points.

A survey of African-American history since the Civil War. An emphasis is placed on the black quest for equality and community. Group(s): D Formerly listed as "Explorations of Themes in African-American History, 1865-1945". 

HIST UN2577 U.S.-MIDDLE EAST RELATIONS. 4 points.

The United States has had a long and varied history of encounters with the Middle East. From early visions of the Holy Land, to Cold War geopolitics, to the so-called War on Terror, Americans have sought to shape and been shaped by the region. This course will survey the history of U.S.-Middle East from the nineteenth century to the present.

HIST UN2580 US - EAST ASIA RELATIONS. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This lecture course examines the history of the relationship between the United States and the countries of East Asia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The first half of the course will examine the factors drove the United States to acquire territorial possessions in Asia, to vie for a seat at the imperial table at China’s expense, and to eventual confrontation with Japan over mastery in the Pacific from the turn of the century leading to the Second World War. The second half of the course will explore the impact of U.S. policy toward East Asia during the Cold War when Washington’s policy of containment, which included nation-building, development schemes, and waging war, came up against East Asia’s struggles for decolonization, revolution, and modernization. Not only will this course focus on state-to-state relations, it will also address a multitude of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese perspectives on the United States and American culture through translated text, oral history, fiction, and memoir. Participation in weekly discussion sections, which will begin no later than the third week of classes, is mandatory

HIST UN2587 SPORT&SOCIETY IN THE AMERICAS. 4.00 points.

This course explores the ways organized sport constitutes and disrupts dominant understandings of nation, race, gender, and sexuality throughout the Americas. Working from the notion that sport is “more than a game,” the class will examine the social, cultural and political impact of sports in a variety of hemispheric American contexts from the 19th century until the present. While our primary geographic focus will be the United States, Brazil, and the Caribbean, the thrust of the course encourages students to consider sports in local, national, and transnational contexts. The guiding questions of the course are: What is the relationship between sport and society? How does sport inform political transformations within and across national borders? How does sport reinforce and/or challenge social hierarchies? Can sport provide alternative visions of the self and community? Throughout the semester we will examine such topics as: the continuing political struggles surrounding the staging of mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup, the role of professional baseball in the rise and fall of Jim Crow segregation, the impact of football on the evolution of masculine identities in the U.S., the impact of tennis on the Second-Wave feminist movement, and the role of sports in the growth of modern American cities. Course materials include works by historians, sociologists, social theorists, and journalists who have also been key contributors to the burgeoning field of sports studies. Thus, the course has three objectives: 1) To deepen our understanding of the relationship between sport and society 2) To encourage students to examine the sporting world beyond the frame of the nation-state 3) To consider the promises and challenges of sport as a site of social theory and knowledge production

HIST UN2588 SPORT&SOC IN THE AMER-DIS. 0.00 points.

What is the relationship of sport to politics, the economy, and social change? The current crisis provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter Movement have made this question even more urgent. This course explores the ways organized sport has constituted and disrupted dominant understandings of nation, race, gender, and sexuality throughout the Americas. Working from the notion that sport is “more than a game,” the class will examine the social, economic, cultural, and political impact of sports in distinct hemispheric American contexts from the late 19th century until the present. While our primary geographic focus will be the United States, Brazil, and the Caribbean, the course encourages students to examine sports in other local, national, and transnational settings. During the summer session we will focus on three themes that exemplify the ways the sporting realm illuminates some of the pressing problems of our time: the conflicts engendered by the staging of mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup; the impact of sports on the implementation of Title IX, and understandings of gender and sexuality; and football’s impact on the evolution of masculine identities in the U.S.. Course materials include works by historians, sociologists, social theorists, and journalists who have also been key contributors to the burgeoning field of sports studies

HIST UN2611 JEWS & JUDAISM IN ANTIQUITY. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: Students must also enroll in required discussion section.

  Field(s): ANC

HIST UN2612 JEWS & JUDAISM-DISC. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2616 Jews and Christians in the Medieval World. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Medieval Jews and Christians defined themselves in contrast to one another. This course will examine the conditions and contradictions that emerged from competing visions and neighborly relations. It is arranged to comprehend broad themes rather than strict chronology and to engage both older and very recent scholarship on the perennial themes of tolerance and hate. Group(s): A Field(s): JWS

HIST UN2618 The Modern Caribbean. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This lecture course examines the social, cultural, and political history of the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the coastal regions of Central and South America that collectively form the Caribbean region, from Amerindian settlement, through the era of European imperialism and African enslavement, to the period of socialist revolution and independence. The course will examine historical trajectories of colonialism, slavery, and labor regimes; post-emancipation experiences and migration; radical insurgencies and anti-colonial movements; and intersections of race, culture, and neocolonialism. It will also investigate the production of national, creole, and transborder indentities. Formerly listed as "The Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries". Field(s): LAC 

HIST UN2628 HIST STATE OF ISRAEL,1948-PRES. 4.00 points.

The political, cultural, and social history of the State of Israel from its founding in 1948 to the present. Group(s): C Field(s): ME

HIST UN2630 American Jewish History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Explores the interaction between the changing makeup of Jewish immigration, the changing social and economic conditions in the United States, and the religious, communal, cultural, and political group life of American Jews. 

HIST UN2657 Medieval Jewish Cultures. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will survey some of the major historical, cultural, intellectual and social developments among Jews from the fourth century CE through the fifteenth. We will study Jewish cultures from the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the age of the Talmuds, the rise of Islam, the world of the Geniza, medieval Spain, to the early modern period. We will look at a rich variety of primary texts and images, including mosaics, poems, prayers, polemics, and personal letters. Field(s): JEW/MED 

HIST UN2658 DISC - Medieval Jewish Cultures. 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2657 Medieval Jewish Cultures.  Students must also be registered for HIST UN 2657.

HIST UN2659 DISC - Modern Latin American History (Latin American Civilization II). 0 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2661 Modern Latin American History (Latin American Civilization II).  Students must also be registered for HIST UN 2661.

HIST UN2660 LATIN AMERICAN CIVILIZATION I. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course aims to give a portrait of the development of Latin America from the first contact with the Europeans to the creation of independent states. We will focus on society and interaction among the various ethnic and socio-economic groups at the level of daily life. For each class, students will have to read sections of a core text as well as a primary source, or document, from the period; before the end of every class there will be 15 minutes to discuss the document together. In addition, students will enroll in discussion sections held by TAs

Fall 2023: HIST UN2660
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2660 001/10479 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
Davis International House
Caterina Pizzigoni 4.00 77/120

HIST UN2663 Mexico From Revolution To Democracy. 4 points.

Twentieth-Century Mexican History from the revolution to transition  to democracy. The Course review politics, society, culture, foreign relations, and urbanization. Group(s): D Field(s): LA

HIST UN2665 DISC - Latin American Civilization II. 0.00 points.

DISCUSSION SECTION for HIST UN 2661 Latin American Civilization II

Spring 2024: HIST UN2665
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2665 001/11507  
0.00 51/105

HIST UN2666 LATIN AMER CIVILIZATION I-DISC. 0.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2666
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2666 001/10478  
Michael Gioia, Rosa Mantilla Suarez, Jake Barrett, Ana Laura Zuniga Loreto 0.00 28/120

HIST UN2667 LATIN AMER CIV II - DISC. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2671 The Cold War in Latin America. 4.00 points.

This lecture offers a comprehensive view of the Cold War in Latin America and zooms in on those places and moments when it turned hot. It understands the Cold War as a complex and multi-layered conflict, which not only pitted two superpowers—the United States and the Soviet Union—against one another, but also two ideologies—capitalism and socialism—whose appeal cut across societies. In Latin America, the idea of socialist revolution attracted a diverse set of actors (workers, students, intellectuals, politicians, etc.) and posed a significant challenge to both capitalism and United States hegemony. We will probe what the Cold War meant to people across the region, paying particular attention to revolutionary and counterrevolutionary events in Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, and Nicaragua, all the while examining the diplomatic and cultural battles for the hearts and minds of Latin Americans

Fall 2023: HIST UN2671
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2671 001/10367 M W 4:10pm - 5:25pm
415 Schapiro Cepser
Alfonso Salgado 4.00 25/35
HIST 2671 AU1/19014 M W 4:10pm - 5:25pm
Othr Other
Alfonso Salgado 4.00 5/5

HIST UN2672 The Cold War in Latin America - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for “The Cold War in Latin America” lecture (HIST UN2671)

Fall 2023: HIST UN2672
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2672 001/10369  
Gabriel Solis 0.00 24/35

HIST UN2679 Atlantic Slave Trade. 4.00-4.50 points.

The history of human trafficking in the Atlantic world from the first European slaving expeditions in the late fifteenth century down to the final forced crossings in the era of the U.S. Civil War. Themes include captive taking in West Africa and its impact on West African societies, the commercial organization of the Atlantic slave trade in Europe and the Americas, and the experience of capture, exile, commodification, and survival of those shipped to the Americas

Spring 2024: HIST UN2679
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2679 001/13306 M W 2:40pm - 3:55pm
207 Mathematics Building
Christopher Brown 4.00-4.50 21/35
HIST 2679 AU1/18964 M W 2:40pm - 3:55pm
Othr Other
Christopher Brown 4.00-4.50 3/3

HIST UN2680 Atlantic Slave Trade - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for HIST UN 2679 - The Atlantic Slave Trade

Spring 2024: HIST UN2680
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2680 001/13309 Th 3:10pm - 4:00pm
963 Ext Schermerhorn Hall
0.00 6/15
HIST 2680 002/20799 Th 4:10pm - 5:00pm
963 Ext Schermerhorn Hall
0.00 5/15

HIST UN2689 COLONIAL CITIES OF THE AMERICAS. 4.00 points.

This course examines the history of cities in the Americas in the colonial era, c. 1500-1800, organized around three large themes. First, we study the precolonial origins of American urban systems, focusing especially on Mesoamerica and the Andes, and exploring questions of urban continuity, disruption and change, and the forms of indigenous cities. Second, we study various patterns of city foundations and city types across the Americas, examining Spanish, Portuguese, British, Dutch and French colonial urban systems. Third, we focus on the cities more closely by looking at key issues such as urban form, built environment, social structure. Specific themes include a critical analysis of the Spanish colonial grid, the baroque city, and 18th-century urban reforms, as well as race and class, urban slavery, and urban disease environments. 

HIST UN2701 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will cover the seven-century long history of the Ottoman Empire, which spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa as well as the medieval, early modern, and modern period. The many levels of continuity and change will be the focus, as will issues of identities and mentalities, confessional diversity, cultural and linguistic pluralism, and imperial governance and political belonging of the empire within larger regional and global perspectives over the centuries. The course also seeks to cultivate appreciation of the human experience through the multifarious experiences culled from the Ottoman past

Spring 2024: HIST UN2701
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2701 001/11575 T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm
614 Schermerhorn Hall
Tunc Sen 4.00 103/105

HIST UN2702 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE-DISCUSSION. 0.00 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HIST UN 2701 Ottoman Empire. Students must also be registered for HIST UN 2701

Spring 2024: HIST UN2702
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2702 001/11576  
0.00 36/105

HIST UN2711 African History since 1800. 4 points.

This class examines the history of the African continent from the Atlantic Slave trade (c. 1800) to the present, focusing in particular on the social, political, and religious changes and continuities that have shaped the continent over the course of the past three centuries.....

HIST UN2719 HISTORY OF THE MOD MIDDLE EAST. 4.00 points.

This course will cover the history of the Middle East from the 18th century until the present, examining the region ranging from Morocco to Iran and including the Ottoman Empire. It will focus on transformations in the states of the region, external intervention, and the emergence of modern nation-states, as well as aspects of social, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the region. Field(s): ME

Fall 2023: HIST UN2719
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2719 001/10378 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
301 Uris Hall
Rashid Khalidi 4.00 187/210
HIST 2719 AU1/19013 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
Othr Other
Rashid Khalidi 4.00 10/10

HIST UN2720 MOD MIDDLE EAST-DISC. 0.00 points.

Fall 2023: HIST UN2720
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2720 001/10379 M 4:10pm - 5:00pm
616 Hamilton Hall
Ifadha Sifar 0.00 18/18
HIST 2720 002/20679 M 5:10pm - 6:00pm
616 Hamilton Hall
Ifadha Sifar 0.00 17/18
HIST 2720 003/20681 Th 6:10pm - 7:00pm
206 Broadway Residence Hall
Batel Levy 0.00 17/18
HIST 2720 004/20682 Th 7:10pm - 8:00pm
206 Broadway Residence Hall
Batel Levy 0.00 17/18
HIST 2720 005/20683 T 5:10pm - 6:00pm
227 Seeley W. Mudd Building
Janina Santer 0.00 18/18
HIST 2720 006/20685 T 6:10pm - 7:00pm
317 Hamilton Hall
Janina Santer 0.00 19/18
HIST 2720 007/20686 W 4:10pm - 5:00pm
315 Hamilton Hall
Kamini Masood 0.00 17/18
HIST 2720 008/20688 W 5:10pm - 6:00pm
328 Uris Hall
Kamini Masood 0.00 16/18
HIST 2720 009/20689 T 1:10pm - 2:00pm
829 Seeley W. Mudd Building
Kate Reeve 0.00 14/18
HIST 2720 010/20690 T 2:10pm - 3:00pm
829 Seeley W. Mudd Building
Kate Reeve 0.00 15/18
HIST 2720 011/20692 F 4:10pm - 5:00pm
212a Lewisohn Hall
Junaid ur Rehman 0.00 16/18
HIST 2720 012/20693 F 3:10pm - 4:00pm
Room TBA
Junaid ur Rehman 0.00 3/18

HIST UN2757 African Economic History (1500-present). 4.00 points.

By engaging with histories of development, quantitative economic history, and history of labor, this course provides an overview of the methodologies and questions pertaining to the economic history of African contexts from the 16th to the 21st century. Students will gain skills in archival analysis and data analysis of historical sources in order to understand how economic stratification and accumulation functioned in African states and societies from the end of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, through European conquest and colonialism, to the new imperatives of independence. Themes of the class will include a critical evaluation of slavery, conquest and capital, colonial violence, development and inequality in African contexts

Fall 2023: HIST UN2757
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2757 001/15977 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
420 Pupin Laboratories
Thomas Zuber 4.00 8/30

HIST UN2758 African Economic History (1500-present) - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for lecture: African Economic History (1500-present) - HIST UN2757

Fall 2023: HIST UN2758
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2758 001/15978  
0.00 0/0

HIST UN2764 East African History. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

A survey of East African history over the past two millennia with a focus on political and social change. Themes include early religious and political ideas, the rise of states on the Swahili coast and between the Great Lakes, slavery, colonialism, and social and cultural developments in the 20th century.  This course fulfills the Global Core requirement. Discussion section required.

HIST UN2772 West African History. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course offers a survey of main themes in West African history over the last millenium, with particular emphasis on the period from the mid-15th through the 20th century. Themes include the age of West African empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhay); re-alignments of economic and political energies towards the Atlantic coast; the rise and decline of the trans-Atlantic trade in slaves; the advent and demise of colonial rule; and internal displacement, migrations, and revolutions. In the latter part of the course, we will appraise the continuities and ruptures of the colonial and post-colonial eras. Group(s): C Field(s): AFR 

HIST UN2881 VIETNAM IN THE WORLD. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course examines the history of Vietnam in the World and serves as a follow-up to ASCE UN1367: Introduction to East Asian Civilizations, Vietnam (though it is not a prerequisite). This course will explore Vietnam’s multifaceted relations with the wider world from the late 19th Century to present day as war – ranging from civil, imperial, global, decolonization, and superpower interventions – forged the modern imperial polity to the current nation-state

HIST UN2882 DISC - VIETNAM IN THE WORLD. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HIST 2881 Vietnam in the World. Students must also register for HIST 2881

HIST UN2883 The History of the End of the World. 4.00 points.

For thousands of years people have been getting ready for the end of the world, giving rise to millenarian movements that have sometimes changed history. More than once, large numbers of people have experienced events such as the Black Death, the Little Ice Age, and Hiroshima, that seemed very much like the end of their world. And over the last seventy-five years, governments and international organizations have made major investments in predicting and preparing for planetary threats. Efforts to manage or mitigate these dangers have had world-changing consequences, including “preventative” wars, population control, and new forms of global governance. The very idea of the end of the world, in other words, has a long history, with a demonstrable impact, which provides instructive lessons as we contemplate things to come. This course will survey this history, beginning with eschatology and millenarian movements, and then challenges to revelation and religious authority -- especially the idea of progress. We will explore reasons for the more recent disenchantment with utopian dreams, and the revival of religion as a force in public life -- in no small part inspired by apocalyptic visions. In part two, students will learn how different conceptual frameworks can be applied to assessing and managing risk, and understanding how people perceive or misperceive danger. They will learn how they can be applied to identify the most important challenges, drawing insights from different disciplinary approaches. The third and main part of the course will consist of comparative and connected analyses of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, war, pestilence, famine, and death. In the contemporary parlance of planetary threats, they can be framed as nuclear armageddon, pandemics, environmental collapse, and religious violence. By examining them together, we can compare the magnitude and probability of each danger, and also explore their interconnections

HIST UN2884 The History of the End of the World DISC. 0 points.

For thousands of years people have been getting ready for the

end of the world, giving rise to millenarian movements that have sometimes changed

history. More than once, large numbers of people have experienced events such as the


Black Death, the Little Ice Age, and Hiroshima, that seemed very much like the end of

their world. And over the last seventy-five years, governments and international

organizations have made major investments in predicting and preparing for planetary

threats. Efforts to manage or mitigate these dangers have had world-changing

consequences, including “preventative” wars, population control, and new forms of

global governance. The very idea of the end of the world, in other words, has a long

history, with a demonstrable impact, which provides instructive lessons as we

contemplate things to come.

This course will survey this history, beginning with eschatology and millenarian

movements, and then challenges to revelation and religious authority -- especially the

idea of progress. We will explore reasons for the more recent disenchantment with

utopian dreams, and the revival of religion as a force in public life -- in no small part

inspired by apocalyptic visions. 

In part two, students will learn how different conceptual frameworks can be applied to

assessing and managing risk, and understanding how people perceive or misperceive

danger. They will learn how they can be applied to identify the most important

challenges, drawing insights from different disciplinary approaches. 

The third and main part of the course will consist of comparative and connected analyses

of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, war, pestilence, famine, and death. In the

contemporary parlance of planetary threats, they can be framed as nuclear armageddon,

pandemics, environmental collapse, and religious violence. By examining them together,

we can compare the magnitude and probability of each danger, and also explore their

interconnections.

HIST UN2897 Topics in Modern Ukrainian History. 4 points.



Ukraine has had a tumultuous twenty-first century—an ongoing war, two revolutions, economic crises, and political intrigue. The origins of these events are rooted in the country’s recent past. This lecture course focuses on Ukrainian history from the early nineteenth century to the present day. Questions to be examined include: What factors influenced the construction and transformation of Ukrainian national identity(ies)? How did an independent Ukrainian state emerge and why are its borders contested today? How does historical memory influence Ukraine’s contemporary political and social life? What role does Ukraine play in the broader histories of Central and Eastern Europe?

HIST UN2905 Transport History by Land and Sea. 4 points.

The social, economic, and technological history of transportation by land and water from the invention of the wheel and the sail down to the invention of the hoverboard.
This course explores the ways in which surface transport systems, for both goods and people, have affected political, social, and economic organization from prehistoric times until
today

HIST UN2909 World War I as Global Crucible. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

The First World War has often been thought of as a European War, but it was fought on four continents and reverberated around the world.  This course examines the global nature and impact of the war, paying particular attention to the way it destabilized or affected imperial, national, and ethnic/racial solidarities and hierarchies, and ushered in new transnational norms, hazards, movements and practices.  Students will read selected recent historical work and analyze a wide array of primary materials:  diplomatic treaties and records; collective petitions or claims; combatants’ diaries; observers’ accounts; recruitment posters; war poetry and memorials.  

HIST UN2948 Capitalism in Crisis: A Global History of the Great Recession. 4 points.

The Financial Crisis that struck the United States and Europe in 2007 is the most severe in history. We are still living with its fall out. This course will explore the history of the crisis and the political reaction to it. We will explore how the crisis radiated out from the Atlantic economy where it originated to the rest of the world economy.

HIST UN2952 Pandemics: A Global History. 3.00 points.

With an interdisciplinary perspective, this course seeks to expand the understanding of past pandemic crises and recent, lived pandemics such as COVID-19. This course seeks to understand and analyze pandemics as representing complex, disruptive and devastating crises that effect profound transformations in ideas, social and economic relations and challenge interdependent networks and cultures. Readings, lectures, and discussion sections will focus on global, comparative perspectives and explore how global pandemics and disease outbreaks serve both to unify and also distance and segregate societies and communities posing complex medical, moral, socioeconomic and political dilemmas and debates.

HIST UN2953 WAR & SOCIETY SINCE 1945. 4.00 points.

This course surveys the second half of the most violent century in human history. It examines the intersection of war and human society in the years after 1945 by focusing on two monumental and intertwined historical processes: Decolonization and the Cold War. While the conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union would fail to produce any general wars between two belligerents, this superpower rivalry would help to make the global process of decolonization in the developing a particularly violent affair

HIST UN2954 WAR & SOCIETY SINCE 1945-DISC. 0.00 points.

HIST UN2972 Unsettling Science. 4.00 points.

Unsettling Science invites students to do exactly that: ask big questions about science and interrupt preconceived ideas about what science is and who does it. This course is an introductory dive into the interplay between science, technology, health, environment, and society. By offering deep historical and contemporary perspectives, this course equips students with skills essential to critically exploring not only longstanding questions about the world but also urgent issues of our time. Unsettling Science will provide students with the critical and methodological tools to think creatively about local and global challenges and develop interventions. To do so, the course focuses on a series of fundamental questions that underpin the study of science and society from a variety of perspectives

Fall 2023: HIST UN2972
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2972 001/15979 T Th 4:10pm - 5:25pm
415 Schapiro Cepser
Madisson Whitman 4.00 31/35

HIST UN2978 Science and Pseudoscience: Alchemy to AI. 4.00 points.

During the 2020 US presidential election and the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, science and “scientific truths” were fiercely contested. This course provides a historical perspective on the issues at stake. The course begins with an historical account of how areas of natural knowledge, such as astrology, alchemy, and “natural magic,” which were central components of an educated person’s view of the world in early modern Europe, became marginalized, while a new philosophy of nature (what we would now call empirical science) came to dominate the discourse of rationality. Historical developments examined in this course out of which this new understanding of nature emerged include the rise of the centralized state, religious reform, and European expansion. The course uses this historical account to show how science and pseudoscience developed in tandem in the period from 1400 to 1800. This historical account equips students to examine contemporary issues of expertise, the social construction of science, pluralism in science, certainty and uncertainty in science, as well as critical engagement with contemporary technologies

HIST UN2979 Science and Pseudoscience: Alchemy to AI - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion section for HIST UN2978 lecture

HIST UN2986 Technology and US Politics - DISC. 0.00 points.

The course investigates the relation between politics and technology in the United States during the twentieth century. Following the telegraph, the radio, the computer, the internet, and online platforms, the course asks: how have Americans conceptualized the relation between technological developments and democratic ideals starting in the late nineteenth century? Are new technologies forms of control or of liberation? Do they enhance or curtail free speech? Has the public sphere been strengthened or weakened by new communication technologies? What has been the role of government regulation in the adoption of these technologies? Students will be introduced to foundational ideas and methodologies in the history of technology, focusing their attention on the relation between politics of technology

Spring 2024: HIST UN2986
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2986 001/11665  
0.00 20/70

HIST UN2987 Technology and US Politics. 4 points.

The course investigates the relation between politics and technology in the Unites States during the twentieth century. Following the telegraph, radio, the mainframe computer, the internet, and online platforms, the course asks how have Americans conceptualized the relation between technological developments and democratic ideals starting in the late nineteenth century? Are new technologies forms of control or of liberation? Do they enhance or curtail free speech? Has the public sphere been strengthened or weakened by new communication technologies? What has been the rule of government regulation in the adoption of these technologies? Students will be introduced to basic ideas and methodologies in the history of technology, while focusing on the relation between politics of technology. 

Spring 2024: HIST UN2987
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 2987 001/11664 T Th 10:10am - 11:25am
Ren Kraft Center
Alma Steingart 4 56/70

HIST UN2996 LAWS OF WAR IN THE MIDDLE DIS. 0.00 points.

HIST UN3007 Development of the Greek City-State. 4 points.

This course will trace the development of the polis or city-state as the dominant socio-political unit in ancient Greece, looking at how and why this development took place and what effect it had on Greek society and culture.

HIST UN3009 Cities and Slavery in the Atlantic World. 4 points.

Although African slavery in the Americas is most often associated with rural life and agricultural production, cities were crucial sites in the history of slavery. This undergraduate seminar explores the intertwined histories of urbanization and slavery in the Atlantic world from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries.


Readings and discussions will touch on slavery’s impact on such European centers as Nantes, Liverpool, London, and Seville and on African cities but will concentrate on the “New World,” eventually coming to focus on the places where slavery lasted long enough to intersect with the beginnings of urban modernity and industrialization: Cuba and especially Brazil. We will end the semester reading and reflecting on the lasting legacies of African slavery in the cities of the Atlantic world after abolition, considering both slavery’s memorialization on and erasure from the urban landscape.

HIST UN3011 THE SECOND WORLD WAR. 4.00 points.

This course surveys some of the major historiographical debates surrounding the Second World War. It aims to provide student with an international perspective of the conflict that challenges conventional understandings of the war. In particular, we will examine the ideological, imperial, and strategic dimensions of the war in a global context. Students will also design, research, and write a substantial essay of 15-18 pages in length that makes use of both primary and secondary sources

Fall 2023: HIST UN3011
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3011 001/10430 T 12:10pm - 2:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Paul Chamberlin 4.00 13/14

HIST UN3012 African Voices & Colonial Documents: Uganda. 4.00 points.

This course introduces students to researching and writing African colonial history with a specific focus on Uganda. Students will be guided through the missionary sources available at Columbia and we will discuss how African voices can and cannot be found in these archives. At the end of the semester students will have produced an original primary source paper on Ugandan history

HIST UN3017 SEXUALITY AND THE CITY. 4.00 points.

The city has classically been represented as the site of sexual freedom, but also of sexual immorality and danger. This course explores the interrelated histories of sexuality and the city in the twentieth-century United States (especially New York) by exploring how urban conditions and processes shaped sexual practices, identities, communities, and ethics, and how sexual matters shaped urban processes, politics, and representation

Fall 2023: HIST UN3017
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3017 001/10394 T 12:10pm - 2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
George Chauncey 4.00 11/10

HIST UN3018 Early American Autobiography as History: Testimony, Adventure, Confession. 4 points.

Early American history is rich with stories of self, though most of these stories' tellers would not have called themselves "autobiographers." In this undergraduate seminar, we will read all kinds of personal narratives: political memoirs, courtroom confessions, salesmen's yarns, racy songs, and religious revelations. We will immerse ourselves in the narrators' perspectives, discovering how they experienced the world, what they thought was important to tell their readers, and who they thought they really were. We will read historical scholarship in order to place these personal narratives in broader context, but we will not assume that historians know all the answers. Instead, as we read, we will pay close attention to the ways in which personal narratives continue to defy historical interpretation.

HIST UN3019 Rivers, Politics, and Power in the United States. 4 points.

Rivers have played a central role in the creation of the modern United States whether through the trade networks they formed or the rise of the environmental movement in the twentieth century when stinking and burning rivers across the nation made it impossible to ignore the costs of economic progress. This seminar begins by defining rivers as a unique natural and historical process, followed by an exploration of rivers' connections to the rise of capitalism and nationalism, but the course focuses on the history of the twentieth century when rivers become important international borders, cities boomed, and citizens debated how to control rivers and the people who lived along them. While rivers such as the Columbia River have served to concentrate wealth and political power through government-built dams administered by an elite group of bureaucrats, others like many of the flood-prone rivers of the South have limited both economic development and landlord's ability to control people. This seminar is an environmental, political, and social history of rivers in the United States, that uses the two rivers closest to Columbia's campus, the Hudson and Harlem rivers, as case studies for the entire course.

HIST UN3020 Roman Imperialism. 3 points.

How did the Roman Empire grow so large and last so long? This course will examine the origins of the Romans' drive to expand, the theory of "defensive" imperialism, economic aspects, Roman techniques of control, questions about acculturation and resistance, and the reasons why the empire eventually collapsed.   Field(s): ANC

HIST UN3021 THE GREEK INVENTION OF HISTORY. 4.00 points.

HIST UN3023 Mobility and Identity in the Roman World. 4.00 points.

This course considers how identity increased, limited, controlled, or otherwise shaped the mobility of individuals and groups in the Roman world, including women, slaves, freedpeople, and diaspora communities. We will identify the structures that produced differences in mobility and consider how such groups understood and represented themselves in a variety of media as possessing a specific, shared identity and community. The course will draw on a range of primary sources, including inscriptions and literary texts (both poetry and prose), and cover the period from the second century BCE to the third century CE

Fall 2023: HIST UN3023
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3023 001/10512 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Sailakshmi Ramgopal 4.00 13/15

HIST UN3030 IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP IN AMER HIST. 4.00 points.

This course explores the meaning of American citizenship in connection with the country’s immigration history. Topics include historic pathways to citizenship for migrants; barriers to citizenship including wealth, race, gender, beliefs and documentation; and critical issues such as colonialism, statelessness, dual nationality, and birthright citizenship. We will ask how have people become citizens and under what authority has that citizenship been granted? What are the historic barriers to citizenship and how have they shifted over time? What major questions remain unanswered by Congress and the Supreme Court regarding the rights of migrants to attain and retain American citizenship?

Fall 2023: HIST UN3030
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3030 001/15174 T 4:10pm - 6:00pm
411 Hamilton Hall
Jessica Lee 4.00 16/14

HIST UN3032 Pre-Colonial Mesoamerican Societies and Cultures, ca. 1200 BCE-1600 CE. 4 points.

This course explores the histories, social organizations, and material cultures of the pre-colonial peoples of Central America and Mexico between ca. 1200 BCE and 1600 CE, with a particular focus on the three best-attested societies: the Olmecs, the Maya, and the Aztecs. Through an interdisciplinary examination of textual and archaeological sources, the class will address the extent to which one can highlight a common ‘Mesoamerican’ worldview as a lens to better understand the societies of this region. (No prerequisites)

HIST UN3061 ISLAM AND EUROPE IN THE MIDDLE AGES. 4 points.

This course explores the encounter between Europe, broadly conceived, and the Islamic world in the period from the seventh to the thirteenth centuries.  While the Latin Christian military expeditions that began in the late eleventh century known as the Crusades are part of this story, they are not the focus.  The course stresses instead the range of diplomatic, commercial, intellectual, artistic, religious, and military interactions established well before the Crusades across a wide geographical expanse, with focal points in Iberia and Southern Italy.  Substantial readings in primary sources in translation are supplemented with recent scholarship.  [Students will be assigned on average 150-200 pages of reading per week, depending on the difficulty of the primary sources; we will read primary sources every week.]

HIST UN3069 History of the American Middle Class. 4.00 points.

What does it mean to be middle class in America, and what has it meant historically? This course examines the history of middle-class status in America, from the early days of professionalization and corporate bureaucracy, to the progressive era political mobilization, to the mid-century consumerist era, to the present white collar precariat. By looking at cultural habits, social organization, and political engagement, and by examining materials from living room furniture to avocado toast, we'll chart the rise and fall of the most sought-after class denomination in American history

HIST UN3083 Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

How a society defines crime, and how it deals with the criminals tells us a lot about the moral values, and the political and economic structure of that society, as well as its internal conflicts, superstitions, and fears. Often supposed to be a barbaric community of ignorant unruly men governed by greedy kings and popes, the medieval society in the popular culture is often an inspiration to the grotesque representations of violence and torture. Even an intellectual like Michel Foucault did not hesitate to advance a theory of medieval punishment, albeit a terribly wrong one, as one that focuses on the body and spectacle.  This course is designed to trace the origins of the modern criminal legislation and practices to the Middle Ages, some of which were jury trial, public persecution, and prisons. How did these practices come about, and under which social conditions? The focus of the course will be on violent crimes, such as murder, robbery, assault and suicide, and some particularly medieval crimes like sorcery, blasphemy and sodomy. The geographical scope will be limited to England, Italy and France. The class discussions are expected to take the form of collective brainstorming on how the political powers, social classes, cultural values, and religious beliefs affect the development of criminal legislation and institutions. Whenever possible the weekly readings will feature a fair share of medieval texts, including trial records, criminal laws, a manual for trying witches, and prison poetry. 

HIST UN3087 Madness to Prozac: The Sciences of the Self in the Modern Era. 4 points.

This seminar will explore the emergence of sciences of the self in Europe from the late eighteenth century to the twenty-first century. We will concentrate on psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis and explore how they shaped and remade modern selves. Using interdisciplinary scholarship from history, critical theory, sociology, and psychology, we will examine topics such as the birth of modern psychiatry and psychology; theories of madness; the rise of the asylum; colonial psychiatry; sexology; the medicalization of gender and ethnic difference; the emergence of neurosis and trauma; psychoanalysis and talking cure; gender and hysteria; shell shock and total war; child psychology; anti-psychiatry, and the rise of the “Prozac Nation.”

HIST UN3092 U.S.-Middle East Relations. 4.00 points.

After the end of the Second World War, the United States assumed a central role in the politics of the Middle East and the politics of the Middle East came to exert considerable influence in the United States. This course will examine the transformation of U.S.-Middle East relations since 1945. We will survey a number of major episodes and themes in an attempt to explain this changing relationship. Through course readings and class discussion, students will examine the history of U.S.-Middle East relations

HIST UN3099 Socialist Stuff: Material Culture of the USSR and Post-Soviet Space, 1917-present. 4.00 points.

This course examines the experience of people living in the Soviet Union via things. Objects under socialist regimes were supposed to be transformative, turning yesterday’s backwards peasants into new communist men and women. Communism promised unheard of abundance, but those who lived under it often suffered from severe shortages. Things from outside of the communist world often took on an aura of forbidden fruit. People learned a variety of tricks to survive, and today are even nostalgic for many of its trappings

HIST UN3109 Behaving and Misbehaving: The Body in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

This course uses the human body to explore life and death, society and politics, belief and practice in early modern Europe (c.1500-1700). Each week we will engage with a new dimension of early modern culture, and study diverse ways of looking at the body to reveal people’s everyday experiences. We will talk about different ways in which people understood their bodies. We will read about what early moderns put into, and what came out of, their bodies. We will explore how bodies were supposed to behave, and study examples of bodies behaving badly. We will look at visual sources to consider the meanings and functions of images of the body. We will use primary sources to listen to the voices of the bodies we are studying. As we go through the readings, we will also pay special attention to the challenges posed by surviving sources, and discuss how different historians address them. The course will culminate in a final paper built on original student research with primary sources.

HIST UN3111 The Environmental History of the Ancient Mediterranean, 800 BC to 700 AD. 4 points.

The study of the ancient Mediterranean environment – the material world in which the Greeks and Romans and their neighbors lived – has been making rapid strides in recent years.  The aim of this course is to offer an overview of the impact of a flourishing pre-modern society on its natural environment, and of the ways in which people reacted to environmental challenges. We shall talk about natural resources – water, wood, land, minerals -- and about the sea and the mountains, also about diet, health and pollution, and of course about the climate. We will consider the profound problems of combining historical and scientific methods in the study of a past environment. 

HIST UN3113 Popular Culture in the Late Medieval Low Countries. 4 points.

One cannot grasp Latin American politics without understanding the role of the Church and Christianity in the continent’s societies. Indeed, there are those who argue that “as the demographic center of Christianity has shifted to the global South, Latin America has become one of the most important regions in the world for both Catholicism and Protestantism.” Still, contrary to the conventional wisdom that Latin America has always been the scene of reactionary zeal, in this course, we will aim to produce a more nuanced narrative of this phenomenon. By exploring the history, self-identity, and social theories of various Christian groups, we will explore this belief system as a source of inspiration for various contradictory ideological projects. Moving in chronological order we will ask: Can Christianity be defined as a unified ideological entity? Does religiosity overlap squarely with social and political categories, and is it anti-modern by definition? How did the Latin American Church react to shift in the Catholic world as well as to the rise of Latin America’s Revolutionary Left during the Cold War era? And how did it perceive human rights violations and did it support transitions from dictatorship to democracy? 

HIST UN3120 Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

In this course we will examine theoretical and historical developments that framed the notions of censorship and free expression in early modern Europe. In the last two decades, the role of censorship has become one of the significant elements in discussions of early modern culture. The history of printing and of the book, of the rise national-political cultures and their projections of control, religious wars and denominational schisms are some of the factors that intensified debate over the free circulation of ideas and speech. Indexes, Inquisition, Star Chamber, book burnings and beheadings have been the subjects of an ever growing body of scholarship. Field(s): EME

Spring 2024: HIST UN3120
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3120 001/11491 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Elisheva Carlebach 4 16/16

HIST UN3152 Byzantine Encounters in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This seminar examines Middle Eastern and Latin Western encounters with Byzantine society and culture, focusing on the 6th-15th centuries. When merchants, pilgrims, scholars, diplomats, and soldiers visited the lands of the Greek-Christian-Roman empire of the Eastern Mediterranean (today called Byzantium), what did they see? And what did the rest of the world look like to the Byzantines? We will study primary sources left by medieval Greeks, Arabs, Latins, and others, critically examining the hermeneutical acts involved in each cultural encounter, in order to probe the meaning and significance of these encounters in western Eurasian society and culture. Interested students can apply to take the seminar here:  https://goo.gl/forms/ECk3ISsoghel2Enf2

HIST UN3164 Novels of Empire. 4.00 points.

Literary and visual texts sometimes express the essence of historical experience more powerfully than “factual” narratives or historical debates. This class will focus on four such texts – three novels and one film – which take empire as their central theme. They are taken from different empires, different chronological periods, and different (but sometimes interrelated) phases of imperial conquest, development, and decline. Our task will essentially be a close reading of the texts, and the reconstruction of their historical and geographical context. The empires in question for this semester are the British, Ottoman, Russian, and French

HIST UN3171 Who Counts?: U.S. Census and Politics. 4 points.

The 2020 census is upon us and controversy abounds! On the face of it nothing seems simpler (or, perhaps, duller) than counting the number of inhabitants in the United States. However, if the history of the US census tells us anything, it is that the project is both technically complex and politically salient. This seminar interrogates the history of the US census through a series of controversies that erupted around the census in the twentieth century. We will ask: What can the census tell us about the meaning of democracy in the United States? How has the uses of the census been transformed over time? How has the information asked on the census increased and how does it reflect changing political agendas? How have the categories on the census changed over time? How have activists mobilized around the census to gain political representation?

 

HIST UN3180 RELIGIOUS CONVERSION IN HIST. 4.00 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.
Boundary crossers have always challenged the way societies imagined themselves. This course explores the intersection between personal identity, narrative, and the historical-political, religious, economic, and social aspects of religious conversion. While the course will focus on Western (Christian and Jewish) models in the medieval and early modern periods, we will also look at antiquity, the role of conversion in the spread of Islam, and the complexities of religious conversion through the prism of colonial relations

HIST UN3189 COMPOSNG THE SELF-ERLY MOD EUR. 4.00 points.

This course explores manners of conceiving and being a self in early modern Europe (ca. 1400-1800). Through the analysis of a range of sources, from autobiographical writings to a selection of theological, philosophical, artistic, and literary works, we will approach the concept of personhood as a lens through which to study topics such as the valorization of interiority, humanist scholarly practices, the rising professional status of artists, the spirituality of Christian mysticism, mechanist and sensationalist philosophies of selfhood, and, more generally, the human person’s relationship with material and existential goods. This approach is intended to deepen our understanding of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and other movements around which histories of the early modern period have typically been narrated

HIST UN3213 The Russian revolution: 100 years later. 4 points.

An in-depth reading of the revolutionary year, February 1917-January 1918. While the two Russian revolutions of 1917 unquestionably form part of a broader “continuum of crisis,” from World War I through the Civil War and possibly even beyond, our class in this centenary year will focus on the details of these critical twelve months. What happened in 1917? How do decisions and actions in a certain specific short period of time bring about monumental transformations in one society and eventually the world? Beginning with a reconstruction and analysis of revolutionary events in February and October, we will then branch out to examine crucial themes and interconnections, revolutionary antecedents, and current and past interpretations of Russian society in revolution. The class will include a fresh look at classic works on revolutions more generally, and will also incorporate new methodologies such as the history of emotions, with special attention to memoir literature and other primary sources. The dispersal of the Constituent Assembly in January 1918 marks the end of this particular story.   

HIST UN3225 ASIATIC RUS:EMPIRE & STATE. 4 points.

The aim of this course is to provide students with a fresh perspective on the concept of Eurasia originating in imperial Russian intellectual history. The course sets out to highlight the impact of nomadic political cultures on shaping the operation of Russian imperial policies and practices and their legacies, a perspective that is typically not represented in Eurasian and Russian history courses as a major idea of analysis. The course’s focus therefore will be on the spread of Russian rule over Eurasia’s steppe regions and Turkestan. Among other things, the course explores how the interplay of the nomadic concepts of sovereignty and territoriality enabled the rise of the Russian empire. Beyond ethnic and cultural history special attention will be devoted to economic and military history, as well as political institutions and diplomacy. We will also look at the ways in which the concept of Eurasia continued to inspire Soviet and post-Soviet politicians and other related groups to construct and reconstruct boundaries between East and West. 

HIST UN3233 From Liberalism to Illiberalism? Economic Ideas and Institutions in Central and Eastern Eu. 4 points.

In Central and Eastern Europe liberalism was just one of the major streams of thought in the 19th century, and illiberalism is only one of the doctrines yearning for dominance today. What happened between the two cannot be squeezed into a –  Spenglerian – story of the “decline of the East” because liberal ideas had a triumphant comeback in the Western half of the region in the middle of the 20th century and in its Eastern half before and after 1989. Following the rise of liberal economic thought and practice in the region throughout the 19th century, Central and Eastern Europe chose blatantly anti-liberal (totalitarian) roads of development, national socialism and/or communism for many decades. After World War II, countries that found themselves on the Western side of the Iron Curtain managed to leave these roads, and develop a variety of models relying on the doctrine of Soziale Marktwirtschaft. When in 1989, countries on its Eastern side followed suit, they started flirting with more radical sorts of liberalism than most of their Western neighbors, to return to the concept of social market economy, or to slide back to soft varieties of illiberalism recently.


The course will present some of the leading economic ideas and institutions in the context of cultural encounters between the East and the West. A special emphasis will be laid on frictions between the dominant discourses of the two parties. In Central and Eastern Europe both liberalism and socialism had their powerful national(ist) versions, socialism was offset by communism, conservativism fraternized with state collectivism, and the takeover of Western concepts was often simulated rather than real.

HIST UN3234 The Idea of Conspiracy in European Culture. 4 points.

What are conspiracy theories? Do conspiracies exist? How did historians, philosophers and political thinkers consider them? Is there such a thing as a “deep state?” When did conspiracy as a political enterprise give rise to the idea of conspiracy “theory”? What is the relationship, if any, between them? This class will survey past, recent and current thinking about conspiracies. The working premise of the class is that thinking about conspiracies has been a fundamental, if overlooked, driver in the development of Western political theory and the modern state. Recovering this long history is crucial if we want to understand the current role of conspiracy theories in politics and their ideological functions.

HIST UN3241 Global Urban History of Housing Justice. 4.00 points.

Shelter is one of our most basic human needs. Yet housing, and its legal, social and political meanings and struggles around its distribution, possession and safety, is a concept that can only be fully understood as a historical phenomenon. In the industrializing and urbanizing world, the concept of “housing” emerged at the intersection of questions of property rights, the study of urban problems, and the legal and cultural distinctions between public and private spheres. Throughout the world, the provision of shelter for urban populations has been at the center of urban crises and conflicts, as well as their solutions. This course will examine the deep history of urban segregation, fights for healthy and safe housing, and scholarly and policy debates about the “planet of slums.” The course’s geographic scope is global, using both comparative and transnational approaches, and we will explore the connections between local and global movements and historical processes. Through a historically-oriented but interdisciplinary set of readings, students in this class will become familiar with the terms of debates about the right to shelter as a social, political and legal problem in the modern (nineteenth- and twentieth-century) world. We will explore how history provides a unique view on how the question of housing is a social justice issue connected to other ones like mass incarceration and the destruction wrought by wars, famines, and intergenerational racial, ethnic and class inequalities. There are no pre- or co-requisites for this class

Spring 2024: HIST UN3241
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3241 001/11499 M 4:10pm - 6:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Amy Chazkel 4.00 16/15

HIST UN3242 Revolutionary Ukraine 1917-2017. 4.00 points.

Over the last hundred years there have been four periods of revolutionary upheaval on the territory of today’s Ukraine: the events of 1917-20, Stalin’s “second” revolution of 1933-34, the “nationalist revolution” of the 1940s, and the Euromaidan Revolution of 2013-14. These historical flashpoints play an important role in current memory wars. The course provides a guide to the most controversial issues and the conflicting ways in which each revolutionary cycle has been interpreted. It also indicates neglected episodes and suggests how new approaches can bridge narrative divides

HIST UN3243 1968 in Western Europe: Emergence, Trajectories, Interpretations. 4 points.

1968 has often been seen as seminal year in the history of modern Europe. Yet controversies remain: did the 'movements' fail? Did they prepare an even more aggressive reaction? What were their precise consequences? Are these the most interesting questions? This course examines protests against prevailing models of political authority, patriarchy, and economic and epistemic order that swept prominent European countries from the Sixties through the late seventies. While considering the entanglement of European developments in a broader, global context including the Vietnam War and decolonization, the course will primarily introduce students to events and their afterlives in West Germany, France and Italy. Prominent motifs of the course include the rise of new styles of student leftism and worker action and their ulterior trajectories; revolutionary, violence, terror, and state violence; and the crisis of Western Marxism and emergence of new feminist, anarchist, counter-cultural and ecological movements. Finally, we will examine the impact of 1968 on the structure of European political and economic order, identifying responses to the 68ers in new ideologies of management and new forms of state power. In the context of the course, students will also be exposed to cultural and intellectual products from the period, including audiovisual materials, manifestos, and theory. There are no prerequisites for this course.

HIST UN3247 Ukraine in WW2. 4.00 points.

The current Russo-Ukrainian war has focused renewed attention on Ukraine’s experience during WW2. This course examines several topics that have remained controversial: the political situation on the eve of war, German and Soviet policies toward Ukraine, life under German and Soviet occupations, the ideology and actions of the Ukrainian nationalist movement, the role of the ‘Galicia’ Division, the Holocaust in Ukraine, and the Polish-Ukrainian conflict. Students are introduced to approaches by different scholars, to current debates in memory politics, and to representations of the war in literature and film

Fall 2023: HIST UN3247
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3247 001/18428 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
1201 International Affairs Bldg
Myroslav Shkandrij 4.00 6/12

HIST UN3249 Making Borders: Surveys, Space and Knowledge. 4.00 points.

Drawing borders—around spaces, peoples, populations, property, and states—has been a major part of the creation of the modern world. Borders continue to be flashpoints of international conflict and sites of state violence. This class examines how borders have been constructed and produced at different historical moments, through imperial and international regimes, and in different places around the world. We’ll look at maps, surveys, censuses, plebiscites, passports, and international commissions to consider what borders are and the ways in which they can be manifested and shaped. We’ll reflect on how state officials and soldiers, as well as anthropologists, social scientists, and historians, have created borders in space and around aspects of social life. Borders are produced politically, but they are also literally made by particular technologies and made real through everyday acts and experiences. What techniques are involved in drawing borders, and how have these techniques shaped borders themselves? To put it crudely, how have decisions made in drawing a border affected what is later done at that border? Borders are more than lines on a map or territorial expressions: they bound the contours of political communities, they mark points of surveillance, and they help to create subjects and identities. Ultimately, this class aims to give students the historical skills to think about how borders and spaces are produced materially and politically, how knowledge about space is created and constructed, and how populations and resources are entangled within border regimes, through a range of concrete case studies. The use of these studies will open up further topics related to borders in fields such as legal history, the history of science, settler colonialism, and nationalism

Fall 2023: HIST UN3249
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3249 001/14160 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Samuel Coggeshall 4.00 10/15

HIST UN3252 Animals in the History of East Central Europe. 4.00 points.

Over the last two decades scholars in the humanities and social sciences have embraced “the animal turn”: by asking questions about the place of animals in human societies and about animals’ experiences in various times and places they have instigated a field that has come to be known as Animal Studies. This research has expanded the range of analytical tools we have at our disposal to examine social worlds and to study meaning, representation, agency, and context and it also encouraged us to re-consider fundamental questions about the human–animal divide: what it is, where it is, and what its significance is. Moreover, it has become evident that animals are not just passive recipients of human action, but at times they can act as autonomous agents that can contributing the shaping of the world that we share with them. Although this course adopts a perspective which is first and foremost historical, it also emphasizes the field’s interdisciplinary embedding and intersectional potentials. It shows that the study of historical developments through the lens of animals is not only intellectually rewarding in its own right, but it also provides new perspectives on a range of crucial topics, such as the history of war, capitalism, colonialism, consumption and entertainment. The majority of accounts in the field addresses developments in the Anglophone world. While also paying attention to the results of that research, the regional focus of this course will be on East Central Europe. After the first three sessions that serve as an introduction to the field, a number of case studies will reveal that animals have always been an integral part of the region’s social, cultural and economic life and that studying them in a historical perspective provides potentials for nuancing or even revising established knowledge on the history of East Central Europe

HIST UN3258 Disability Histories of Europe in the Twentieth Century. 4.00 points.

Approximately 10%-15% of the world’s population is estimated to have a disability and this number is expected to rise in the next decades. Moreover, as the saying goes: everyone is just one accident away from disability. Although the potentials of the concept as a category of historical analysis are comparable to those of class, race, gender, sexuality and ethnicity; until recently, the history of people of disabilities has remained a rather neglected field and its promise to enrich and revise mainstream narratives on European history has not sufficiently been explored. This course responds to calls to bring disability from the margins to the center of historical inquiry. Rather than treating disability as merely a medical impairment, it will explore its historical and cultural variability.Unlike the overwhelming majority of academic accounts and courses which study the Anglophone world, this course will primarily focus on (continental) Europe, while also paying attention to global aspects. It is not restricted to one particular type of disability; instead, it historicizes the emergence of various categories and classifications. Topics will include disability and war, the Cold War, welfare, social movements and disability rights, culture and identity, the Deaf community, disability as a concern of global governance and global health. Special attention will be paid to regions that often remain peripheral in comprehensive studies, such as Eastern and Northern Europe. In doing so, the course seeks to reveal how the application of disability as an analytical tool can contribute to rethink the overall dynamics of European history

HIST UN3264 East Central Europe in the Twentieth Century. An Intellectual and Cultural History. 4.00 points.

This course analyses the intellectual and cultural history of East Central Europe in the ‘long twentieth century.’ Approaching East Central Europe as a ‘suburb of Europe’ (Jerzy Jedlicki) where some of the most contested questions of modern and contemporary times have been repeatedly raised with great urgency, the course places special emphases on political thinking and history writing while also drawing on examples from literary and visual cultures. Dissecting key achievements in these areas from across the twentieth century, we shall explore intellectual and cultural contributions from East Central Europe to discussions of wider relevance. We shall also consider how the specific forms of creativity in this diverse region may be connected to and embedded in broader European and global trends

Spring 2024: HIST UN3264
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3264 001/11968 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
707 Hamilton Hall
Ferenc Laczo 4.00 10/14

HIST UN3268 The Critique of Curiosity. 4 points.

“All persons desire to know,” Aristotle declared in his Metaphysics.  But given that not all desires are good ones, the question naturally arises whether curiosity is.  In the era of modern science and education, we tend to take this for granted.  But for centuries – also well before Aristotle – people have concluded just the opposite. Their reasons have been various: religious, psychological, philosophical, pragmatic.  In this junior seminar we will examine select thinkers in the stream of Western thought that has questioned the value of curiosity and, more fundamentally, of knowledge itself.

Spring 2024: HIST UN3268
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3268 001/14860 Th 10:10am - 12:00pm
602 Northwest Corner
Mark Lilla 4 10/11

HIST UN3269 From Oracles to Mathematics. 4.00 points.

This class looks at how European society tried to tame chance and comprehend its whims before and after the arrival of the mathematics of probability around 1650. How did people move from consulting oracles to developing the insurance business? One simple answer is the discovery of the mathematical calculation of risk. But insurance contracts appear well before the availability of that tool, and insurers continued to do their business without it after it became widely known. This class explores why chance did not become “more” accurate – an object of science and knowledge – with the arrival of the probability calculus. It examines risk as a historically shaped experience in various areas of its manifestations including oracles, gambling, insurance, philosophy, and theology. The semester groups the history of risk into four thematically and chronologically organized units of focus: (1) We will begin with a survey of how we can study risk as historical construct asking what components shape a society’s understanding and handling of risk. In order to gain insight into what risk meant before ca. 1350, we will analyze oracles and curses people used to cope with future events in antiquity. (2) We will then explore the world of gambling to understand how closely related its risks were to those found in business practices. (3) Turning to late medieval and early modern insurance, we will analyze contracts, laws and theories of insurance. Why was it that risk became a commodity – a thing separable from the merchandise it concerned – only by 1350? (4) The next and last unit takes us to theories of risk before and after the development of the mathematical theory of probability to challenge and refine the notion that mathematics “counted away” divine providence. (Note: You do not need any prior mathematical skills for the class.)

HIST UN3272 Modern Southeast Asian History. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores the modern history of Southeast Asia, a diverse region of nearly a dozen nations that includes an extraordinary ethnic mix, all of the world’s major religions, and a broad spectrum of political systems. Considered one of the “main crossroads of the world,” we will explore the region’s modern history, including western colonial conquest, resistance struggles for decolonization, differing modes of economic development, thorough-going revolutions, and inter-ethnic violence set against the backdrop of increasing globalization

Fall 2023: HIST UN3272
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3272 001/15168 W 12:10pm - 2:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Hoang Vu 4.00 12/14

HIST UN3274 Collapse: The Fall and Afterlife of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev to Putin. 4.00 points.

On Christmas Day 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev ended two things: his tenure as President of the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union itself. The following day, Boris Yeltsin entered office as the first president of the Russian Federation, and without delay, began to institute radical economic and social reforms. Under his watch, the country privatized national industry, cut the state budget, and courted foreign multinational businesses. The world most commonly used to describe Russia in the early 1990s is “disappear”: money, jobs, food, and people. The very things that Soviet-style socialism had committed itself to providing for started to vanish as a result of invisible and market forces. At the same time as they were being told to welcome the approaching era of capitalist abundance, ordinary Russians were scrambling to cope with and recover from all that appeared to be suddenly and permanently missing from their pay stubs, kitchen tables, and family photographs. This course will explore what emerged in the spaces left empty after Soviet-style socialism’s demise. The course will be divided into three parts. The first part of the semester will examine the origins of the Soviet Union’s collapse and its breakup into fifteen successor states. Who was Mikhail Gorbachev, and why did the reforms instituted as part of glasnost and perestroika fail to revitalize the Soviet system? How did citizens - elites and average people alike - from Russia, the Soviet republics, and satellite states witness the collapse, and how did they manage the immediate transition to capitalism? The second part of the semester will survey the political, economic, and social processes that followed the collapse. How did former Soviet citizens reintegrate themselves in the new economies, political movements, and social structures that emerged in the Russian Federation under Yeltsin? In what ways did privatization and the arrival of foreign capital shape labor practices, consumer habits, the natural and built environment, and forms of cultural expression? What forms did nationalist movements in the former republics and and Warsaw Pact countries take? Finally, the third part of the course will focus on Putin’s ascendancy to the presidency and its consequences for Russian citizens at home and Russia’s image abroad. We will consider the role that memory and myth play in the formation of a “United Russian” consciousness, the costs and benefits of life in Putin’s Russia, and the transformation of the international system under Vladimir Vladimirovich. By semester’s end, students will have acquired the content and analytical literacy to place present-day Russia in its specific historical context and identify multiple sources of causation that may help explain Russia’s transition from socialism to capitalism to Putinism during the past quarter century

Spring 2024: HIST UN3274
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3274 001/14736 W 4:10pm - 6:00pm
610 Lewisohn Hall
Yana Skorobogatov 4.00 12/14

HIST UN3277 History of Urban Crime and Policing in Latin America in Global Perspective. 4 points.

This seminar will examine the social construction of criminality and the institutions that developed to impose and enforce the criminal law as reflections of Latin American society throughout the region’s history, with a particular emphasis on the rise of police forces as the principal means of day-to-day urban governance. Topics include policing and urban slavery; policing the urban “underworld”; the changing cultural importance of police in urban popular culture; the growth of scientific policing methods, along with modern criminology and eugenics; policing and the enforcement of gender norms in urban public spaces; the role of urban policing in the rise of military governments in the twentieth century; organized crime; transitional justice and the contemporary question of the rule of law; and the transnational movement of ideas about and innovations in policing practice. In our readings and class discussions over the course of the semester, we will trace how professionalized, modern police forces took shape in cities across the region over time. This course actually begins, however, in the colonial period before there was anything that we would recognize as a modern, uniformed, state-run police force. We will thus have a broad perspective from which to analyze critically the role of police in the development of Latin American urban societies—in other words, to see the police in the contemporary era as contingent on complex historical processes, which we will seek to understand.

HIST UN3296 Ukraine and Empire. 4.00 points.

Ukraine and Russia have been profoundly marked by the imperial experience, which has involved state expansion, cultural appropriation and assimilation. For three centuries leading cultural and political figures in Russia expressed attitudes toward Ukraine that today contribute to a “colonizing” mentality. This course looks at classic expressions of the imperial attitude, how it was challenged in Ukraine, and how it has resurfaced in the present war. Readings from historians are supplemented with source materials from creative literature, art, film, political propaganda and journalism

Fall 2023: HIST UN3296
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3296 001/18430 Th 4:10pm - 6:00pm
1201 International Affairs Bldg
Myroslav Shkandrij 4.00 10/13

HIST UN3298 Popular Culture in Modern African History. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course explores Africa’s modern history through forms of popular culture as Africans navigated more than a century of profound political, economic, and social upheaval. From the end of the slave trade in the nineteenth century to the era of colonial rule, independence, and the uncertain times that followed, we will examine how everyday forms of cultural production in Africa both influenced and interpreted the course of events. By the end of the semester, students will be able to not only appreciate how new forms of popular culture arose out of specific historical conditions, but also analyze popular texts—songs, poems, films, photographs, and more—to understand how ordinary people,artists, and intellectuals made sense of their times.

HIST UN3305 The European Enlightenment. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course will include an in-depth examination of some major tinkers and texts of the French, Germans, and Scottish Enlightenments. By reading works of Montesquieu, Voltaire, Lessing, Mendelssohn, and Hume, we will examine their radically divergent responses to the central intellectual quandries of their day, and in many ways our own: the realtionship between rationalism, science, and faith; religion and the state; the individual and the polity; cosmopolitanism and particularism; pluralism and relativism; and the meaning of liberty. Group(s): A, B

HIST UN3306 The Women's Suffrage Movement in Britain: Politics, Performance, Personhood. 4 points.

The British women’s suffrage movement was one of the significant and dramatic social movements of modern times.  Tens of thousands of women joined suffrage organizations and took part in suffrage activism in the decade before World War I, some of them adopting what were known as “militant” tactics of public disturbance and property damage, and of the hunger-strike in prison.  The suffrage question and the spectacle of militancy preoccupied politicians, divided parties, friends and families, mesmerized the public and the press, and utterly transformed the lives of the women who became caught up in it.  The movement spawned novels, plays, and artistic works of all kinds; it fostered new political theories and practices; it created new identities and new psychological orientations.  Historians to this day argue over its meanings and legacies.

HIST UN3308 Living the British Empire: Texts and Contexts. 4 points.

This course is part of a project to build a new lecture course for the global core on the history of the British Empire, with particular attention to the way that empire shaped and continues to shape our world.

HIST UN3326 History of Ireland, 1700-2000. 4 points.

This seminar provides an introduction to key debates and historical writing in Irish history from 1700.  Topics include:  the character of Ascendancy Ireland; the 1798 rising and the Act of Union; the causes and consequences of the famine; emigration and Fenianism; the Home Rule movement; the Gaelic revival; the Easter Rising and the civil war; politics and culture in the Free State; the Northern Ireland problem; Ireland, the European Union, and the birth of the “celtic tiger”.

HIST UN3334 Marriage and Morals among the Victorians. 4.00 points.

The second half of the 19th century saw a sharp debate in Britain over the terms and conditions of marriage and indeed of gender relations more generally. This course will explore that debate, tracing its effects in law, politics, and personal life. Topics include: conflicts over legal and political rights (including suffrage); love, sex, and sociability; domestic violence, child custody, and the contest over male authority; the “problem” of prostitution; and utopian efforts to reimagine gender relations. Students will read literary and polemical works by John Stuart Mill, Anthony Trollope, Mona Caird, Bernard Shaw, Frances Power Cobbe, Cicely Hamilton and others, will evaluate historians’ arguments, and will develop their own research project

Fall 2023: HIST UN3334
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3334 001/10431 W 4:10pm - 6:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Susan Pedersen 4.00 13/13

HIST UN3335 20TH CENT NEW YOUR CITY HIST. 4 points.

This course explores critical areas of New York’s economic development in the 20th century, with a view to understanding the rise, fall and resurgence of this world capital. Discussions also focus on the social and political significance of these shifts. Assignments include primary sources, secondary readings, film viewings, trips, and archival research. Students use original sources as part of their investigation of New York City industries for a 20-page research paper. Students are asked to give a weekly update on research progress, and share information re useful archives, websites, and electronic databases.

HIST UN3341 Social Science and the British City. 4.00 points.

British cities have served as a seedbed of the modern social science disciplines, from public health to urban sociology—in fact, the term “gentrification” emerged out of the nexus of race and class in postwar London. This undergraduate seminar introduces students to methods of urban inquiry by focusing on the ways in which social scientists—urban planners, sociologists, ethnographers, cultural theorists—have sought to make the city legible, from the late nineteenth century to the present. How has urban development intersected with modes of knowledge production? In what ways has urban space fostered new identities and practices spanning race, class, and gender? And how does the view from Britain reorient our perspective on the processes of growth and stratification that have shaped the contemporary city? Secondary readings will be supplemented by primary sources by figures including Ebenezer Howard, Jane Jacobs, and Stuart Hall

HIST UN3353 EARLY MODERN FRANCE. 3.00 points.

HIST UN3357 Montaigne and the Modern Self. 4.00 points.

This seminar, which focuses on Montaigne’s Essays, is one of a series on the history of the modern self. The series has included seminars on figures like Pascal, Rousseau, and Tocqueville, and will continue to expand

HIST UN3366 Intellectual Life in Nineteenth-Century Britain . 4 points.

This course aims to give students a wide overview of the transformation of intellectual life of Britain in the long nineteenth century as well as a sense of some of the dynamics of intellectual change in this period. The nineteenth century has been long-established as a period of enormous social, economic, and political upheaval. The course has been designed as a critical examination of key ideas and themes in the intellectual and cultural history of this period. The topics covered range from ideas about identity, empire, and history, through conceptions of progress in natural and social science as well as anti-industrialization and economic commentary, to questions of sex, gender, race, and the avant garde raised at the fin de siècle. This course will equip students with skills in reading, analyzing, and contextualizing texts in the history of ideas.

HIST UN3384 Brazilian Slavery in its Global Context. 4.00 points.

What does Brazilian slavery have to teach the world? This course examines the history of slavery, as well as resistance to it, its abolition, the way it has been remembered and forgotten, in Latin America’s largest country in its hemispheric, Atlantic, and global context. In Brazil, the practice of enslaving Africans and their descendants lasted longer and involved more people than in any other place in the world. Our readings and in-class discussions broadly survey the entire sweep of Brazilian history from the sixteenth century to the present, demonstrating how the enslavement of people originally brought from Africa and their descendants is an inextricable part of the country’s history, and to the history of the African Diaspora, and is fundamental to understanding Brazil’s relationship to the rest of the world. No prior knowledge of Latin American or Brazilian history is required, and all required readings will be in English

HIST UN3386 The Global First World War. 4.00 points.

The First World War has often been thought of as a European War, but it was fought on four continents and reverberated around the world. This course examines the global nature and impact of the war, paying particular attention to the way it destabilized or affected imperial, national, and ethnic/racial solidarities and hierarchies, and ushered in new transnational norms, hazards, movements and practices. Students will read selected recent historical work on the war, and will delve into and contextualize a wide array of primary materials: diplomatic treaties or declarations; collective petitions or claims; combatants’ diaries; observer accounts; official and humanitarian investigations; and novels, poetry, photography, and paintings. This seminar will function as a collaboration among its members, with the aim of producing not only individual work but a handbook of primary materials for a lecture-course version of the course which will be offered as a Global Core in 2023-4

HIST UN3387 Beyond Capitalism. 4.00 points.

'Beyond Capitalism: Socialist Thought in the Heart of Empire' is a class about 'futures past' - about lost visions of a different world, and what we can do with them today. Britain was Marx's 'locus classicus' for capitalist production and a destination for migrant radicals from around the world. From the early nineteenth century to the present, we will trace a winding debate in this engine-room of capital and empire, between socialism's two souls. Those who built today's socialist vocabulary often saw capitalism as an anarchic economic system, to be beaten by imperial and then national state planning. Others, though, once saw in capitalism a form of global social domination. Against it, they sought transnational popular power. We will map these conflicting experiences of Kojin Karatani's capitalist trinity: capital, state, nation. We will read from well beyond the canonical history of British socialist thought, incorporating the central contributions of revolutionaries from across the Empire and rescuing militant workers and intellectuals from the condescension of posterity. We will navigate the rise of industrial capitalism, its first critics and then its twentieth century transformations – Fordist-Keynesian and neoliberal worlds – while treating questions of gender, race, culture, power and national identity as formative in the shifting horizon of a political project now too often forgotten: the end of capitalist society. What is capitalism? What's wrong with it? How does it change? How can it be beaten? Is the alternative to it equality, or freedom? Lastly: how can a genealogy of changing socialist thinking in a declining hegemon inform politics in America now? These are the questions we will explore. This class has no prerequisites

HIST UN3401 Does American Poverty Have a History?. 4 points.

In most societies, some are rich and many more are poor.  So it has been through most recorded history – and so it remains in the United States, where an estimated 43 million Americans are living in poverty as you read this.  The project of our seminar will be to construct a history of America’s poor as vivid and precise as the histories that have long been written of the wealthy and the powerful.  We will look at the experiences of being poor and at changes in the processes of falling into and climbing out of poverty.  We will look at changes in the population of the poor, changes in the economic organization of cities and the countryside, and changes in the general distribution of wealth.  We will look at ideas of poverty and their impact on history.  And we will look, finally, at changes in the treatment of the poor: from charity to modern welfare policies.  At semester’s end, students will be able to interrogate the enduring presence of American poverty in light of its history and transformations.

HIST UN3410 Food and Inequality in the Twentieth-Century U.S.. 4 points.

This seminar examines the social, cultural, and political history of inequality in the food system of the twentieth- century United States, from field to table. We trace the rise and expansion of industrial farming and food processing, and the commercialization of food preparation, looking at the ways racism, gender, class, immigration, empire, and globalization have shaped the political economy of American food. This course also investigates the intersection of agriculture, migration, and U.S. capitalism in the food system, and asks why modern food work has been marked by precarious working and living conditions. It provides a detailed knowledge of U.S. labor, immigration, agricultural, and political history in the twentieth century, with a focus on gender and racial disparity. Upon completion of the course, students will have a complex understanding of the history of the U.S. food system, which will allow them to engage broadly with different areas of American history, including the emergent history of capitalism, labor and immigration history, and environmental history. The course will also enable critical engagement with contemporary food movement issues, food planning, farm policy, and activist initiatives against the inequalities that continue to haunt our fields, packinghouses, and kitchens. The semester will culminate in a final paper that concentrates on one of the course themes and develops historical writing skills across the course of the semester. A strong base of knowledge about the history of the U.S. in the twentieth century is useful, but not prerequisite for the course.

HIST UN3418 The Carceral United States. 4.00 points.

Examination of the development of U.S. carceral systems and logics from the late 18th century through the present. Through course readings and class discussion, students will explore the changes and continuities in technologies of punishment and captivity over time, interrogating how the purpose and political economy of captivity and policing shifted over time, and analyzing the relationship between carceral institutions and constructions of race, gender, and sexuality

HIST UN3429 TELLING ABOUT THE SOUTH. 4.00 points.

A remarkable array of Southern historians, novelists, and essayists have done what Shreve McCannon urges Quentin Compson to do in William Faulkners Absalom, Absalom!--tell about the South--producing recognized masterpieces of American literature. Taking as examples certain writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, this course explores the issues they confronted, the relationship between time during which and about they wrote, and the art of the written word as exemplified in their work. Group(s): D Field(s): US Limited enrollment. Priority given to senior history majors. After obtaining permission from the professor, please add yourself to the course wait list so the department can register you in the course

HIST UN3436 Stalinist Civilization. 4 points.

This course is dedicated to understanding one of the most paradoxical and deadly periods of history – the years of Stalin’s rule of the Soviet Union. Stalinism came to encompass massive losses of human life alongside unprecedented growth in education and modernization in the space of the Soviet Union. Bolshevik policies destroyed whole peoples’ ways of life, but also defeated fascism. Individuals could rise high in society or be destroyed at the whim of a bureaucrat. Over the semester, we will explore this society, the people who comprised it and the dramatic changes they lived through. We will touch on major events in the political history of the Soviet Union, but its primary focus is on how people experienced life under Stalin.

HIST UN3437 CORP BEHAVIOR & PUBLIC HEALTH. 4.00 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

In the decades since the publication of Silent Spring and the rise of the environmental movement, public awareness of the impact of industrial products on human health has grown enormously. There is growing concern over BPA, lead, PCBs, asbestos, and synthetic materials that make up the world around us. This course will focus on environmental history, industrial and labor history as well as on how twentieth century consumer culture shapes popular and professional understanding of disease. Throughout the term the class will trace the historical transformation of the origins of disease through primary sources such as documents gathered in lawsuits, and medical and public health literature. Students will be asked to evaluate historical debates about the causes of modern epidemics of cancer, heart disease, lead poisoning, asbestos-related illnesses and other chronic conditions. They will also consider where responsibility for these new concerns lies, particularly as they have emerged in law suits. Together, we will explore the rise of modern environmental movement in the last 75 years

Spring 2024: HIST UN3437
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3437 001/11661 W 8:10am - 10:00am
302 Fayerweather
David Rosner 4.00 15/15

HIST UN3490 THE GLOBAL COLD WAR. 4.00 points.

The superpower competition between the US and the USSR dominated international affairs during the second half of the twentieth century. Though this Cold War was born from ideological differences and initially focused on Europe, it soon became entangled with the concurrent global process of decolonization. In this way, the US-Soviet rivalry shaped events on every continent. This course will examine the intersection of the superpower competition and the emergence of the postcolonial world. Through course readings and class discussion, students will examine the global dimensions of the Cold war. Each student will prepare a research paper on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor.

HIST UN3497 Calculating Power: Knowledge, Technology, and Risk in the United States after 1900. 4.00 points.

This course introduces students to a variety of mediated numerical practices employed by a variety of actors and institutions in the US to make legible individuals and coteries both at home and abroad in the 20th and 21st centuries. Attention is given to how statistical innovations and infrastructures were used to measure and justify social claims about race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class, and how these practices changed the very definitions of the social phenomena they purported to describe. While emphasis is on the US after 1945, the course begins at the outset of the 20th century in which a variety of statistical practices were developed to facilitate decision making under uncertainty. Topics include eugenics, the US census, public health, citizenship, histories of computing, Cold War rationality, history of the social sciences, criminal justice, civil rights, advertising, modernization theory, the military-industrial complex, artificial intelligence, machine learning, free press, and censorship. No prerequisites are required

HIST UN3500 John Jay & the American Revolution. 4 points.

This seminar explores themes from the American Revolution that pertain to the career of John Jay (King’s College class of 1764 and first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court). Themes will include: law and diplomacy, the American Enlightenment, slavery and abolition, women in the Revolution, Spain and the American West, the Constitution and the Supreme Court, early-national politics, and the “Jay Treaty” of 1795. Each student will write a research paper on a related topic over the course of the semester.

HIST UN3501 Indians and Empires in North America. 4.00 points.

In this course you will be asked to re-think American history. That is, we will approach the history of America as a continental history. This will require that we think of North America as a New World space, a place that was inhabited and occupied by indigenous peoples, and then remade by the arrival and settlement of Europeans. You will be asked to imagine a North America that was indigenous and adaptive, as well as colonial and Euro-American. This approach to the study of North American history is designed to challenge the epistemology and literature of the history of colonization and American expansion, which displaces Native peoples from the central narrative of American history by placing them at the physical margins of colonial and national development. Instead we will explore the intersection and integration of indigenous and Euro-American national identity and national space in North America and trace their co-evolution from first contact through the early nineteenth century

Spring 2024: HIST UN3501
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3501 001/14731 W 4:10pm - 6:00pm
327 Seeley W. Mudd Building
Michael Witgen 4.00 15/15

HIST UN3502 The Struggle for Indigenous Sovereignty in the Early American Republic. 4.00 points.

The United States was founded on Indigenous land and in conversation with Indigenous nations who shared possession to most of the territory claimed by the republic. The expansion of the U.S. beyond the original thirteen states happened in dialogue, and often in open conflict with the Native peoples of North America. This course will examine the creation and expansion of the American nation-state from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous history. Most histories of the Republic equate the founding of the U.S. with the severance of colonial ties to Great Britain and the proceed to characterize America as a post-colonial society. We will study the U.S. as the first New World colonial power, a settler society whose very existence is deeply intertwined with the Indigenous history of North America

HIST UN3515 Surveillance from KGB and NSA to Border Control. 4.00 points.

An introduction to the history of state and corporate surveillance, opposition to it, and approaches to studying it, from the 1600s until the present. Topics include the creation of the early modern information state, the development of state statistics and policing, imperial forms of surveillance, surveillance in totalitarian regimes from Nazi Germany through the present, growth of electronic surveillance in the cold war especially in war zones, the transfer of military technologies to internal security and border control, surveillance of civil rights and anti-war movements, recent controversies around the NSA and GCQH, and the development of large scale state sanctioned hacking

HIST UN3516 US Labor History. 4 points.

This course examines American labor and working-class history from the early Republic to the 1990s, with a particular focus on how worker responses to economic change have shaped American social, political, and cultural history more broadly. Our discussions will cover a range of topics, including a comparison of free and unfree labor in the antebellum period, the rise of factory work and wage labor, the emergence of labor unions and radical political parties, the relationship between organized labor and the state, the impact of globalization, the disruptive role of technology, and the persistence of working-class conservatism. Throughout we will pay close attention to how differences of gender, race, and region have shaped the ideas and actions of American workers, both in cooperation and competition with one another, as those workers influenced the history of the United States. 

HIST UN3517 The Historical Imagination in Caribbean Literature. 4.00 points.

Caribbean literature offers complicated and vivid portrayals of the Caribbean’s past, and grapples with difficult histories lived by its people that compromised colonial archives can only partially capture. Literary works far exceed the limited narratives of Caribbean history by imagining entire worlds that official documents could never contain, rich selves, cultures and communities built by many generations of Caribbean people. This course is aimed at bringing forth a broader understanding of Caribbean history by examining a body of creative works by feminist and womanist writers that continuously remain attuned to the complexities of the past, which are either underrepresented or absent in the record. Chosen literary texts will also be paired with historical works that will illuminate and contextualize the multiple themes with which these Caribbean authors frequently engage, including slavery, and colonialism, racism and colorism, migration and immigration, gender and sexuality, poverty and globalization. From these pairings, students will explore both the divergences and alignments in how writers and historians approach the work of retelling the past, and will acquire reading and writing skills that will foster thoughtful critical analysis of the ever-changing contours of the Caribbean’s history

Spring 2024: HIST UN3517
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3517 001/11646 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Natasha Lightfoot 4.00 11/15

HIST UN3518 COLUMBIA UNI & SLAVERY. 4.00 points.

In this course, students will write original, independent papers of around 25 pages, based on research in both primary and secondary sources, on an aspect of the relationship between Columbia College and its colonial predecessor Kings College, with the institution of slavery

Fall 2023: HIST UN3518
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3518 001/10395 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Karl Jacoby 4.00 14/14

HIST UN3529 Landscapes of American Modernity, 1880-1940. 4.00 points.

This course examines the transformation of rural and urban landscapes in the U.S. in the critical era of industrial consolidation, 1880-1940. We investigate the creation of an infrastructure for agriculture that transformed natural environments; the changing vernacular architecture of domestic and industrial workplaces; the development of central downtowns as sites of office buildings, department stores, and civic centers; the spatial instantiation of the Jim Crow segregationist regime in the North as well as the South; the relation between real estate and finance that fueled the Great Depression; and the development of New Deal policies that underwrote public works—including highways-- and public housing, while also subsidizing home ownership, agribusiness, and segregation (the historical context for debates over the “Green New Deal.”. Reading assignments combine social history and vernacular architectural studies with primary sources that include urban planning and government documents, personal narratives, and both historical and contemporary photographs, maps, and city plans

HIST UN3552 Beyond Battlefields: Key Themes in American Military History. 4.00 points.

This seminar examines the American military experience and its relationship to American society from 1775 to the Vietnam War. It shows that military history is about more than generals and battles. It's about the evolution of institutions and the lived experiences of the people who made up these institutions. The seminar begins with the origins and development of the United States military and continues chronologically to introduce different approaches to examine it. Each week focuses on a specific period and centers on a distinct theme, including political economy, legal history, class and gender relations, racism, and violence

HIST UN3553 Slavery and Finance in Nineteenth Century America. 4 points.

This research seminar exposes students to selected readings in the history of slavery and finance in the United States, from the American Revolution to the end of the nineteenth century.  The course explores the crucial roles of slavery and finance for the economic growth of the United States.......

HIST UN3562 The Seven Years’ War (1754-1763), Global Perspective: Europe, Asia, Africa, and Americas. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: History Majors Preferred
Prerequisites: History Majors Preferred This research seminar explores the causes, course, and consequences of the Seven Years’ War, arguably the first world war in modern history. Topics include the origins of the conflict in North America and in Europe, the relationship between imperial rivalry in the American colonies and the contest for supremacy in central Europe, the impact of the war on trade and settlement in South Asia, the West Indies, the Philippines, and West Africa, and the legacies of the conflict for British imperial expansion in India, North America, Senegal, and the southern Caribbean. During the second half of the semester, members of the seminar will devote the majority of their time to the research and writing of a substantial paper

Fall 2023: HIST UN3562
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3562 001/10659 Th 4:10pm - 6:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Christopher Brown 4.00 12/15

HIST UN3563 Seeing Like the Sea. 3.00 points.

This course will explore the environmental, social and political histories of the seas, with a particular focus on the modern Mediterranean. The invitation in the title – to see like the sea – is one in which you are asked to imagine how to view the world from the perspective of the seas along with the peoples, goods and ideas that crossed them

HIST UN3564 Dancing New York City in the 20th Century. 4.00 points.

The 20th century saw New York City emerge as an artistic and economic capital on the world stage. Although these trends are often considered separately, the history of dance in NYC demonstrates their interrelations. This seminar will interweave the history of New York City with the history of dance across the twentieth century. It will use the work of dancers, choreographers, and critics to illuminate social, political, and cultural trends in New York’s urban life. Topics include dance in working-class leisure, dance as cultural activism during the Popular Front and Black Arts eras, immigration and assimilation in NYC, and the impact of urban renewal on communities and the performing arts. No prior experience with dance is necessary; this course welcomes all students interested in cultural history, urban history, and intellectual history. Through reading and viewing assignments, class discussion and activities, and written assessments, students in this course will learn to analyze movement, write clearly and vividly about dance performance, conduct primary source research, and assess the role of the performing arts within the New York cityscape

Spring 2024: HIST UN3564
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3564 001/11625 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Emily Hawk 4.00 0/15

HIST UN3571 Left and Right in American History. 4.00 points.

This course examines 20th-century American political movements of the Left and Right. We will cover Socialism and the Ku Klux Klan in the early twentieth century; the Communist Party and right-wing populists of the 1930s; the civil rights movement, black power, and white resistance, 1950s-1960s; the rise of the New Left and the New Right in the 1960s; the Women's liberation movement and the Christian right of the 1970s; and finally, free-market conservatism, neoliberalism, white nationalism and the Trump era. We will explore the organizational, ideological and social history of these political mobilizations. The class explores grass-roots social movements and their relationship to “mainstream” and electoral politics. We will pay special attention to the ways that ideas and mobilizations that are sometimes deemed extreme have in fact helped to shape the broader political spectrum. Throughout the semester, we will reflect on the present political dilemmas of our country in light of the history that we study

HIST UN3572 The Climate Crisis: A History of the Present. 4.00 points.

The climate crisis is a defining feature of contemporary life. How did we get here? This course takes a historical approach to the question, exploring the multiple overlapping histories required to understand the present climate age. Themes and topics include: the expansion of fossil fuel capitalism; the history of climate science and climate denialism; the relationship between science and policy; the geopolitics of climate knowledge production; environmental diplomacy and climate justice; indigenous-led activist movements; and debates about geoengineering solutions versus structural changes to the energy system

HIST UN3577 Culture and Politics in the Progressive Era, 1890-1945. 4 points.

This class begins during the fabled "Gilded Age," when the nation's capitalist expansion created the world's largest economy but splintered Americans' ideals. From the fin-de-siècle through the cataclysms of World War II, we will explore how Americans defined, contested, and performed different meanings of American civilization through social reform movements, artistic expressions, and the everyday habits and customs of individuals and groups. The class will pay particular attention to how gender, race, and location--regional, international, and along the class ladder--shaped perspectives about what constituted American civilization and the national discourse about what it should become. Field(s): US

HIST UN3581 The U.S. Military-Industrial Complex. 4 points.

Since WWII the U.S. military has been the country's biggest employer and branch of government. This course examines the political economy of national defense in the 20th century U.S. Topics include the military’s role as an employer, a provider of social services, a direct industrial producer, a patron of scientific research, a major customer for high-tech industries, and a global property and logistics manager. The course introduces students to arguments about the military’s place in broader topics in 20th century U.S. history like war and society, civil rights, gender at work, imperialism, deindustrialization, and privatization, and culminates in an original research paper. 

HIST UN3593 Religion and Politics in Postwar America. 4 points.

This course is a survey history of the role that religion has played in the major political movements and events of the United States from 1945 to the present. We will explore how the historical analysis of religion in the postwar period affects our understanding of the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, the Equal Rights Amendment, the War on Terror, and on legal and policy debates over immigration, education, abortion, gay marriage, and the environment, among other issues. There are no prerequisites for the course, though basic knowledge of American twentieth century history is useful.

HIST UN3595 American Consumer Culture. 4 points.

This seminar examines how and why twentieth-century Americans came to define the “good life” through consumption, leisure, and material abundance. We will explore how such things as department stores, nationally advertised brand-name goods, mass-produced cars, and suburbs transformed the American economy, society, and politics. The course is organized both thematically and chronologically. Each period deals with a new development in the history of consumer culture. Throughout we explore both celebrations and critiques of mass consumption and abundance.

HIST UN3601 Jews in the Later Roman Empire, 300-600 CE. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will explore the background and examine some of the manifestations of the first Jewish cultural explosion after 70 CE. Among the topics discussed: the Late Roman state and the Jews, the rise of the synagogue, the redaction of the Palestinian Talmud and midrashim, the piyyut and the Hekhalot.

HIST UN3603 An International and Global History of Jewish Migration Across the Long Twentieth Century,. 4 points.

Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, millions of Jews in Eastern Europe – home to the largest Jewish community in the nineteenth century -- uprooted themselves from their places of birth and settled in new homes around the world.  This mass migration not only transformed the cultural and demographic centers of world Jewry, but also fundamentally changed the way in which Jews defined their communities and expressed their interests.  At the same time, as the Ottoman empire In this course, we shall analyze primary source material, literary accounts as well as secondary sources as we try to make sense of the different factors shaping East European Jewish immigrants’ experiences in the Americas.  We begin by looking at Jewish life in nineteenth-century Eastern Europe.  During the nineteenth century, numerous factors – such as economic modernization, secularization, repressive tsarist legislations, and the rise of new Jewish ideologies – transformed Jewish life in Eastern Europe and prompted thousands of Jews to leave their homes and seek their fortunes elsewhere.  As East European Jews spread throughout the world, they formed new communities in the Europe, the United States, Argentina and Asia, which we shall examine from the perspective of social, political, and cultural history.  In what ways did migration change East European Jews’ daily life?  What impact did the divergent socio-economic contexts have on Jewish immigrant economic and religious life?  What role did gender, class and ideology play in molding the experiences of East European Jewish immigrants in different parts of the world? The objective of this course, however, is not just to learn the history of immigrant Jews in these regions. Rather, we will aim to ask questions about what it means to be a Jew living in the United States – the mythic “promised land” -- and Latin America -- an area with an often unsettled modern history that for centuries served as a European colonial outpost and a Catholic stronghold.

HIST UN3604 Jews and the City. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Over the course of the nineteenth century, millions of Jews uprooted themselves from their places of birth and moved to cities scattered throughout the world.  This mass urbanization not only created new demographic centers of world Jewry, but also fundamentally transformed Jewish political and cultural life.  In this course, we shall analyze primary source material, literary accounts as well as secondary sources as we examine the Jewish encounter with the city, and see how Jewish culture was shaped by and helped to shape urban culture.  We shall compare Jewish life in six cities spanning from Eastern Europe to the United States and consider how Jews’ concerns molded the urban economy, urban politics, and cosmopolitan culture.  We shall also consider the ways in which urbanization changed everyday Jewish life.  What impact did it have on Jewish economic and religious life?  What role did gender and class play in molding the experiences of Jews in different cities scattered throughout the world?

Spring 2024: HIST UN3604
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3604 001/11644 M 2:10pm - 4:00pm
328 Uris Hall
Rebecca Kobrin 4 12/14

HIST UN3621 Mass-Mediated Politics in Modern Latin America. 4.00 points.

This advanced undergraduate seminar offers an introduction to the study of mass media and politics in Latin America from the early nineteenth to the late twentieth century. Throughout the course, the students will get acquainted with some of the key concepts, problems, and methods through which historians and, to a lesser extent, communication scholars have probed the relationship between mass media and political power in the region. We will define and understand media broadly, but we will focus mainly on printed media, radio, and television. We will discuss both breaks and continuities between different media technologies, journalistic cultures, and political regimes. Knowledge of Spanish and/or Portuguese is welcome, but not mandatory

Fall 2023: HIST UN3621
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3621 001/10370 T 4:10pm - 6:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Alfonso Salgado 4.00 11/14

HIST UN3622 Islam and the Modern World I. 4.00 points.

In this course, we will survey historical texts that emerge in and around Europe’s engagement with Muslim societies and the creation of a “modern world.” How do we understand Islam(s), colonialism and anti-colonialism in light of texts and practices from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. We will explore key issues surrounding the history of the Enlightenment, the rise of historicism and the growing interest in universal histories through the engagement with Arabic texts and North African histories from the mid-eighteenth century to the mid twentieth century

HIST UN3629 Mobilities in the Americas: An Urban and Public History. 4.00 points.

This course will use “mobilities” as a category for historical analysis that captures the social, political, and economic aspects of urban transportation. We will think about mobilities as the social practices that produce the urban space and reproduce inequalities. The course covers different cities of the Americas in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will include conversations on the “right to mobilities”, the role of private interests and the meanings of “public”, suburbanization, displacement, restrictions on movement, the political ecology of energy, and feminist approaches to commuting. We will create public history projects to spark a conversation with communities beyond academia

Fall 2023: HIST UN3629
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3629 001/13443 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Luis Andrei Guadarrama Dominguez 4.00 15/15

HIST UN3644 MOD JEWISH INTELLECTUAL HIST. 3.00 points.

This course analyzes Jewish intellectual history from Spinoza to the present. It tracks the radical transformation that modernity yielded in Jewish thought, both in the development of new, self-consciously modern, iterations of Judaism and Jewishness and in the more elusive but equally foundational changes in "traditional" Judaisms. Questions to be addressed include: the development of the modern concept of "religion" and its effect on the Jews; the origin of the notion of "Judaism" parallel to Christianity, Islam, etc.; the rise of Jewish secularism and of secular Jewish ideologies, especially the Jewish Enlightenment movement (Haskalah), modern Jewish nationalism, and Zionism; the rise of Reform, Modern Orthodox, and Conservative Judaisms; Jewish neo-Romanticism and neo-Kantianism, and American Jewish religious thought

HIST UN3645 Jews in Early Modern Europe, 1492-1750. 4.00 points.

A seminar on the historical, political, and cultural developments in the Jewish communities of early-modern Western Europe (1492-1789) with particular emphasis on the transition from medieval to modern patterns. We will study the resettlement of Jews in Western Europe, Jews in the Reformation-era German lands, Italian Jews during the late Renaissance, the rise of Kabbalah, and the beginnings of the quest for civil Emancipation. Field(s): JWS/EME

HIST UN3679 MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES: MIGRATION, POLITICS, AND CULTURE. 4 points.

In Trump’s presidential campaign, perhaps no country loomed as large as Mexico. Trump singled out the United States’ southern neighbor and its people in his speeches, promising to build a wall along the border, to deport millions of Mexicans, and to end the North American Free Trade Agreement. He described Mexicans in racist terms, and he proclaimed his love of the taco bowl to counter charges of discrimination. Today, there is more uncertainty about the future of Mexico-U.S. relations than at any other time in living memory.


It is critical to understand this bilateral relationship not only because it is in flux, but also because these two countries are so deeply connected. Mexican migration to the United States is the most massive flow of immigrants in modern history. No country has more consulates in another country than Mexico has in the United States. Trade between these countries is crucial for both economies. The people of these two nations constantly share and adapt each other’s cuisine, music, language, and holidays. But despite proximity and interconnection, tension and violence are also near-constant features of interactions between the two countries. How has this peculiarly close, unequal, and ambivalent relationship between Mexico and the United States in the past two hundred years? By the end of this course, you will be able to offer some answers to this thorny question.


The course is divided into 4 units, spanning from nineteenth century to the present day, although the bulk of the course focuses on the twentieth century. We will cover periods of great tension between the countries, such as the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), but we will also examine moments when friendlier relations prevailed. We will look at Mexican migration over the past 150 years. We will also note the intensity of cultural exchanges between the countries, particularly during the twentieth century, that have spanned from fine arts to fast food. Finally, we will talk about the economic ties that have long linked Mexico and the United States, including the 1994 signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

HIST UN3687 LAT AMER RIGHT IN THE COLD WAR. 4 points.

The historical literature on the nature of international fascism and the transition of fascist ideologies into the Cold War era has been expanding rapidly in recent years, spanning over multiple intellectual debates...


This course sets out to provide the analytic tools for debating the rise of Latin America's post-fascism during the 1960s and 1970s....

HIST UN3702 Russia’s Silver Age, 1890-1920. 4.00 points.

The end of a century and the beginning of a new one can be a moment of self-consciousness, when people pause in their usual activities to reflect on the direction of their civilization and to wonder what the future might hold. Usually, the 1917 Revolution dominates our consciousness of the first decades of the 20th century in Russia. This course offers a chance to take an in-depth look at a different aspect of Russian life: the turbulent world of ideas and culture, in many ways shared with other European capitals, that we have come to know as the Silver Age. One of the great novels of the age, Andrei Bely’s Petersburg (1913), will be our window into the artistic currents, philosophical discussions, apocalyptic moods and revolutionary stirrings of turn-of-the-century Russia. Since the creators of the Silver Age thought of themselves as drawing on the whole of Russian and world culture for inspiration, I also hope that our focus on these 30 years will propel us both backwards and forwards in time so we can discuss broad themes of Russian history and culture

HIST UN3712 African Climate and History. 4.00 points.

This course examines how Africa’s climate has changed in the past and with what consequences for the people living on the continent. It looks at the scope, duration and intensity of past climate events and their impacts, while using these historical climate events to teach fundamental climate concepts. Central to the course is the human experience of these events and the diversity of their responses. The major question underpinning this course is, therefore, how have people responded to past climate events, whether short-term, decadal or longer in scope? This question is predicated on the complexity of human society and moves away from the binary of collapse vs. resilience that dominates much thinking about the impact of climate changes on past societies. This framing recognizes the significance of climate for food production and collection, as well as trade and cosmologies. It does not take climate to be the determining factor in history. Rather it foregrounds the myriad ways people acted in the face of, for example, multi-decadal below average rainfall or long periods of more reliable precipitation

HIST UN3726 The Crucible of Nations: Race, Migration, and the Modern Mediterranean. 4.00 points.

This course is an historical introduction to the study of race and migration in the modern Mediterranean with a particular focus on histories from Africa and the Middle East. We will explore the fundamental migration events that have shaped Mediterranean history, including global settler movements, enslavement and forced migration, partitions and population transfers, and contemporary refugee crises. Building on Mediterranean history, we will discuss how race and migration shaped successive border regimes and competing world orders from 19th century to the present. Analyzing a diverse array of primary sources from legal texts, government reports, and maps to film, poetry, and visual arts, we will pursue answers to questions such as: What are the legal, social, and political structures which govern international migration? What laws, ideas, and affects construct political borders? What happens to those who breach them? How do the legacies of racial slavery, settler colonialism, and ethno-nationalism unsettle the borders of contemporary Mediterranean?

Spring 2024: HIST UN3726
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3726 001/15034 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
401 Hamilton Hall
Hatice Polat 4.00 12/15

HIST UN3728 Gender and Sexuality in Modern African History. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores the history of gender, sexuality and family in African contexts in the 19th to 21st century. It probes the ways gender and sexuality have shaped and been shaped by historical processes, by unpacking the concepts of “gender” and “sexuality” and their relevance to African contexts. The course first investigates these changes by looking at gender and sexuality in African states of the early 19th century. It then analyzes the ways that colonial conquest and consolidation of colonial rule affected gender norms. Finally, it examines the debates about gender and sexuality in the postcolonial period and their legacies in the present. This seminar raises key questions about the transformation of gender roles and sexualities through the slave trade, colonial conquest and decolonization

Fall 2023: HIST UN3728
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3728 001/15976 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Thomas Zuber 4.00 7/15

HIST UN3739 THE "ISLAMIC" CITY. 4.00 points.

The seminar will examine several “Islamic” cities in depth, focusing on critical moments in their histories. The students will acquire a solid knowledge of these centers. They will study their dynamic and complex histories in an episodic manner, deconstructing their images frozen in a particular moment. We will begin by recent critical theories on the “Islamic” city, the latter concept developed as a rigid formula during the colonial era and reiterated since. As we resituate our case studies in their shifting historic contexts, we will gain insights into the complexity of their formations. More specifically, for example, Damascus will not be constrained to its canonical early medieval period, but will be investigated with reference to its Greco-Roman history, the Ottoman interventions in the pre-modern period, the nineteenth-century reforms, and the French planning experiments under the Mandate. Istanbul will not be limited to its sixteenth-century glamor, but will be scrutinized in terms of its turbulent passage from Byzantine to Ottoman rule, and as a pioneering experiment in nineteenth-century modernization reforms. Situating urban forms, “the tangible substance, the stuff” of cities at the center of our discussions, we will look into the political, social, cultural, and economic factors that framed their development, as well as the subsequent effects the cities made on these realms. The interdisciplinary approach will capitalize on the rich literature in the field and engage in analyses using textual and visual materials in complementary ways. The students will learn how to triangulate their discussions by using arguments and data (including visual documents) from different academic fields. The weekly meetings will include presentations by the instructor and the students, followed by class discussions

HIST UN3741 American Commercial and Business Interests in Turkey Until the 1960s. 4.00 points.

This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the American commercial and business interests in the Ottoman Empire and its successor, Turkey, from the beginning of the relations in the early 19th century until the 1960s. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students will also examine the diplomatic, economic, and cultural factors that shaped the relationship between the United States and Turkey during this period. In addition to the state-level relations, personal accounts of the Americans settled in Turkey will be highly consulted. The course begins by delving into the historical context of American-Ottoman relations, highlighting key events and developments that generally influenced commercial and business interactions. Students will gain insights into the diplomatic efforts, trade agreements, private initiatives, and cultural exchanges that fostered economic ties between the two countries in changing periods. Throughout the course, students will critically analyze primary and secondary sources, engage in discussions, and prepare a research paper to deepen their understanding of the topic

Spring 2024: HIST UN3741
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3741 001/14732 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
601b Fairchild Life Sciences Bldg
Murat Iplikci 4.00 4/15

HIST UN3744 The Decline of Britain. 4 points.

This course examines the debate over Britain’s decline in the twentieth century. When Britain lost its manufacturing power, its imperial holdings, and its Anglo-Christian values, who cared, what or who did they blame, and how did these shifts affect Britain’s place in Europe and the world? We will explore how the narrative of decline became a catch-all term to describe issues as various as industrial discontent, postcolonial politics, and the permissive society. There are no prerequisites for this course, but basic knowledge and/or interest in modern British and European history would be advantageous.

HIST UN3753 ISTANBUL:PLACES,PEOPLE,EVERYDAY LIFE. 4.00 points.

The Seminar will open several perspectives into the Ottoman capital Istanbul, following a cross-disciplinary approach. The premise is that Istanbul’s multi-layered, socially complicated, and culturally rich historic fabric can be understood well in focused episodes. Selected episodes will hence constitute the weekly discussion topics. Ranging from the representation of the city in artistic productions to the construction of the skyline, the impact of modernizing reforms on urban forms, everyday life in public and private spaces, and the decisive role played by new educational and cultural institutions, these fragments will complement each other, coalescing into a complex overall picture. While the chronological frame is defined by the long nineteenth century, critical earlier phases will be covered as well and parallels will be drawn to present-day. The nineteenth century marks a dynamic and radical era of urban transformations, intertwined with key political, economic, social, and cultural turns that redefined the Ottoman Empire in many ways. It also corresponds to an intense period of international communication and transaction, resulting in a “connected world of empires.” Istanbul served as a major stage for these developments. 

HIST UN3756 Political Animals: Humans, Animals and Nature in Modern European History. 4 points.

This course is a discussion-base seminar set to explore human-animal relations in Modern European History, from the French revolution to the present. It seeks to provide students with methodologies to reflect on history of the politics and environment: how might we study "the state" and modern politics in general as frameworks that organize not only the relationships between humans, but also the relationship between the human and non-human world? What can we learn about politics, modernity and historical shifts if we do not ignore the non-human factors that shape history? The course incorporates historical scholarship and primary sources, and introduces students to pivotal political moments in European history from the perspective of human-animal relations and environmental history. Students are evaluated on their participation in seminar, one short essay and a final research project on a topic of their choosing. No prerequisites.

HIST UN3766 African Futures. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

The premise of the course is that Africa's collective past - that which has emerged since the ending of the Atlantic slave trade - might usefully be thought of as a sequence of futures that were imperfectly realized.  Those "futures past" represent once-fixed points on the temporal horizon, points toward which African political leaders and intellectuals sought to move, or towards which they were compelled by the external actors who have historically played an outsized role in the continent's affairs.

HIST UN3767 African Migration Since 1900. 4 points.

Recent representations of African migration have focused on refugees and “third world” migrants coming to the “first world.” This course argues that more recent manifestation of migration to, from, and within Africa draw from previous forms and networks of mobility. The First half of the course focuses on forms of pre-colonial, colonial, and imperial migration, considering the Atlantic and Indian Ocean networks before 1800 as well as the relationship between the colonial economy, labor, and migration up to independence in the 1960s. In its second half, we will focus on the history of African migration since independence, and in particular the history of African communities in the United States. Assigned readings emphasize approaching African migration from the perspective of Africans themselves, using life histories and first-hand accounts to chart the paths African migrants have taken over the past century. In doing so, it emphasizes internal African migration and its connection to global forms of migration, as well as the social and cultural effects of mobility and diaspora. Students will be evaluated by series of written and oral assignments, culminating in a research project on African migrants living in the United States.

HIST UN3768 Narrating Contemporary African History. 4 points.

An exploration of the historiography of contemporary Africa, this course asks what African history is, how it is (or is not) distinct from other fields of history, why it is written, and what is at stake in its production. Answers to these questions will lead us to a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of history itself, as well as to a broader knowledge of Africa’s recent past. We will read the work of African novelists, historians, and public intellectuals.

HIST UN3769 HEALTH & HEALING IN AFRICA. 4.00 points.

This course charts the history of health and healing from, as far as is possible, a perspective interior to Africa. It explores changing practices and understandings of disease, etiology, healing and well-being from pre-colonial times through into the post-colonial. A major theme running throughout the course is the relationship between medicine, the body, power and social groups. This is balanced by an examination of the creative ways in which Africans have struggled to compose healthy communities, albeit with varied success, whether in the fifteenth century or the twenty-first. 

HIST UN3779 AFRICA AND FRANCE. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course endeavors to understand the development of the peculiar and historically conflictual relationship that exists between France, the nation-states that are its former African colonies, and other contemporary African states. It covers the period from the 19th century colonial expansion through the current ‘memory wars’ in French politics and debates over migration and colonial history in Africa. Historical episodes include French participation in and eventual withdrawal from the Atlantic Slave Trade, emancipation in the French possessions, colonial conquest, African participation in the world wars, the wars of decolonization, and French-African relations in the contexts of immigration and the construction of the European Union. Readings will be drawn extensively from primary accounts by African and French intellectuals, dissidents, and colonial administrators. However, the course offers neither a collective biography of the compelling intellectuals who have emerged from this relationship nor a survey of French-African literary or cultural production nor a course in international relations. Indeed, the course avoids the common emphasis in francophone studies on literary production and the experiences of elites and the common focus of international relations on states and bureaucrats. The focus throughout the course is on the historical development of fields of political possibility and the emphasis is on sub-Saharan Africa. Group(s): B, C Field(s): AFR, MEU

HIST UN3789 HISTORIES OF POVERTY IN AFRICA. 4.00 points.

In this course we will explore in a critical manner the concept of poverty in Africa. The emphasis is on historicizing categories such as poverty and wealth, debt and charity and on the ways in which people in Africa have understood such categories. As such the course takes a longue durée approach spanning over a millennium of history, ending with contemporary understandings of poverty. 

HIST UN3796 Global Health in Africa. 4 points.

This course will examine changing ideas of health and disease in Africa as a subject of transnational concern, debate, and cause for action in the 20th century.  We will study how global health campaigns and institutions translated in specific African contexts and simultaneously how experiences of disease and medicine in African contexts shaped global concerns.  This course will take both a chronological and thematic approach, providing students with an overview of changing social, political and economic conditions that have impacted understandings of disease burden and health interventions in Africa over time. Topics of study will include colonial medical campaigns, disease eradication programs, international medical research, and postcolonial health systems.  We will use specific regional and national examples, while also connecting these examples to broader developments in African history.  At the same time, students in this course will interrogate how ‘Africa’ has functioned as a category within global health.  The final weeks of the course will consider contemporary health issues in Africa and ask how historical perspectives can inform our analysis.

HIST UN3798 Fighting Inequality: Struggles for Economic Justice in the Global South. 4.00 points.

This seminar explores the history of economic justice in the “Global South,” with a particular focus on African movements for anti-colonialism and economic redistribution. It interrogates the concept of the “Global South” and analyzes the ways activists, political figures and thinkers fought for economic justice. The class starts with a focus on economic theories of redistribution. It then analyzes how slavery and emancipation, as well as capitalism and colonialism shaped 19th century hierarchies and struggles for economic and political rights. The second half of the course focuses on colonial exploitation and anticolonial struggles for economic sovereignty in the 20th century. The course ends with a study of postcolonial and early 21st century movements for economic sovereignty and demands for reparations and redistribution

Spring 2024: HIST UN3798
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3798 001/14738 W 2:10pm - 4:00pm
602 Northwest Corner
Thomas Zuber 4.00 16/16

HIST UN3803 THE MUGHAL MEMOIRS. 4.00 points.

The early sixteenth century rise of the Mughal authority in North India coincided with the arrival of the Portuguese in South India, the emergence of Safavid empire, and the dominance of the Ottoman empire. Within the first hundred years, even more claimants to imperial power in India – the British, the French, the Rajput, the Maratha – were engaged in political negotiations, resistance and accommodation with the Mughal. We will follow the course of the development of Mughal political thought, economic and environmental impact and courtly culture through to their official demise in 1857. The first four emperors of Mughal India left various accounts for us. Babur (r. 1525–1530), the founder of the dynasty, wrote an autobiography. Memoirs of the second, Humayun (r. 1530–1556), were written by his sister, and others in his army. The third, Akbar (r. 1556–1605) was the subject of the most amazing regnal history-- written by his minister and aide Abu'l Fazl. His son Jahangir (r. 1605–1627), recorded his daily activities and thoughts in his own journal that was published by him. To best engage with this complex universe, we will use the semantic vocabulary of ‘seeing’. This course will delve into how Mughal emperors saw their world and how they narrated it. This course is almost exclusively focused on primary readings. We will read large portions of the texts written by the Mughal elite. We will read them to examine their treatment of sacral landscape, nature and environment, gender, social networks, power and violence, agency and interiority, performativity, usage of history and memory. This focus on memoir and autobiographical writing would allow us to delve far deeply into the socio-cultural worlds of the Mughal then is possible via a perfunctory reading of secondary sources

Fall 2023: HIST UN3803
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3803 001/13847 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
509 Hamilton Hall
Manan Ahmed 4.00 4/15

HIST UN3807 Walking In and Out of the Archive. 4 points.

The seminar seeks to engage with a set of methodological concerns about the practices and probabilities of archives and history writing. It does so via close readings of key historical texts which engage and rearrange the documentary furniture of the archives, from both within and without. The concerns can be broadly articulated as: How statist is the mainstream archives, and how have historians attempted to mine and undermine it? With what apertures and techniques and disciplinary practices to capture the lives and deaths of those who produce goods and services, not documents? What is meant by ‘Historical Fieldwork’, and what are some of the ways in which historians have practiced it, whether writing about well-archived events, or the longue duree of a single village. What transpires when oral tales are written up from within the same cultural milieu as literary stories? What are the peculiarities of Oral History? And what have some of the best Oral Historians been able to accomplish? These questions will guide us through a set of important historiographic works, writings on archives, community histories. The students will develop a close appreciation of the challenges of doing and thinking historically from the margins and listening to the small voices in history.

HIST UN3812 AMERICA IN VIETNAM 1945-1975. 4.00 points.

HIST UN3814 The Modern History of the Brain. 4 points.

The Modern History of the Brain explores the intellectual, cultural, and scientific history of the brain, focusing on the sciences of the brain in Europe and the United States in the past two centuries. We will examine how the brain has been studied and represented, how conceptions of the brain have interacted with ideas about the self and the soul, and how disciplines in the brain and mind sciences have merged and developed. This course will be relevant to students interested in modern American and European history, the history of science, and students interested in psychology and the neurosciences. No preliminary knowledge or coursework is required.

HIST UN3815 Populism in Contemporary Latin America. 4 points.

Within the context of the current social crisis in Nicolas Maduro’s Venezuela, and


the rise to power of far-right “populist” leaders such as Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, the


debate over the meaning of Latin America’s unique populist legacy has become ever


more intricate. This seminar explores the history, identity, and ideologies of Latin


America’s populist movements. Moving in chronological order, we will read an


assortment of historical analyses and primary sources to illuminate several different


aspects of this endemic political phenomenon. We will ask: What is populism and


what are its ideological origins and style? What are the populists’ economic,


political, and social goals? Do Latin America’s populists share the same world views,


and can they even be encapsulated within this one category? Should they be


considered rightists or leftists? Have they ever resorted to political violence, and if


so why?

HIST UN3838 SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR. 4.00 points.

A year-long course for outstanding senior majors who want to conduct research in primary sources on a topic of their choice in any aspect of history, and to write a senior thesis possibly leading toward departmental honors

Fall 2023: HIST UN3838
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3838 001/10359 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
511 Hamilton Hall
Samuel Coggeshall 4.00 8/11
HIST 3838 002/10360 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Paul Chamberlin 4.00 12/12
HIST 3838 003/10361 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Susan Pedersen 4.00 11/11
HIST 3838 004/10362 W 4:10pm - 6:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Malgorzata Mazurek 4.00 12/12

HIST UN3839 SENIOR THESIS SEMINAR. 4.00 points.

A year-long course for outstanding senior majors who want to conduct research in primary sources on a topic of their choice in any aspect of history, and to write a senior thesis possibly leading toward departmental honors. Field(s): ALL

Spring 2024: HIST UN3839
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3839 001/11569 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
327 Uris Hall
Samuel Coggeshall 4.00 8/8
HIST 3839 002/11570 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
609 Hamilton Hall
Paul Chamberlin 4.00 12/12
HIST 3839 003/11571 T 10:10am - 12:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Susan Pedersen 4.00 9/11
HIST 3839 004/11572 W 4:10pm - 6:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Malgorzata Mazurek 4.00 10/12

HIST UN3840 INDEP SEN THESIS HISTORY I. 2.00-4.00 points.

Instructor to be arranged by the student. A sophisticated research paper, of at least 25 to 30 pages, is written under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and then defended at a formal oral examination before the sponsor and a second faculty member. A research plan must be prepared prior to the term in which the course is taken and must be approved by both the sponsor and the director of undergraduate studies

Fall 2023: HIST UN3840
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3840 001/21103  
Neslihan Senocak 2.00-4.00 1/1

HIST UN3841 INDEP SEN THESIS IN HISTORY II. 2.00-4.00 points.

Instructor to be arranged by the student. A sophisticated research paper, of at least 25 to 30 pages, is written under the supervision of a faculty sponsor and then defended at a formal oral examination before the sponsor and a second faculty member. A research plan must be prepared prior to the term in which the course is taken and must be approved by both the sponsor and the director of undergraduate studies

Spring 2024: HIST UN3841
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3841 001/17095  
Neslihan Senocak 2.00-4.00 1/1

HIST UN3860 THE VIETNAM WAR & VIETNAM ERA. 3.00 points.

HIST UN3866 WARS OF INDOCHINA. 4.00 points.

Saigon and Hanoi served as competing capitals of the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in the south and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) in the north (1954-1975). They were symbols of warring states, one home to a fledgling republic, the other the seat of communist power. Since the late 19th century, they have also been sites of Vietnam’s most dramatic transformations. As such, they occupy an important place in the historiography of modern Vietnam, not least in ongoing debates over the Indochina wars, Vietnamese nationalism, and regional difference. This course examines Saigon and Hanoi as social, political, and cultural spaces, and as representations of their respective states during the war. We first consider the significance of regionalism in fashioning “new ways of being Vietnamese” and examine how colonial rule reinforced those distinctions. We devote the rest of the semester to reading an array of works on the history of these cities. For the colonial period, we examine colonial urbanism, the lives of the poor, intellectuals and their ideas, as well as currents of political agitation and cultural iconoclasm. For the post-World War II period, we will focus on the distinct political cultures that took shape in the RVN and DRV. Finally, we end by looking at Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) and Hanoi in the post-war era, particularly after the Socialist Republic of Vietnam instituted sweeping economic reforms in the 1980s. Each week, we will discuss works social, cultural, and political history of Saigon and Hanoi, all the while keeping in mind their divergent trajectories in the three decades following World War II

Fall 2023: HIST UN3866
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3866 001/19050 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
Bwy Alfred Lerner Hall
Lien-Hang Nguyen 4.00 6/15
Spring 2024: HIST UN3866
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3866 001/11498 W 10:10am - 12:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Lien-Hang Nguyen 4.00 14/15

HIST UN3868 The Politics of Ethnicity and Religion in Modern China. 3.00 points.

In this seminar we will examine the politics of ethnicity religion in China from the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) through the present. Our readings and discussions will touch on important themes in world history including empire and colonialism, borderlands and state-building, nationalism and representation, law and constitutional politics, and religion and ritual; as well as major topics in China studies including the legacy of the Qing dynasty, the history of the Chinese state in Inner and Southeast Asia, and the religious and ethnic policies of the Chinese Communist Party. This is not a survey of minority cultures and communities. Rather, it is a critical exploration of the maintenance and management of cultural difference within a society that is often construed as homogenous

HIST UN3897 From Mussolini to Bolsonaro: The Latin American Right in a Transnational Perspective. 4 points.

Against the backdrop of the rise to power of far-right leaders such as Iván Duque


Márquez in Colombia, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, this seminar explores the history,


self-identity, and ideologies of the contemporary Latin American Right. Moving in


chronological order, in this course, we will read an assortment of historical analyses,


ethnographic research, and classic philosophic texts to illuminate several different


aspects of this transnational phenomenon. We will ask: Can the Latin American


Right be defined as a unified entity? Does it transcend social boundaries or is it


fundamentally a privileged elite group? What are the Right’s economic and social


goals, and at what points has it resorted to political violence? And could Latin


America’s right-wing politics be read as a mere reaction to the Left-wing


revolutionary platform?

HIST UN3911 Medicine and Western Civilization. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors, but other majors are welcome.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar seeks to analyze the ways by which medicine and culture combine to shape our values and traditions. To this end, it will examine notable literary, medical, and social texts from classical antiquity to the present.

HIST UN3914 THE FUTURE AS HISTORY. 4.00 points.

This course explores how people have thought about their future and tried to change it. It examines the philosophical aspects of studying history and the future, and how they are related. It begins with the origins of future thinking in eschatology and millenarian movements, the enlightenment challenge to revelation and religious authority, and utopias and dystopias. Classic texts and scholarly studies will illuminate modern approaches to shaping the future, such as socialism, imperialism, risk analysis, and “modernization” theory, and areas where they have had a particular impact, including urban planning and eugenics

HIST UN3928 SLAVERY/ABOLITION-ATLANTC WRLD. 4.00 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
This seminar investigates the experiences of slavery and freedom among African-descended people living and laboring in the various parts of the Atlantic World. The course will trace critical aspects of these two major, interconnected historical phenomena with an eye to how specific cases either manifested or troubled broader trends across various slaveholding societies. The first half of the course addresses the history of slavery and the second half pertains to experiences in emancipation. However, since the abolition of slavery occurs at different moments in various areas of the Atlantic World, the course will adhere to a more thematic and less chronological structure, in its examination of the multiple avenues to freedom available in various regions. Weekly units will approach major themes relevant to both slavery and emancipation, such as racial epistemologies among slaveowners/employers, labor regimes in slave and free societies, cultural innovations among slave and freed communities, gendered discourses and sexual relations within slave and free communities, and slaves’ and free people’s resistance to domination. The goal of this course is to broaden students’ comprehension of the history of slavery and freedom, and to promote an understanding of the transition from slavery to freedom in the Americas as creating both continuities and ruptures in the structure and practices of the various societies concerned

Fall 2023: HIST UN3928
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3928 001/10420 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Natasha Lightfoot 4.00 6/14

HIST UN3930 The Eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age. 4 points.

This course presents a comparative study of the histories of Egypt, the Near East, Anatolia and the Aegean world in the period from c. 1500-1100 BC, when several of the states provide a rich set of textual and archaeological data. It will focus on the region as a system with numerous participants whose histories will be studied in an international context. The course is a seminar: students are asked to investigate a topic (e.g., diplomacy, kingship, aspects of the economy, etc.) in several of the states involved and present their research in class and as a paper.

Fall 2023: HIST UN3930
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3930 001/10357 Th 4:10pm - 6:00pm
302 Fayerweather
Marc Van De Mieroop 4 10/14

HIST UN3931 The Golden Age of Athens. 4 points.

The 5th century BCE, beginning with the Persian Wars, when the Athenians fought off the might of the Persian Empire, and ending with the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War in 404, is generally considered the "Golden Age" of ancient Athens. This is the century when Athenian drama, both tragedy and comedy, throve; when the Greeks began to develop philosophy at Athens, centered around the so-called "Sophistic movement" and Sokrates; when classical Greek art and architecture approached perfection in the monuments and sculptures of the great Athenian building programs on and around the Akropolis. This seminar will cover the political, military, economic, social, and cultural history of Athens' "Golden Age". Much of the course reading will be drawn from the ancient Athenian writing themselves, in translation. Everyone will be required to read enough to participate in weekly discussions; and all students will prepare two oral reports on topics to be determined. The course grade will be based on a ca. 20-25 page research paper to be written on an agreed upon topic. Group(s): A Field(s): *ANC

HIST UN3938 Americans and the Natural World, 1800 to the Present. 4 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar deals with how Americans have treated and understood the natural world, connected or failed to connect to it, since 1800. It focuses on changing context over time, from the agrarian period to industrialization, followed by the rise of the suburban and hyper-technological landscape. We will trace the shift from natural history to evolutionary biology, give special attention to the American interest in entomology, ornithology, and botany, examine the quest to save pristine spaces, and read from the works of Buffon, Humboldt, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Darwin, Aldo Leopold, Nabokov, among others. Perspectives on naming, classifying, ordering, and most especially, collecting, will come under scrutiny.  Throughout the semester we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the environmentalist movement, confront those who thought they could defy nature, transcend it, and even live without it. Field(s): US

HIST UN3942 Constitutions and Democracy in the Middle East. 4 points.

Prerequisites: application requirements: SEE UNDERGRAD SEMINAR SECTION OF DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

Where the establishment of sustainable democracies is concerned, the Middle East has perhaps the poorest record of all regions of the world since World War II. This is in spite of the fact that two of the first constitutions in the non-Western world were established in this region, in the Ottoman Empire in 1876 and in Iran in 1906. Notwithstanding these and other subsequent democratic and constitutional experiments, Middle Eastern countries have been ruled over the past century by some of the world's last absolute monarchies, as well as a variety of other autocratic, military-dominated and dictatorial regimes. This course, intended primarily for advanced undergraduates, explores this paradox. It will examine the evolution of constitutional thought and practice, and how it was embodied in parliamentary and other democratic systems in the Middle East. It will examine not only the two Ottoman constitutional periods of 1876-78 and 1908-18, and that of Iran from 1905 onwards, but also the various precursors to these experiments, and some of their 20th century sequels in the Arab countries, Turkey and Iran. This will involve detailed study of the actual course of several Middle Eastern countries' democratic experiments, of the obstacles they faced, and of their outcomes. Students are expected to take away a sense of the complexities of the problems faced by would-be Middle Eastern democrats and constitutionalists, and of some of the reasons why the Middle East has appeared to be an exception to a global trend towards democratization in the post-Cold War era.

HIST UN3951 SUPERVISED INDIVIDUAL RSRCH I. 2.00-4.00 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies

HIST UN3952 Supervised Independent Research. 1.00-4.00 points.

For students who want to do independent study of topics not covered by normal departmental offerings. The student must find a faculty sponsor and work out a plan of study; a copy should be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies

HIST UN3953 PUB CULT OF AMER ETHNIC GROUPS. 4 points.

N/A

HIST UN3962 Technology, Work, and Capitalism: A History. 4 points.

In recent years, public conversations about the relationship between technology and work seem to have been conducted with particular fervor: claims of revolutionary ease and freedom sit side-by-side with dystopian visions of exploitation, surveillance, and growing alienation.  Will technological development lead to widespread deskilling or a new "sharing economy"?  Will it enrich the few at the expense of the many or bring general prosperity?  Are Uber, Etsy, and Amazon vanguards of an ideal future or harbingers of doom?

HIST UN3972  THE GHETTO FROM VENICE TO HARLEM. 4 points.

This course is structured to provide each of you with an in-depth look at a modern institution of oppression: the ghetto. The readings examine ghettoization across a wide geographic area. The course runs (fairly) chronologically, beginning with the ghettoization of Jews in Medieval Europe and ending with the ghettoization of African Americans and Latinos in the twentieth century United States, but also exploring the expanding patterns of segregation in the modern urban world.

HIST UN3982 The Quantified State: How Democracy Includes, Excludes, and Governs with Numbers. 4.00 points.

Numbers have become indispensable to how American know themselves and understand their society. Further, statistical reasoning plays an essential role in the government’s operations. Why have numbers come to play such an important role in modern America? How has numerical data and calculation enabled us to analyze, order, and control the world around us? The course offers a survey of quantification across various domains from politics to governance, crime, education, and economic development. Students will learn how to think critically about the power of quantitative arguments and the ways they are marshalled in specific contexts

Fall 2023: HIST UN3982
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HIST 3982 001/10402 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
317 Hamilton Hall
Alma Steingart 4.00 8/15

HIST UN3997 SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT RSEARCH. 4.00 points.

HIST UN3998 SUPERVISED INDEPENDENT RSRCH. 1.00-4.00 points.

Independent Study Independent study and research provides an opportunity for students to work one-on-one with a faculty member through directed reading or supervised research. Normally independent study is reserved for students at an advanced level within their majors. Students should consult with their respective major or departmental advisors about requirements and limits for independent study, which vary from department to department. Students are advised to approach faculty members about independent study as early as possible, since many instructors limit the number of students they will supervise in a given semester or year. Some departments require that the Director of Undergraduate Studies approve the independent study. As part of the proposal and approval process, students must specify, in consultation with the faculty supervisor, the number of points to be earned for the independent study. Students must designate the number of points to be earned when registering for independent study. Students may count no more than 12 points of independent study toward the degree, and may register for no more than one independent study per term. If a student wishes to undertake an independent study program involving more points than the number permitted, he or she must have the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and the GS Committee on Academic Affairs

HIST W1002 Ancient History of Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of the political and cultural history of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and Iran from prehistory to the disappearance of the cuneiform documentation, with special emphasis on Mesopotamia. Groups(s): A

HIST W1004 Ancient History of Egypt. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

A survey of the history of ancient Egypt from the first appearance of the state to the conquest of the country by Alexander of Macedon, with emphasis of the political history, but also with attention to the cultural, social, and economic developments. Group(s): A Field(s): *ANC

HIST W1054 Introduction to Byzantine History. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course is an introduction to one of the great medieval empires of western Eurasia, the Eastern Roman or ‘Byzantine’ Empire, from the 4th to the 15th century. Lectures will provide (1) an overview of Byzantine political, social, economic, and cultural history; and (2) exposure to the types of primary sources and approaches which historians use to reconstruct that history. Discussion sections will focus on readings in primary sources in order to provide a hands-on understanding of aspects of the material covered in lectures, but also to problematize it. The mid-term and final examinations will test students’ familiarity with and ability to think critically about Byzantine historical sources and history. The two papers will each develop an original thesis about Byzantine history based on a primary source. [Two lectures and one discussion section per week.]

HIST W1061 Introduction to the Early Middle Ages: 250-1050. 3 points.

This course surveys the history of the Mediterranean world and northern Europe from the Late Roman Empire to the eleventh century. We will begin (Part 1) by considering the interconnected Roman world of Late Antiquity, focusing on the changes brought about by Christianity. The second half (Part 2) will trace the emergence of new religious and political communities around the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe. Special attention will be given to the circulation of people, products and ideas across Europe and the Mediterranean and the changes that this brought about.   This course emphasizes the diverse but fragmentary textual and material evidence that survives from the period and the problems of interpreting this evidence. Students will begin acquiring the skills of a historian and learn why and how other historians have studied the period. No previous background in medieval history is required.

HIST W1600 The Jews, from Babylonia to Bloomberg. 3 points.

Discussion Section Required

This undergraduate lecture course will introduce students to the broad sweep of Jewish history, from 600 BCE to the present. The focus will be on politics, society and culture, with particular attention to the interplay and tension between integration and separation, and such metahistorical questions as whether it is valid to posit a continuous Jewish history at all.

HIST W2024 Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic 133-23 BCE. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An investigation of the political, economic and cultural development in Rome that resulted in its political transformation from an oligarchy (the so-called "Republic") to a monarchy (the so-called "Empire"). Field(s): *ANC

HIST W2060 Laws of War in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

The perception and regulation of war and wartime practices in Europe and the Mediterranean World in the period 300-1500, from the standpoint of legal and institutional history rather than of military history. Topics include: the Just War tradition, Holy War and Crusade, the Peace and Truce of God, prisoners and ransom, the law of siege, non-combatants, chivalry, and ambassadors and diplomacy. Readings are principally primary sources in translation.

HIST W2072 Once Upon a Time: Daily Life in Medieval Europe. 4 points.

This course is designed as traveller’s guide to medieval Europe. Its purpose is to provide a window to a long-lost world that provided the foundation of modern institutions and that continues to inspire the modern collective artistic and literary imagination with its own particularities. This course will not be a conventional history course concentrating on the grand narratives in the economic, social and political domains but rather intend to explore the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants, and attempts to have a glimpse of their mindset, their emotional spectrum, their convictions, prejudices, fears and hopes. It will be at once a historical, sociological and anthropological study of one of the most inspiring ages of European civilization. Subjects to be covered will include the birth and childhood, domestic life, sex and marriage, craftsmen and artisans, agricultural work, food and diet, the religious devotion, sickness and its cures, death, after death (purgatory and the apparitions), travelling, merchants and trades, inside the nobles’ castle, the Christian cosmos, and medieval technology. The lectures will be accompanied by maps, images of illuminated manuscripts and of medieval objects. Students will be required to attend a weekly discussion section to discuss the medieval texts bearing on that week’s subject. The written course assignment will be a midterm, final and two short papers, one an analysis of a medieval text and a second an analysis of a modern text on the Middle Ages. 

HIST W2100 Early Modern Europe: Print and Society. 4 points.

Standing at the intersection of the religious, cultural, and scientific upheavals within early modern Europe, the study of print and its intersection with culture allows students to learn how shifts in technology (much like those we are witnessing today) affect every aspect of society. This course will examine the signal cultural, political, and religious developments in early modern Western Europe, using the introduction and dissemination of printed materials as a fulcrum and entry point. From the sixteenth century Europeans were confronted with a technological revolution whose cultural consequences were incalculable and whose closest parallel might be the age of electronic information technology in our own day. From the Reformation of Luther, to the libelles of pre-revolutionary France, from unlocking the mysteries of the human body to those of the heavens, from humanist culture to the arrival of the novel, no important aspect of European culture in the sixteen- through eighteenth centuries can be understood without factoring in the role of print: its technology, its marketing and distribution channels, and its creation of new readers and new "republics." This course will examine key political, religious, and cultural movements in early modern western European history through the prism of print culture.

HIST W2103 Alchemy, Magic & Science. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Astrology, alchemy, and magic were central components of an educated person's view of the world in early modern Europe. How did these activities become marginalized, while a new philosophy (what we would now call empirical science) came to dominate the discourse of rationality? Through primary and secondary readings, this course examines these "occult" disciplines in relation to the rise of modern science. Group(s): A Field(s): *EME

HIST W2112 The Scientific Revolution in Western Europe: 1500-1750. 4 points.

Introduction to the cultural, social, and intellectual history of the upheavals of astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, alchemy from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Field(s): EME

HIST W2160 Empires and Cultures of the Atlantic World. 3 points.

This course follows interconnected historical developments in Western Europe, the Americas, and West Africa from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth century. It highlights both the comparative, structural evolutions of European colonial empires and the cultural experiences and perspectives of Atlantic World inhabitants, including soldiers, merchants, slaves, missionaries, and revolutionaries.

HIST W2190 England and the Wider World. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course traces the history of English overseas expansion, and its consequences for the history of the British Isles, from early Atlantic exploration in the sixteenth century through the era of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Themes include the relationship between empire and state formation, the place of international rivalry in the formation of imperial ambitions, the character and dimensions of transoceanic trading networks, and the place of empire in the construction of British national identity. Group(s): B Field(s): EME

HIST W2200 Mass Violence in the Borderlands, 1914-1991. 3 points.

During the twentieth century, Eastern European borderland populations were devastated by episodes of mass violence during wars, revolutions, and even peacetime. The course focuses on this violence in four phases: the First World War and revolutions; the inter-war period; the Second World War; and the post-war period. Some of these episodes include pogroms, the Famine, deportations, terrorism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. After the First World War, as imperial empires dissolved and new nation-states emerged, a conflagration of violence swept through the borderlands causing further instability and civil war. While some of these interwar states provided a modicum of stability, the growth of nationalism, as well as support for fascism and communism, brought new volatility to the region. The most dramatic and violent changes during the inter-war period and Second World War were a result of Nazi and Soviet projects, both of which sought to engineer these borderland societies socially as well as economically to fit their respective visions. This course examines not only how states carried out mass violence against various populations in this explosive region, but also how local movements and Eastern European civilians contributed to these events or participated in violence on their own accord.

HIST W2201 Culture and Society in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, 1867-1918. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course offers a critical examination of the history of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, once one of Europe's largest military powers which disappeared from the map after World War I. A restructured version of the Habsburg Empire, the Monarchy was a lasting, authoritarian framework of Central European ethnic groups which, however, gave rise to modernism in the field of arts and sciences.The juxtaposition of authority and modernity provides the focus of this survey which includes the study of the Monarchy as the birthplace of both Zionism and modern anti-Semitism. Nurturing a pioneering culture and a pre-modern society, Austria-Hungary is an exciting case of pioneering spirit and decadence, experimentation and dissolution, novelty and decay. The "disintegration of Austrian political culture" is particularly relevant today when presented as the "seedtime for fascism" (George V. Strong). Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W2220 Imperial Russia, 1682-1918. 3 points.

A survey of Russian political, social, and intellectual developments from Peter the Great through the Revolution of 1917. Group(s): B

HIST W2231 Russia and the Soviet Union in the 20th Century. 3 points.

The course offers an introduction into the history of Russia and the Sovient Union in the twentieth century. It combines lectures and discussion sections as well as survey texts and a selection of sources, including documents generated by state/party bodies, various documents produced by individual authors (especially diaries, letters, and memoirs), and some film materials. Putting the Soviet phenomenon into its wider intellectual, cultural, and geographical contexts, we will also address questions of modernity and modernization, socialism and communism, and authoritarian practices in politics, culture, and society.   Field(s): MEU

HIST W2246 Patterns of Soviet/Russian Interventions in Eastern Europe, 1939-2015. 3 points.

Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

The lecture course by Csaba BÉKÉS, a leading scholar on the Cold War, will analyze the patterns of Soviet interventions from the invasion of Poland at the onset of the Second World War and the Winter War against Finland up to the recent military conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008 as well as the present crisis in Ukraine. The evolution of Soviet crisis management and conflict resolution will be analyzed by presenting the numerous internal crises of the Soviet Bloc: the uprising in East Germany in 1953, the Polish October in 1956, the 1956 Hungarian revolution, the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Solidarity crisis in Poland in 1980-81 as well as the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Bloc and the end of the Cold War.

HIST W2267 The Politics of Hatred and Fear: Key Issues in the History of Eastern Central Europe 1878-1956. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course gives a short survey of the major turning points in the political, social and intellectual history of Eastern and Central Europe, focusing on the political manifestations of powerful hatreds and fears. The main question to be addressed is the origins and regional peculiarities of authoritarian political regimes and ideologies: fascism and communism. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W2302 The European Catastrophe, 1914-1945. 3 points.

The history of Europe's second Thirty Years War marked by economic crises, political turmoil, totalitarian ideologies, massive population transfers, and genocide; but also by extraordinary economic, scientific, and cultural developments. Group(s): B Field(s): MWE

HIST W2304 Modern Germany, 1900-2000. 3 points.

The development of Germany has influenced the history of Europe and, indeed, the world in the 20th century in major and dramatic ways. Most historians agree that the country and its leaders played a crucial role in the outbreak of two world wars which cost at least 70 million lives. Germany experienced a revolution in 1918, hyperinflation in 1923, the Great Depression after 1929, and the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Between 1939 and 1945 there followed the brutal conquest of most of its neighbors and the Holocaust. Subsequently, the country became divided into two halves in which emerged a communist dictotorship, on the one hand, and a Western-style parliamentary-representative system, on the other. The division ended in 1989 with the collapse of the Honecker regime and the unification of East and West Germany. No doubt, Germany's history is confused and confusing and has therefore generated plenty of debate among historians. This course offers a comprehensive survey of the country's development from around 1900 to 2000. It is not just concerned with political events and military campaigns, but will also examine in considerable detail German society and its structures, relations between women and men, trends in both high and popular culture, and the ups and downs of an industrial economy in its global setting. The weekly lectures and section discussions are designed to introduce you to the country's conflicted history and to the controversies it unleashed in international scholarship. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W2307 Italy in the Wider World. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Studies the swings between global and local in this particularly elastic European nation-state. Lectures, discussion, reading, and media highlight the Italian peninsula's changing situation depending on the global economy. The course starts with a look back to the legacy of maritime city states, why the Italians didn't discover America, and the "dark centuries" as trade moved from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. But the main focus are 19th and 20th century topics including the Italian emigrant diaspora, fascist imperialism, post-colonialism in Africa, living with the Papacy, the Third Italy, Italy in the European Union, the Mafia connection, the new immigrants, the China threat.

HIST W2309 Victorian Worlds: British Society. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The Victorian period (1837-1901) and the nineteenth century in general seem to present a number of paradoxes. Britain came to embrace ideas of free trade and liberty (J.S. Mill was the most famous intellectual of his age), yet ran a coercive empire on a global scale. Britons were suspicious of government intervention in the lives of private citizens, yet British society was in many ways highly conformist. We tend to associate ‘Victorian morality' and Queen Victoria herself with prudishness and restriction, yet Victorians were fascinated by sex, and the birth rate in Britain was higher than it had ever been, before or since. This course will explore the ways in which Victorians lived, thought, worked and played, as well as how their experiences shaped a set of key social, artistic and political movements.

HIST W2312 British History, 1760-1867. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The history of Britain at the height of its global power. Particular attention will be paid to contestations over political power, and to the emergence of liberal economic and political institutions and ideas. Field(s):MWE

HIST W2314 Modern France and its Empire: 1789-present. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This lecture course surveys the main currents of French history from the Revolution to the present, with particular attention to the interaction between continental France and the rest of the empire. Throughout this course, the main questions will be: to what extent has the French Revolution served as point of political and cultural reference throughout the 19th and 20th centuries? Who is a citizen? And how has the response to this question been impacted by imperial developments? What is French Republicanism? And how to understand it in the imperial context? What have been the relations between political, social, economic and cultural developments? How have continental conflicts and World Wars impacted French history? How have the post WWII interrelated processes of decolonization, immigration and building of Europe deeply impacted contemporary France? We will tackle these questions by reading primary sources: works of political philosophy; literature; film; legal documents; and memoirs from the time, and by watching films.

HIST W2315 Reformation Europe in Global Perspective. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course follows developments in Christian communities and cultures across Europe and the globe in the era of the Protestant, Catholic, and Radical Reformations (c. 1500-1700). It covers the rise of Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptist communities, Catholic reform efforts, and events such as the Wars of Religion alongside diverse Western Christian interactions with religious and cultural "others" within and beyond Europe.

HIST W2323 Nineteenth-Century Britain. 4 points.

This course surveys the main political, economic, cultural, and social currents in nineteenth- century Great Britain, beginning in the 1780s and ending in 1900. The course will provide insight into Britain at both the domestic and international level. Topics include, but are not limited to: class, war and conflict, gender, religion, industrialization, political reform, economic change, liberalism, Victorian culture and ideologies, and the expansion of empire.

HIST W2330 Europe: from the Nazi New Order to the European Union. 4 points.

The history of Europe in the wider world from the Allies' victorious war against the Nazi New Order to the triumph of the European Union after the collapse of Soviet Empire. Lectures bring Eastern and Western Europe into one focus, to study the impact of the Cold War, the exit from colonial empire, Europe's "Economic Miracle, the sexual revolution, Europe's slowdown after the 1970s Oil Shock, Euro-Reaganism, and the impact of globalization from the 1990s to the 2008 crisis.  

HIST W2333 British Empire. 4 points.

This course surveys the history of the British Empire from its early modern origins to decolonization in the twentieth century, with particular emphasis on the "long nineteenth century"-the heyday of British imperial ideology and colonial expansion. The geographical reach of the course, like the empire itself, is broad, covering parts of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, South Asia and Australasia. While the course will often emphasize the ideological and material motivations for expansion, conquest, and colonization, close attention will be paid to the experience of, and resistance to, the Empire as well, on the part of both settler colonists and indigenous peoples throughout the "new worlds.

HIST W2353 Early Modern France. 3 points.

This course will offer a survey of French history from the Wars of Religion to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789. This formative period witnessed the rise of the Bourbon monarchy, the crystallization of absolutism as a political theology, the spectacular rise and collapse of John Law's financial system, the emergence of the philosophe movement during the Enlightenment, and the gradual de-legitimation of royal power through its association with despotism. Thematically, the course will focus on shifting logics of representation-that is, the means by which political, economic and religious power was not only reflected, but also generated and projected, through a range of interrelated practices that include Catholic liturgy, courtly protocols, aristocratic codes of honor, fiscal experimentation, and the critical styles of thinking and reading inculcated by the nascent public sphere.

HIST W2360 British History From 1867: Between Democracy and Empire. 3 points.

This course surveys the main currents of British history from 1867 to the present, with particular attention to the changing place of Britain in the world and the changing shape of politics. Group(s): B Field(s): MWE

HIST W2377 International and Global History Since WWII. 3 points.

In this course students will explore contemporary international and global history, focusing on how states have cooperated and competed in the Cold War, decolonization, and regional crises. But lectures will also analyze how non-governmental organizations, cross-border migration, new means of communication, and global markets are transforming the international system as a whole. Group(s): B, C, D Field(s): INTL

HIST W2400 The American Presidency from George Washington to Barak Obama. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course looks at the American Presidency in historical perspective. It examines the powers of the office, its place in the American imagination, and the achievements of the most significant presidents. Structured chronologically, it emphasizes the growth and transformation of the office and how it has come to assume its dominant place in the political landscape. Individual presidents are studied to understand not only their own times but also salient issues with which they are associated (Jefferson and Adams with the rise of parties; Andrew Johnson with impeachment; etc.) Intermittent thematic lectures break from the chronological thrust of the course to explore aspects of the presidency in greater depth across time.

HIST W2406 American Beginnings. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of the economic and social history of British North America (with excursions into French, Dutch, and Native American communities) from 1607 to 1763. Major themes will include immigration, community structures, the household economy, slavery and other labor systems, and the cultural transformation of the colonies in the eighteenth century. Group(s): A, D

HIST W2411 The Rise of American Capitalism. 3 points.

E-Commerce & Internet Technologies Track, Managing Emerging Technologies Track, Project Management Track, Discussion Section Required, Lab Required

Examines the social conflicts that accompanied the transformation of the United States from an agrarian republic and slave society to one of the most powerful industrial nations in the world. Particular attention will be paid to the building of new social and economic institutions and to cultural and visual representations of the nation and its people. Readings include major secondary works and primary documents. Formerly: American Society in the age of Capital, 1819-1897. Field(s): US

HIST W2412 Revolutionary America, 1750-1815. 3 points.

This course examines the cultural, political, and constitutional origins of the United States. It covers the series of revolutionary changes in politics and society between the mid-18th and early 19th centuries that took thirteen colonies out of the British Empire and turned them into an independent and expanding nation. Starting with the cultural and political glue that held the British Empire together, the course follows the political and ideological processes that broke apart and ends with the series of political struggles that shaped the identity of the US. Using a combination of primary and secondary materials relating to various walks of life and experience from shopping to constitutional debates, students will be expected to craft their own interpretations of this fundamental period of American history. Lectures will introduce students to important developments and provide a framework from them to develop their own analytical skills. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W2415 Immigrant New York. 3 points.

This seminar explores the intersection of immigration, race, and politics in New York City, both from the perspective of history and in relation to contemporary realities. In this course we will discuss the ways in which immigration has reshaped the cultural, economic, and political life of New York City both in the past as well as the present. Readings will focus on the divergent groups who have settled in New York City, paying close attention to issues of gender, class, race, the role of labor markets, the law, and urban development.

HIST W2432 The United States In the Era of Civil War and Reconstruction. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The coming of the Civil War and its impact on the organization of American society afterwards. Group(s): D

HIST W2441 Making of the Modern American Landscape. 3 points.

Social history of the built environment since 1870, looking at urban and rural landscapes, vernacular architecture of industry, housing, recreation, and public space. Considers government policies, real estate investment, and public debates over land use and the natural environment. Group(s): D

HIST W2447 America Between the Wars, 1918-1945. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

American politics, society, and culture from the aftermath of World War I through the Great Depression and World War II. Field(s): US

HIST W2448 US History Since 1945. 3 points.

Topics include the cold War, McCarthyism, the postwar economy, suburbanization, consumer culture, Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, and Watergate. Field(s): US

HIST W2449 American Urban History. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Although images of the frontier and of the west have long dominated the popular imagination of American history, in fact the United States urbanized rapidly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and 80 percent of the national population now lives in metropolitan areas of more than a million people.  How did big cities respond to issues of race, ethnicity, gender, transportation, housing, open space, and recreation?  The course will feature frequent field trips via ferry, foot, and bus. Field(s): US

HIST W2460 Topics in the History of Women and Gender. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Since the emergence of a field called "women's history" in the early 1970s, the amount of information we have gathered about women has mounted astronomically. Historians have discovered the presence of women in every aspect of American life and culture. In more recent years they have begun to ask a different kind of question. Does it matter?  If so, how?  What is a gender analysis and how, if at all, does it alter the way we look at our past? How does the new knowledge we have acquired change our understanding of America's past? Or does it? This course is intended to introduce you to some of the newest questions now being asked by historians of women and gender and to some of the intriguing information we have uncovered about women in the American past.  Along the way, we will explore how this material shapes our interpretations of U.S. history and examine the relationship between the history of women and the history of gender. Readings are organized roughly chronologically, moving through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and rotating around encounters with some of the most salient ideas in American life, including: Liberty, Democracy, Equality, Individualism, and Nationalism. At each juncture we will ask how introducing a gendered perspective changes our perceptions of the past. Field(s): US

HIST W2491 U.S. Foreign Relations, 1890-1990. 3 points.

The aim is to provide an empirical grasp of U.S. foreign relations and to put in question the historiographical views of the periods and critical events that have come up to make that history. Emphasis will be put on determining how "the United States" has been grasped in relation to the world and how historiography has in turn grasped that retrospectively. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W2503 Workers in Industrial and Post-Industrial America. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The history of work, workers, and unions during the 20th century.  Topics include scientific management, automation, immigrant workers, the rise of industrial unionism, labor politics, occupational discrimination, and working-class community life. Field(s): US

HIST W2514 Immigrants in American History and Life. 3 points.

The course surveys patterns of migration and immigrant experience from colonial time to the present. Migration to the US is considered as part of the evolving global labor market and colonial expansion in the modern world. The class considers migration in different historical periods, the relationship of immigration to nation-building, national expansion, war, and the production and reproduction of national identity; the history of the legal regulation of immigration; the experience of immigrants in settling and negotiating life in a new society, and political debates surrounding the role of immigration in American society. Course materials include recent historical literature, fiction, primary-source documents, and film. Group(s): D

HIST W2528 The Radical Tradition in America. 3 points.

Major expressions of American radicalism, ranging from early labor and communitarian movements to the origins of feminism, the abolitionist movement, and on to Populism, Socialism, and the "Old" and "New" lefts. Field(s): US

HIST W2540 History of the South. 3 points.

A survey of the history of the American South from the colonial era to the present day, with two purposes: first, to afford students an understanding of the special historical characteristics of the South and of southerners; and second, to explore what the experience of the South may teach about America as a nation. Group(s): D Field(s): US 

HIST W2544 Science and Technology in the United States: From Franklin to Facebook. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

HIST W2555 America in Depression and War. 4 points.

This lecture examines the transforming effect of two cataclysmic events in the twentieth century.  We will study the ways in which both the Great Depression and World War II led to a major reordering of American politics and society.  By focusing on how the government and the country dealt with these national crises, we will explore a significant moment in the evolution of American political culture. Throughout the semester, we will examine how ordinary people experienced depression and war and how those experiences changed their outlook on politics and the world around them. Topics include unemployment and economic decline, the rise of organized labor, New Deal politics, women in the war effort, the Japanese internment, the development of atomic science, and America as a world superpower.

HIST W2566 History of American Popular Culture Through Music. 3 points.

This course examines the history of American popular culture through music and radio, beginning in the 1830s with minstrelsy, the first distinctively "American" popular culture, and ending in the 1960s with Motown.  The course acquaints students with key concepts that aim to "read" cultural production and to explore what's unique about culture primarily experienced through the ears.  It examines debates over culture's qualifiers, from popular to mass, high to low. Field(s): US

HIST W2575 Power and Place: Black Urban Politics. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of African-American history since the Civil War. An emphasis is placed on the black quest for equality and community. Group(s): D Formerly listed as "Explorations of Themes in African-American History, 1865-1945". 

HIST W2587 Sport & Society in the Americas. 4 points.

This course explores the ways organized sport constitutes and disrupts dominant understandings of nation, race, gender, and sexuality throughout the Americas. Working from the notion that sport is “more than a game,” the class will examine the social, cultural and political impact of sports in a variety of American contexts in the past and present. While our primary geographic focus will be the United States, Brazil, and the Caribbean, the thrust of the course encourages students to consider sports in local, national, and transnational contexts.  The guiding questions of the course are: What is the relationship between sport and society? How does sport inform political struggles within and across national borders? How does sport reinforce and/or challenge social hierarchies? Can sport provide visions of alternative conceptions of the self and community? Throughout the semester, we will examine such topics as: the continuing political struggles surrounding mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup, the role of professional baseball in the rise and fall of Jim Crow segregation, the contradictory impact of high school football in Texas, the centrality of tennis to the women’s movement in the United States, and the role of sports in the growth of the city of Los Angeles. Course materials include works by historians, sociologists, social theorists, and journalists who have also been key contributors to the burgeoning field of sports studies. 

HIST W2611 Jews and Judaism in Antiquity. 4 points.

  Field(s): ANC

HIST W2616 Jews in the Christian World in the High Middle Ages. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Medieval Jews and Christians defined themselves in contrast to one another. This course will examine the conditions and contradictions that emerged from competing visions and neighborly relations. It is arranged to comprehend broad themes rather than strict chronology and to engage both older and very recent scholarship on the perennial themes of tolerance and hate. Field(d): JWS/MED

HIST W2618 The Modern Caribbean. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This lecture course examines the social, cultural, and political history of the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the coastal regions of Central and South America that collectively form the Caribbean region, from Amerindian settlement, through the era of European imperialism and African enslavement, to the period of socialist revolution and independence. The course will examine historical trajectories of colonialism, slavery, and labor regimes; post-emancipation experiences and migration; radical insurgencies and anti-colonial movements; and intersections of race, culture, and neocolonialism. It will also investigate the production of national, creole, and transborder indentities. Formerly listed as "The Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries". Field(s): LAC 

HIST W2628 History of the State of Israel, 1948-Present. 3 points.

The political, cultural, and social history of the State of Israel from its founding in 1948 to the present. Group(s): C Field(s): ME

HIST W2630 American Jewish History. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Explores the interaction between the changing makeup of Jewish immigration, the changing social and aconomic conditions in the United States, and the religious, communal, cultural, and political group life of American Jews. Group(s): D

HIST W2657 Medieval Jewish Cultures. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will survey some of the major historical, cultural, intellectual and social developments among Jews from the fourth century CE through the fifteenth. We will study Jewish cultures from the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the age of the Talmuds, the rise of Islam, the world of the Geniza, medieval Spain, to the early modern period. We will look at a rich variety of primary texts and images, including mosaics, poems, prayers, polemics, and personal letters. Field(s): JEW/MED 

HIST W2662 Slave Memory in Brazil: Public History and Audiovisual Narratives in Perspective. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The research on the making of racial identities in Brazil and on the history of Brazilian black culture and black social movements have increased significantly in the last twenty years, dialoguing directly with the idea of being part of the African diaspora at the Atlantic. The discussion of the content of audiovisual resources related with this process allows connecting the contemporary discussion about public memory of slavery in Brazil with the globalized perspective of politics of identity in the Atlantic World.

HIST W2663 Mexico From Revolution To Democracy. 4 points.

Twentieth-Century Mexican History from the revolution to transition  to democracy. The Course review politics, society, culture, foreign relations, and urbanization. Group(s): D Field(s): LA

HIST W2673 Latin American Popular Culture. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this course we will study the popular culture of Latin America from a historical perspective. The primary sources, secondary texts, audiovisual materials, and lectures will give students a solid basis to understand the importance of popular culture in the formation of Latin American nationalisms, political processes, economic transformations, and demographic changes. Starting from the time of first contact with the Europeans and going up to the mid-twentieth century, we will focus on art, music, literature, and dance, as well as sports, film, and food. We will explore the role that institutions played in attempting to regulate the daily experiences and interactions among various socioeconomic groups, but we will also study how the "popular classes" contributed to shape the cultural practices of the elites across the continent.

HIST W2705 History of Modern Egypt. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This undergraduate lecture course explores the events and currents that shaped the course of modern Egyptian history over the last two centuries. It ranges from the mid-18th century to present and covers such themes as Egypt under Ottoman, French and British rule; Egypt's dynastic rule, and its relation to neighbouring states in the 19th century; nationalism, modernism and feminism, and the role of cinema, literature and the politics of ideas in the 20th; and, finally, the regimes of Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak and their relation to the region and the wider world. Field(s): ME

HIST W2716 History of Islamic Societies. 0 points.

Focus on religions, conversion, ethnic relations, development of social institutions, and the relationship between government and religion. Field(d): ME

HIST W2722 America and the Muslim World. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Taking the events of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath as a point of departure, this course will begin by investigating in parallel histories of two sibling religious societies: Islam and western Christendom.  It will outline the European antecedents of American understandings and misunderstandings of the Muslim world down to World War I in comparison with Muslim experiences with, and selective efforts to appropriate, aspects of European society and thought over the same period. Field(s): INTL

HIST W2764 History of East Africa: Early Time to the Present. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

A survey of East African history over the past two millennia with a focus on political and social change. Themes include early religious and political ideas, the rise of states on the Swahili coast and between the Great Lakes, slavery, colonialism, and social and cultural developments in the 20th century.  This course fulfills the Global Core requirement. Field(s): AFR  

HIST W2772 West African History. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course offers a survey of main themes in West African history over the last millenium, with particular emphasis on the period from the mid-15th through the 20th century. Themes include the age of West African empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhay); re-alignments of economic and political energies towards the Atlantic coast; the rise and decline of the trans-Atlantic trade in slaves; the advent and demise of colonial rule; and internal displacement, migrations, and revolutions. In the latter part of the course, we will appraise the continuities and ruptures of the colonial and post-colonial eras. Group(s): C Field(s): AFR 

HIST W2803 The Worlds of Mughal India. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course provides a political and social history of India from the 16th-19th century, focusing on the Mughal empire. Two central concerns: first, the Mughal regnal politics towards their rival imperial concerns within India and West Asia (the Maratha, the Rajput, the Safavid, the Ottoman); and second, the foreign gaze onto the Mughals (via the presence of Portuguese, English, and French travelers, merchants, and diplomats in India). These interlocked practices (how Mughals saw the world and how the world saw the Mughals) will allow us develop a nuanced knowledge of universally acknowledged power of the early modern world. 

HIST W2811 South Asia: Empire and Its Aftermath. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

Prerequisites: None.

(No prerequisite.) We begin with the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, and examine why and how the East India Company came to rule India in the eighteenth century. As the term progresses, we will investigate the objectives of British colonial rule in India and we will explore the nature of colonial modernity. The course then turns to a discussion of anti-colonial sentiment, both in the form of outright revolt, and critiques by early nationalists. This is followed by a discussion of Gandhi, his thought and his leadership of the nationalist movement. Finally, the course explores the partition of British India in 1947, examining the long-term consequences of the process of partition for the states of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We will focus in particular on the flowing themes: non-Western state formation; debates about whether British rule impoverished India; the structure and ideology of anti-colonial thought; identity formation and its connection to political, economic and cultural structures. The class relies extensively on primary texts, and aims to expose students to multiple historiographical perspectives for understanding South Asia's past.

HIST W2880 Gandhi's India. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Focus on the history of modern India, using the life and times of Mohandas Gandhi as the basis for not only an engagement with an extraordinary historical figure, but also for a consideration of a great variety of historical issues, including the relationship between nationalism and religion, caste politics in India and affirmative action policies in the United States today, and racism as encountered by Gandhi in relation to colonialism and the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. Field(s): SA 

HIST W2901 Historical Theories and Methods. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Designed to replace the History Lab and Historian's Craft, HIST W2901 "Historical Theories and Methods" (formerly titled "Introduction to History") offers a new approach to undergraduate introductory courses on historical practice and the history of history. The course combines an overarching lecture component consisting of one lecture per week of 75 minutes with a two-hour "laboratory" component that will meet weekly at first, then less often as the semester progresses. The course aims to introduce students to broad theoretical and historiographical themes while drawing on those themes in providing them skills in actual historical practice, in preparation for the writing of a senior thesis or extended research paper.  It is required that juniors planning to write a senior thesis take this course in the spring semester in preparation for their projects. Students who plan on studying abroad during the spring term must take HIST W4900 The Historian's Craft in the fall term as a replacement. Field(s): METHODS

HIST W2903 History of the World from 1450 CE to the Present. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course presents and at the same time critiques a narrative world history from 1500 to the present. The purpose of the course is to convey an understanding of how this rapidly growing field of history is being approahced at three different levels: the narrative textbook level, the theoretical-conceptual level, and, through discussion sections, the research level. All students are required to enroll in a weekly discussion section. Graded work for the courses consists of two brief (5 page) papers based on activities in discussion sections as well as a take-home midterm and final examination. Graduate students who enroll in the course must take a discussion section conducted by the instructor and can expect heavier reading assignments. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W2904 History of Finance. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course surveys the history of modern finance, from the origin of novel banking institutions in early-modern Italy (like the Medici Bank, founded 1397) to the financial crisis of 2008. "Finance," broadly understood as the activity of allocating capital (in particular, money) within communities, will be examined from a variety of historical perspectives-economic, political, intellectual, cultural. While the course often emphasizes "high" finance in centers of Western financial power (Florence in the 1400s, London in the 1800s, New York in the 2000s), careful attention is paid to how financial activities in such global centers have impacted people across different socioeconomic and geographic locations, from "Wall St." to "Main St." and from Illinois to Argentina.

HIST W2906 Quantifying People: A History of Social Science. 3 points.

This course examines the history of the quest to understand human society scientifically. The focus will be on one specific approach to social investigation-quantification-which has been central to the historical development of "social science" and which has become especially esteemed in the 21st-century "data" age. Built around careful reading of primary social-scientific texts, the course will span from the "political arithmetic" of the 17th century through the late 20th century, touching upon the historical aspects of several modern social-science disciplines (economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science). We will explore past attempts to count, calculate, measure, and model many dimensions of human social life: population, wealth, health, happiness, intelligence, crime, deviance, race. We will pay particular attention to how social-scientific numbers have not only reflected, but transformed, the individuals and communities they sought to measure. Readings will include Condorcet, Thomas Malthus, W. S. Jevons, Emile Durkheim, Francis Galton, Franz Boas, Richard Herrnstein & Charles Murray, and Ian Hacking.

HIST W2919 Modernity and Nation in the Twentieth Century. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course compares and contrasts the paths to modernity of four societies: China, Germany, Japan, and Italy. By adopting a comparative approach, and looking closely at the way that international contexts influenced domestic developments, this course will give students the chance to view history from outside the nation-state focus that tended to dominate history in the past. In this sense, while students are expected to expand their familiarity with the basic history of these countries, more important will be the capacity to think about the world from multiple perspectives. Key topics include national consolidation, the growth of nationalist sentiment, imperialism and fascism, the impact of World War II and the Cold War, and historical memory. Based largely on primary sources, the course presents modernity both as understood by each of these societies and also in its global interconnectedness, an interconnectedness that shapes our world today. Field(s): MEU/EA

HIST W2926 Historical Origins of Human Rights. 3 points.

Provides an introduction to the post-1945 regime of humanitarian reform and law

HIST W2943 Cultures of Empire. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Empires have been consistent - but ever changing - forms of rule in the modern world. This course explores how empires and imperialism have connected the world by forging new forms of politics and culture from 1850 to 2011. It examines key dimensions of imperialism such as nationalism, capitalism, racism, and fascism in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America. Based largely on primary sources - novels, memoirs, official documents, and visual arts, including photographs and film - the course presents imperialism both as experienced in different societies and also in its global interconnectedness. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W2997 World War II in History and Memory. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An exploration of the changes in public memory of World War Two in different countries in Asia, Europe, and North America over the past sixty-five years, with particular attention to the heightened interest in the war in recent decades and the relation of this surge of memory to what we used to call history. Field: INTL

HIST W3004 The Mediterranean World After Alexander the Great. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The conquests of Alexander the Great spread Greek Civilization all around the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. This course will examine the Hellenised (greek-based) urban society of the empires of the Hellenistic era (ca. 330-30BCE) Field(s): ANC*

HIST W3006 Ancient Political Theory. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course is a review of Greek and Roman political theory as it developed through historical events from the Homeric age of Greece to the Augustan principate at Rome. One of the principal contributions of the ancient Greco-Roman civilization to the western tradition is the rich and varied legacy of political theory developed over many centuries. It is the aim of this course to place ancient political theories in their historical contexts. Much ancient political theory can only be recovered from a close analysis of actual practice, since a good deal of ancient writing on the subject is lost. Even in the cases where great works of political theory survive, however, the historical context must always be emphasized. To take an obvious and well known example, much of the difference between Plato?s ideal state in the Republic and that of Aristotle in his Politics is due to the fact that Sparta, the admired and successful model for many of Plato?s ideas in the Republic, had declined into defeat and obscurity by the time Aristotle wrote, and hence was no longer an attractive model for political theorists. It is a truism, no doubt, that political theory can only be fully grasped and understood within a historical context: this course will apply that truism, and also the reverse notion that theory influences practice and hence history.

HIST W3007 Development of the Greek City-State. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will trace the development of the polis or city-state as the dominant socio-political unit in ancient Greece, looking at how and why this development took place and what effect it had on Greek society and culture. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W3020 Roman Imperialism. 3 points.

How did the Roman Empire grow so large and last so long? This course will examine the origins of the Romans' drive to expand, the theory of "defensive" imperialism, economic aspects, Roman techniques of control, questions about acculturation and resistance, and the reasons why the empire eventually collapsed.   Field(s): ANC

HIST W3024 Decline and Fall of the Roman Republic 133-23 BCE. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An investigation of the political, economic and cultural development in Rome that resulted in its political transformation from an oligarchy (the so-called "Republic") to a monarchy (the so-called "Empire"). Field(s): *ANC

HIST W3026 Roman Social History. 3 points.

Social structure, class, slavery and manumission, social mobility, life expectation, status and behavior of women, Romanization, town and country, social organizations, education and literacy, philanthropy, amusements in the Roman Empire, 70 B.C. - 250 A.D. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W3045 Rome: A Preindustrial Metropolis. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Ancient Rome from the 1st century BCE to the beginning of the 5th Century  AD had about one million inhabitants. This demographic density is an exceptional feature among all preindustrial societies, equalled by London only at the beginning of the nineteenth century.. After a short theoretical introduction to the subject of urbanism in pre-industrial societies and in particular in the classical period, the seminar will focus on  three issues: the demographic trend of the city, the grain and water supply and the actual organization of water and grain distribution, and  the role of the imperial court and government in building activities, feeding the people and assuring basic administrative services. Special attention will be paid to quantitative aspects of the social and economic history of the city. A wide range of sources will be examined: literary and juridical texts, inscriptions, archaeological and topographic evidence. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W3046 Egypt, Ethiopia and Nubia in Late Antiquity. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This is a fifteen-week undergraduate seminar.  It is designed to provide an introduction to the late antique period of the three great civilizations of the ancient Nile Valley, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nubia.  Course material will cover the social and religious history of Egypt under Roman rule; the collapse of the ancient Nubian civilization of Meroe; the emergence of its independent successor kingdoms; the birth of a centralized and literate society in the Ethiopian highlands; the Christianization of Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia; and the survival of all three civilizations in the early medieval period, Egypt under Islamic rule and Nubia and Ethiopia as independent powers. Field(s): ANC*

HIST W3050 Youth in Ancient Rome. 4 points.

This seminar will provide students with an in-depth interdisciplinary examination of the cultural and political history of a biological and social phenomenon in ancient Rome over a period of 350 years: that stage in the Roman life course which we today would identify as “youth” or “adolescence”. Students will become acquainted with the key methodological approaches to writing the history of an “age” and scrutinize their usefulness in the process, including traditional social history models, cultural anthropology, and more recent theories of age as a performance. The course traces thematic topics which adhere to a linear chronology, beginning with Roman comedy in the second century BCE and ending with the death and divinization of Hadrian’s favorite, the Bithynian youth, Antinous in 130 CE. The class will make substantial use of Columbia’s resources at Butler Library, including an ancient world research methods session at the library itself, as well as at least one “hands-on” session with the Roman epigraphic, papyrologicial, and numismatic material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Our proximity to The Metropolitan Museum of Art will also be utilized, both in terms of a class visit and in one component of the course assessment that will culminate in a class website, “The History of Roman Youth in Objects”.

HIST W3053 Roman Coins in Context. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course introduces students to the study of coins as historical disciplines. It will provide a survey of the production and use of coinage in the Roman world from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.  Students will also asses the contribution that the study of coinage makes to the study of Roman social, economic, and political history. The majority of the course will take place at the American Numismatic Society. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W3060 Laws of War in the Middle Ages. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The perception and regulation of war and wartime practices in Europe and the Mediterranean World in the period 300-1500, from the standpoint of legal and institutional history rather than of military history. Topics include: the Just War tradition, Holy War and Crusade, the Peace and Truce of God, prisoners and ransom, the law of siege, non-combatants, chivalry, and ambassadors and diplomacy. Readings are principally primary sources in translation. Group(s): A Field(s): MED

HIST W3063 Love and Hate in the Early Medieval Societies. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will examine the role of love and hate and their changing place in the culture of the elite groups from Late Antiquity to the twelfth century. Medieval chronicles, poems, letters and legal texts, both religious and civil, will be used, deconstructed and decoded with a special attention to gender and to the emotional relations between men and women. Field(s): MED

HIST W3065 Urban Culture in the Dutch Golden Age. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In the celebrated words of the 17th-century English ambassador Sir William Temple the Dutch Republic was "the fear of some, the envy of others, and the wonder of all their neighbors." This course introduces students to this powerful new state that arose from the epic revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule in the late sixteenth century. It analyzes how the federation of seven ‘united' provinces, a political anomaly in a time of centralized monarchies, became an economic superpower. A modern ‘bourgeois' society dominated by merchants and professional administrators rather than by noblemen, prelates, and aristocrats, the Dutch Republic built a colonial empire reaching from Brazil to Japan. It was the first European state to practice religious toleration on a large scale, while it produced artistic riches by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals that are still treasured today. This course provides a varied and dynamic picture of a highly urbanized society in a period that the Dutch with good reason call their ‘Golden Age'.   Field(s): EME

HIST W3072 Once Upon a Time: Daily Life in Medieval Europe. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course is designed as traveller’s guide to medieval Europe. Its purpose is to provide a window to a long-lost world that provided the foundation of modern institutions and that continues to inspire the modern collective artistic and literary imagination with its own particularities. This course will not be a conventional history course concentrating on the grand narratives in the economic, social and political domains but rather intend to explore the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants, and attempts to have a glimpse of their mindset, their emotional spectrum, their convictions, prejudices, fears and hopes. It will be at once a historical, sociological and anthropological study of one of the most inspiring ages of European civilization. Subjects to be covered will include the birth and childhood, domestic life, sex and marriage, craftsmen and artisans, agricultural work, food and diet, the religious devotion, sickness and its cures, death, after death (purgatory and the apparitions), travelling, merchants and trades, inside the nobles’ castle, the Christian cosmos, and medieval technology. The lectures will be accompanied by maps, images of illuminated manuscripts and of medieval objects. Students will be required to attend a weekly discussion section to discuss the medieval texts bearing on that week’s subject. The written course assignment will be a midterm, final and two short papers, one an analysis of a medieval text and a second an analysis of a modern text on the Middle Ages. Field(s): MED

HIST W3088 The Historical Jesus and the Origin of Christianity. 4 points.

The goal of this course will be to subject the source materials about Jesus and the very beginnings of Christianity (before about 150 CE) to a strictly historical-critical examination and analysis, to try to understand the historical underpinnings of what we can claim to know about Jesus, and how Christianity arose as a new religion from Jesus' life and teachings. In addition, since the search or quest for the "historical Jesus" has been the subject of numerous studies and books in recent times, we shall examine a selection of prominent "historical Jesus" works and theories to see how they stand up to critical scrutiny from a historical perspective.

HIST W3100 Early Modern Europe: Print and Society. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Standing at the intersection of the religious, cultural, and scientific upheavals within early modern Europe, the study of print and its intersection with culture allows students to learn how shifts in technology (much like those we are witnessing today) affect every aspect of society. This course will examine the signal cultural, political, and religious developments in early modern Western Europe, using the introduction and dissemination of printed materials as a fulcrum and entry point. From the sixteenth century Europeans were confronted with a technological revolution whose cultural consequences were incalculable and whose closest parallel might be the age of electronic information technology in our own day. From the Reformation of Luther, to the libelles of pre-revolutionary France, from unlocking the mysteries of the human body to those of the heavens, from humanist culture to the arrival of the novel, no important aspect of European culture in the sixteen- through eighteenth centuries can be understood without factoring in the role of print: its technology, its marketing and distribution channels, and its creation of new readers and new "republics." This course will examine key political, religious, and cultural movements in early modern western European history through the prism of print culture.

HIST W3103 Alchemy, Magic & Science. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Astrology, alchemy, and magic were central components of an educated person's view of the world in early modern Europe. How did these activities become marginalized, while a new philosophy (what we would now call empirical science) came to dominate the discourse of rationality? Through primary and secondary readings, this course examines these "occult" disciplines in relation to the rise of modern science. Group(s): A Field(s): *EME

HIST W3112 The Scientific Revolution in Western Europe: 1500-1750. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Introduction to the cultural, social, and intellectual history of the upheavals of astronomy, anatomy, mathematics, alchemy from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. Field(s): EME

HIST W3113 Popular Culture in the Late Medieval Low Countries. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Court records surviving from the late medieval centuries -- the time of Chaucer and Boccaccio, the time of some of Europe’s most splendid courts, the time when cities like Venice and Bruges were at their height -- often contain lively records of popular culture – how people thought about the world, about their family, friends and neighbors, about their rulers, their God, and even their bodies. Court registers, verdicts by judges, notes of the bailiffs in their accounts, investigations of the prosecutors, critical examinations of eyewitnesses, and any other type of judicial  document surviving from this age often reveal human emotions, describe people’s motivations, document their blunders, and report their gossip. Among such sources, letters of remission, which princes issued to grant pardons to criminals of various kinds, are perhaps the most precious. Such documents cannot, however, be read straight, as though they were perfectly reliable accounts of facts or feelings. Rather they are laden with many contradictions. Rival accounts of the same events by the various involved parties and witnesses, outright lies, the biases of judges, narratives designed to please or mislead the rulers -- all such factors render any “pardon letter,” as these documents are known, a difficult, even if an incomparably rich, source. They need a significant effort of critical decoding. This course will focus on how we can use a collection of such letters surviving from the Low Countries, where commercial cities thrived and one of Europe’s most elegant courts was situated, to gain insight into late medieval society – its rich and poor, women and men, city-dwellers and peasants. Field(s): *MED

HIST W3152 Byzantine Encounters: Western Europeans in Constantinople, Byzantine Culture in Western Europe. 4 points.

This course examines western Europeans' encounters with Constantinople and Byzantine culture after the separation of the "Latin" from the "Greek." We will follow merchants, pilgrims and merchants as they visit, trade with, or march into Constantinople, study the sources they have left recording their impressions and their encounters, and consider what westerners took from Byzantium in the way of art forms, learning, sociopolitical practices, and material artifacts.

HIST W3155 Christian Missions in the Early Modern World. 4 points.

This course follows the spread and transformation of Christianity by Western missionaries in American, African, and Asian settings, from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth centuries. We examine what missionaries preached and urged others to believe and practice, and also what motivated missionaries, mission converts, and those who resisted proselytization. We also examine missions as sites of intercultural and colonial encounters with long-term impacts on politics, wars, and social dynamics.

HIST W3160 Empires and Cultures of the Atlantic World. 3 points.

This course follows interconnected historical developments in Western Europe, the Americas, and West Africa from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth century. It highlights both the comparative, structural evolutions of European colonial empires and the cultural experiences and perspectives of Atlantic World inhabitants, including soldiers, merchants, slaves, missionaries, and revolutionaries.

HIST W3176 Into the East: European Merchants in Asian Markets, ca. 1300-1800. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An examination of medieval and early modern European merchants' entry into the global commercials economy then centered in various Asian markets.  The course begins in the late Middle Ages, when Europe was a minor outposts of the world economy, and ends about 1800, when european merchants, in alliance with national states, were competing to control Asian markets. Field(s): EME

HIST W3180 Conversion in Historical Perspective. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Boundary crossers have always challenged the way societies imagined themselves. This course explores the political, religious, economic, and social dynamics of religious conversion. The course will focus on Western (Christian and Jewish) models in the medieval and early modern periods. It will include comparative material from other societies and periods. Autobiographies, along with legal, religious and historical documents will complement the readings. Field(s): *JWS

HIST W3189 Composing the Self in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

This course explores manners of conceiving and being a self in early modern Europe (ca. 1400-1800). Through the analysis of a range of sources, from autobiographical writings to a selection of theological, philosophical, artistic, and literary works, we will address the concept of personhood as a lens through which to analyze topics such as the valorization of interiority, the formation of mechanist and sensationalist philosophies of selfhood, and, more generally, the human person's relationship with material and existential goods. This approach is intended to deepen and complicate our understanding of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and other movements around which histories of the early modern period have typically been narrated. 

HIST W3190 England and the Wider World. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course traces the history of English overseas expansion, and its consequences for the history of the British Isles, from early Atlantic exploration in the sixteenth century through the era of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Themes include the relationship between empire and state formation, the place of international rivalry in the formation of imperial ambitions, the character and dimensions of transoceanic trading networks, and the place of empire in the construction of British national identity. Group(s): B Field(s): EME

HIST W3197 You Are What You Eat: A History of Thinking About Food. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of the relationships between medical expertise and human dietary habits from Antiquity to the present, giving special attention to the links between practical and moral concerns and between expert knowledge and common sense. Field(s): EME

HIST W3200 Mass Violence in the Borderlands, 1914-1991. 3 points.

During the twentieth century, Eastern European borderland populations were devastated by episodes of mass violence during wars, revolutions, and even peacetime. The course focuses on this violence in four phases: the First World War and revolutions; the inter-war period; the Second World War; and the post-war period. Some of these episodes include pogroms, the Famine, deportations, terrorism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. After the First World War, as imperial empires dissolved and new nation-states emerged, a conflagration of violence swept through the borderlands causing further instability and civil war. While some of these interwar states provided a modicum of stability, the growth of nationalism, as well as support for fascism and communism, brought new volatility to the region. The most dramatic and violent changes during the inter-war period and Second World War were a result of Nazi and Soviet projects, both of which sought to engineer these borderland societies socially as well as economically to fit their respective visions. This course examines not only how states carried out mass violence against various populations in this explosive region, but also how local movements and Eastern European civilians contributed to these events or participated in violence on their own accord.

HIST W3201 Culture and Society in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, 1867-1918. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course offers a critical examination of the history of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, once one of Europe's largest military powers which disappeared from the map after World War I. A restructured version of the Habsburg Empire, the Monarchy was a lasting, authoritarian framework of Central European ethnic groups which, however, gave rise to modernism in the field of arts and sciences.The juxtaposition of authority and modernity provides the focus of this survey which includes the study of the Monarchy as the birthplace of both Zionism and modern anti-Semitism. Nurturing a pioneering culture and a pre-modern society, Austria-Hungary is an exciting case of pioneering spirit and decadence, experimentation and dissolution, novelty and decay. The "disintegration of Austrian political culture" is particularly relevant today when presented as the "seedtime for fascism" (George V. Strong). Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W3202 Early Modern Eastern Europe 1500-1800. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course concentrates on the early modern period (roughly 1500 to 1800) and addresses the history of the region which includes mainly the territories of present day Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The course presents the history of the region through the analysis of such important pan-European processes as the growth of empires and absolutism, the Reformation and revival of Catholicism, the Enlightenment and urbanization. It also emphasizes that that region's culture and society were in many ways unique and distinctive from the West European civilization.

HIST W3220 Imperial Russia, 1682-1918. 3 points.

A survey of Russian political, social, and intellectual developments from Peter the Great through the Revolution of 1917. Group(s): B

HIST W3231 Russia and the Soviet Union in the 20th Century. 3 points.

The course offers an introduction into the history of Russia and the Sovient Union in the twentieth century. It combines lectures and discussion sections as well as survey texts and a selection of sources, including documents generated by state/party bodies, various documents produced by individual authors (especially diaries, letters, and memoirs), and some film materials. Putting the Soviet phenomenon into its wider intellectual, cultural, and geographical contexts, we will also address questions of modernity and modernization, socialism and communism, and authoritarian practices in politics, culture, and society.   Field(s): MEU

HIST W3235 Central Asia: Imperial Legacies, New Images. 4 points.

This course is designed to give an overview of the politics and history of the five Central Asian states, including Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan starting from Russian imperial expansion to the present. We will examine the imperial tsarist and Soviet legacies that have profoundly reshaped the regional societies’ and governments’ practices and policies of Islam, gender, nation-state building, democratization, and economic development. Field(s): ME/EA

HIST W3246 Patterns of Soviet/Russian Interventions in Eastern Europe, 1939-2015. 3 points.

Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

The lecture course by Csaba BÉKÉS, a leading scholar on the Cold War, will analyze the patterns of Soviet interventions from the invasion of Poland at the onset of the Second World War and the Winter War against Finland up to the recent military conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008 as well as the present crisis in Ukraine. The evolution of Soviet crisis management and conflict resolution will be analyzed by presenting the numerous internal crises of the Soviet Bloc: the uprising in East Germany in 1953, the Polish October in 1956, the 1956 Hungarian revolution, the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, the Solidarity crisis in Poland in 1980-81 as well as the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Bloc and the end of the Cold War.

HIST W3250 Society and Political Thought in Modern Eastern Europe. 4 points.

Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

This lecture course will focus on key political ideas and intellectual currents that shaped Eastern European societies in the late 19th and 20th century. We will study a relationship between empires and nationalism, the triumph of self-determination that followed the collapse of Habsburg, Russian and German empires, population policies such as emigration and inner colonization, politics of conquest and occupation during the First and the Second World War, communism as lived ideology and everyday experience. The lecture will introduce political ideas that formed a turbulent history of the region: Marxism/socialism, living space/Lebensraum, race, genocide, peasantism and socialist modernization. Finally, we will consider how Eastern Europe fits into broader narratives of civilization and modern culture through the lens of literary works (Bohumil Hrabal, Herta Müller), films and a wide range of sources reflecting lived experiences of multi-ethnic Eastern European populations, including Jews and German-speaking communities.

HIST W3267 The Politics of Hatred and Fear: Key Issues in the History of Eastern Central Europe 1878-1956. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course gives a short survey of the major turning points in the political, social and intellectual history of Eastern and Central Europe, focusing on the political manifestations of powerful hatreds and fears. The main question to be addressed is the origins and regional peculiarities of authoritarian political regimes and ideologies: fascism and communism. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W3271 History of Ukraine as Unmaking the Russian and Soviet Empires. 3 points.

Until its declaration of independence in 1991, Ukraine, Europe’s second-largest country, has been divided and controlled by Russia, Lithuania, Poland, Austria, Turkey and the Soviet Union. As a result, a history of Ukraine was interpreted as an integral component of the historical narratives of these neighboring countries, which governed the parts of Ukrainian territory. The Russian Empire and then the USSR have maintained their political control over Ukraine since 1654 until 1991, during the longest period of Ukrainian history. Eventually, the Russian and subsequently Soviet historical narrative prevailed in the interpretation of the Ukrainian past. In this interpretation, Ukraine lost its independent historical existence. Unfortunately, this Russian/Soviet historical narrative was adopted by historians in the West, particularly in the United States. Moreover, this narrative also ignored the crucial role of Ukraine not only in a formation of the medieval Russian civilization, beginning with Kievan Rus, but also in unmaking the Russian Empire in 1917, the Soviet Union in 1991, and its successor, the Commonwealth of Independent States, following Maidan Revolution and Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.

HIST W3295 The Russian Fin de Siecle. 3 points.

This course introduces students to the artistic movements, everyday life, and socio-cultural upheavals of urban Russia in the fin-de-siecle (1880 to 1917). The fast-paces, consumer-oriented modern city, with its celebrities, fashions, and technological wonders, gripped the imagination of imperial Russia's urban denizens. The inhabitants of St. Petersburg and Moscow, conscious of living in a new era, embraced and grappled with the Modern Age as journalists, impresarios, and artists narrated and interpreted it. We will explore the ways revolution and war, industrialization, the commercialization of culture, and new sensibilities about the self and identity were reflected in modernist art and thought, literature, and autobiographical writings. We also will look closely at the realms of elite entertainment and popular amusement in an attempt to relate consumer culture notions of gender and sexuality, the redefinition of status and privilege, and concepts of leisure. Historians have offered competing explanations of how and why the rapid social, economic, and cultural changes of this period contributed to the fall of the Russian monarchy and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. Our primary goals are to analyze and critique various historical texts, assess historians' arguments, and make our own. This course will introduce students to a wide array of primary and secondary sources, and help them to develop skills of critical reading, writing, and oral discussion.

HIST W3302 The European Catastrophe, 1914-1945. 3 points.

The history of Europe's second Thirty Years War marked by economic crises, political turmoil, totalitarian ideologies, massive population transfers, and genocide; but also by extraordinary economic, scientific, and cultural developments. Group(s): B Field(s): MWE

HIST W3304 Modern Germany, 1900-2000. 3 points.

The development of Germany has influenced the history of Europe and, indeed, the world in the 20th century in major and dramatic ways. Most historians agree that the country and its leaders played a crucial role in the outbreak of two world wars which cost at least 70 million lives. Germany experienced a revolution in 1918, hyperinflation in 1923, the Great Depression after 1929, and the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Between 1939 and 1945 there followed the brutal conquest of most of its neighbors and the Holocaust. Subsequently, the country became divided into two halves in which emerged a communist dictotorship, on the one hand, and a Western-style parliamentary-representative system, on the other. The division ended in 1989 with the collapse of the Honecker regime and the unification of East and West Germany. No doubt, Germany's history is confused and confusing and has therefore generated plenty of debate among historians. This course offers a comprehensive survey of the country's development from around 1900 to 2000. It is not just concerned with political events and military campaigns, but will also examine in considerable detail German society and its structures, relations between women and men, trends in both high and popular culture, and the ups and downs of an industrial economy in its global setting. The weekly lectures and section discussions are designed to introduce you to the country's conflicted history and to the controversies it unleashed in international scholarship. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W3305 The European Enlightenment. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course will include an in-depth examination of some major tinkers and texts of the French, Germans, and Scottish Enlightenments. By reading works of Montesquieu, Voltaire, Lessing, Mendelssohn, and Hume, we will examine their radically divergent responses to the central intellectual quandries of their day, and in many ways our own: the realtionship between rationalism, science, and faith; religion and the state; the individual and the polity; cosmopolitanism and particularism; pluralism and relativism; and the meaning of liberty. Group(s): A, B

HIST W3306 The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain: Politics, Performance, Personhood. 4 points.

The British women’s suffrage movement was one of the significant and dramatic social movements of modern times.  Tens of thousands of women joined suffrage organizations and took part in suffrage activism in the decade before World War I, some of them adopting what were known as “militant” tactics of public disturbance and property damage, and of the hunger-strike in prison.  The suffrage question and the spectacle of militancy preoccupied politicians, divided parties, friends and families, mesmerized the public and the press, and utterly transformed the lives of the women who became caught up in it.  The movement spawned novels, plays, and artistic works of all kinds; it fostered new political theories and practices; it created new identities and new psychological orientations.  Historians to this day argue over its meanings and legacies.

HIST W3307 Italy in the Wider World. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Studies the swings between global and local in this particularly elastic European nation-state. Lectures, discussion, reading, and media highlight the Italian peninsula's changing situation depending on the global economy. The course starts with a look back to the legacy of maritime city states, why the Italians didn't discover America, and the "dark centuries" as trade moved from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. But the main focus are 19th and 20th century topics including the Italian emigrant diaspora, fascist imperialism, post-colonialism in Africa, living with the Papacy, the Third Italy, Italy in the European Union, the Mafia connection, the new immigrants, the China threat.

HIST W3309 Victorian Worlds: British Society. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The Victorian period (1837-1901) and the nineteenth century in general seem to present a number of paradoxes. Britain came to embrace ideas of free trade and liberty (J.S. Mill was the most famous intellectual of his age), yet ran a coercive empire on a global scale. Britons were suspicious of government intervention in the lives of private citizens, yet British society was in many ways highly conformist. We tend to associate ‘Victorian morality' and Queen Victoria herself with prudishness and restriction, yet Victorians were fascinated by sex, and the birth rate in Britain was higher than it had ever been, before or since. This course will explore the ways in which Victorians lived, thought, worked and played, as well as how their experiences shaped a set of key social, artistic and political movements.

HIST W3312 British History, 1760-1867. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The history of Britain at the height of its global power. Particular attention will be paid to contestations over political power, and to the emergence of liberal economic and political institutions and ideas. Field(s):MWE

HIST W3314 Modern France and its Empire: 1789-present. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This lecture course surveys the main currents of French history from the Revolution to the present, with particular attention to the interaction between continental France and the rest of the empire. Throughout this course, the main questions will be: to what extent has the French Revolution served as point of political and cultural reference throughout the 19th and 20th centuries? Who is a citizen? And how has the response to this question been impacted by imperial developments? What is French Republicanism? And how to understand it in the imperial context? What have been the relations between political, social, economic and cultural developments? How have continental conflicts and World Wars impacted French history? How have the post WWII interrelated processes of decolonization, immigration and building of Europe deeply impacted contemporary France? We will tackle these questions by reading primary sources: works of political philosophy; literature; film; legal documents; and memoirs from the time, and by watching films.

HIST W3315 Reformation Europe in Global Perspective. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course follows developments in Christian communities and cultures across Europe and the globe in the era of the Protestant, Catholic, and Radical Reformations (c. 1500-1700). It covers the rise of Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anabaptist communities, Catholic reform efforts, and events such as the Wars of Religion alongside diverse Western Christian interactions with religious and cultural "others" within and beyond Europe.

HIST W3322 Globalization in Historical Perspective, 19th-20th century. 4 points.

This course is about the evolution the international economy since the first half of the 19th century, envisaged primarily from the perspective of its governance, i.e. the market rules and public institutions that governed it. Lectures and discussion sections thus focus successively on the First, pre-1914 Global era, then on the Interwar period and its many experiments, and lastly on the classic, post-1945 multilateralism, leading to the current Second global era. We shall thus look, for instance, at how the capital markets worked before World War I and how they were gradually reopened from the 1970s onwards; or at how the League of Nations and the IMF have addressed sovereign debt crisis and envisaged conditionality. But a strong accent is also put on the private, transnational dimension of economic governance, like international banking, market platforms, or commercial arbitration. Relations between Western and non-Western regions are also discussed though they are not at the core of this course.  

HIST W3326 History of Ireland, 1700-2000. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar provides an introduction to key debates and historical writing in Irish history from 1700.  Topics include:  the character of Ascendancy Ireland; the 1798 rising and the Act of Union; the causes and consequences of the famine; emigration and Fenianism; the Home Rule movement; the Gaelic revival; the Easter Rising and the civil war; politics and culture in the Free State; the Northern Ireland problem; Ireland, the European Union, and the birth of the “celtic tiger”. Field(s): MEU

HIST W3330 Europe: from the Nazi New Order to the European Union. 3 points.

The history of Europe in the wider world from the Allies' victorious war against the Nazi New Order to the triumph of the European Union after the collapse of Soviet Empire. Lectures bring Eastern and Western Europe into one focus, to study the impact of the Cold War, the exit from colonial empire, Europe's "Economic Miracle, the sexual revolution, Europe's slowdown after the 1970s Oil Shock, Euro-Reaganism, and the impact of globalization from the 1990s to the 2008 crisis.  Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W3333 British Empire. 4 points.

This course surveys the history of the British Empire from its early modern origins to decolonization in the twentieth century, with particular emphasis on the "long nineteenth century"-the heyday of British imperial ideology and colonial expansion. The geographical reach of the course, like the empire itself, is broad, covering parts of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, South Asia and Australasia. While the course will often emphasize the ideological and material motivations for expansion, conquest, and colonization, close attention will be paid to the experience of, and resistance to, the Empire as well, on the part of both settler colonists and indigenous peoples throughout the "new worlds.

HIST W3335 20th Century New York City. 4 points.

This course explores critical areas of New York's economic development in the 20th century, with a view to understanding the rise, fall and resurgence of this world capital. Discussions also focus on the social and political significance of these shifts. Assignments include primary sources, secondary readings, film viewings, trips, and archival research. Students use original sources as part of their investigation of New York City industries for a 20-page research paper. An annotated bibliography is also required. Students are asked to give a weekly update on research progress, and share information regarding useful archives and websites.

HIST W3347 Europe and Islam in the Modern Period. 4 points.

Though the relationship between Europe and Islam has a centuries-long and complex history, this course looks closely at the unfolding of this relationship in the modern period. Following Edward Said, we start with Napoleon's invasion of Egypt in 1798, then cover a series of topics including: migration and travel writing on the eve of conquest; colonial aggression in the Middle East and North Africa; colonial governance of Islam; race, gender, and religious difference; Islamic modernity; and Islamic veiling 'controversies.' The object of this course is to historicize contemporary debates on immigration, pluralism, and the management of difference by examining cases of discursive and institutional continuity from the colonial into the postcolonial periods. Instructor's permission required.

HIST W3349 German Thinkers Around Heidegger. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar is situated in the field of intellectual history and puts the focus on a group of German scholars around Martin Heidegger who were tracing the question of historical truth in the first half of the 20th century. The mostly Jewish thinkers like Hannah Arendt, Karl Löwith and Erich Auerbach were forced into exile after 1933 and found at last academic and personal shelter in North-America. By the critical and close reading of exemplary texts the seminar aims a comparison of the different horizons on historical truth. We will open up a wide range panorama of crucial perspectives which were important contribution to the American culture in the tradition of European “Geisteswissenschaften” (Humanities).   Field(s): MEU

HIST W3351 American Big Business and German Industry, 1900-2000. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

There is a great deal of research and debate on the role that the United States played in the reconstruction and recasting of Europe after World War II. This work is usually seen in the larger context not only of the East-West conflict since 1945, if not since 1917, but also as part of the process of the "Americanization" of the world. By the end of the 20th century this process is deemed to have been replaced by a trend toward "globalization" which is assumed to have started before 1914 until it was interrupted by two world wars, integral nationalism, the Great Depression of the 1930s, the struggles over decolonization and seemingly endless civil wars. It was only in the 1990s that "globalization" is said to have resumed where it stopped in 1914. Against the background of these wide-ranging scholarly debates that also revolved around notions of "modernization" of both economies and societies,  this course "homes in" on the development of German industry and its relationship with American big business before coming back, at the end of the semester, to the big questions that have been raised at the beginning. Field(s): US/MEU

HIST W3352 Europe in the Cold War. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar is dedicated to studying the historical developments of Europe in the Cold War, from the immediate aftermath of the Second World War until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. We will examine the major shifts in contemporary European history as they relate to Cold War conflicts and competitions, including the Yalta and Potsdam meetings; Marshall Plan reconstruction; the workings of NATO; the Prague Spring; non-proliferation movements; and Eurocommunism trends. We will consider a wide range of historical perspectives, including but not limited to political, geographic, economic, cultural, and military frameworks. Field(s): MEU

HIST W3353 Early Modern France. 3 points.

This course will offer a survey of French history from the Wars of Religion to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789. This formative period witnessed the rise of the Bourbon monarchy, the crystallization of absolutism as a political theology, the spectacular rise and collapse of John Law's financial system, the emergence of the philosophe movement during the Enlightenment, and the gradual de-legitimation of royal power through its association with despotism. Thematically, the course will focus on shifting logics of representation-that is, the means by which political, economic and religious power was not only reflected, but also generated and projected, through a range of interrelated practices that include Catholic liturgy, courtly protocols, aristocratic codes of honor, fiscal experimentation, and the critical styles of thinking and reading inculcated by the nascent public sphere.

HIST W3359 Dreaming of the Future in the 1820s: The Birth of Modernity. 4 points.

The purpose of this course is to explore the mental horizon of the 1820s through the works of professional revolutionaries, artists, poets and writers, as well as via recent historical and literary studies. The period marked the intellectual origins of modernity and many of our key organizing principles - the very idea of socialism, liberalism and communism for instance - originated then. Readings connect political transformations in Europe and across the globe to a new sense of time and speed, history, technology and economics. Field(s): MEU

HIST W3360 British History From 1867: Between Democracy and Empire. 3 points.

This course surveys the main currents of British history from 1867 to the present, with particular attention to the changing place of Britain in the world and the changing shape of politics. Group(s): B Field(s): MWE

HIST W3369 The Long War of the 1940s: The Dutch Case in European History and Memory in WWII. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will examine the immediate impact and the longer-running legacies of the Second World War in the Netherlands, with reference to several other Western European nations (France, Belgium). The ‘Long War' will relate to the Second World War as history in the first place, discussing the place of the occupied nation(s) in ‘Hitler's Empire' (Mark Mazower). We also will take into account that the end of the war in Europe was followed by new kinds of external conflicts with strong internal repercussions: the Cold War and the first wave of European decolonization. The perspective will focus on the nation-states, endangered in its very existence by oppressive foreign occupation, subsequently in need of rebuilding and reinventing themselves against many odds. The second element of the seminar is the legacy of the ‘Long War', stretching over the generations to the present day. The Long War has been subject to a never-ending series of controversies in the public sphere that have profoundly influenced the historiography of the war in the different nations. In the course, we will explore the interconnections between politics of memory, historiography and cultural interpretations of the embattled past (films, novels, televised documentaries in particular). Field(s): MEU

HIST W3377 International and Global History Since WWII. 3 points.

In this course students will explore contemporary international and global history, focusing on how states have cooperated and competed in the Cold War, decolonization, and regional crises. But lectures will also analyze how non-governmental organizations, cross-border migration, new means of communication, and global markets are transforming the international system as a whole. Group(s): B, C, D Field(s): INTL

HIST W3380 The Idea of Europe. 4 points.

This course, a seminar open to both advanced undergraduates and graduates, will examine the "Idea of Europe" from the perspective of the European Union's formation, expansion, and the crises now confronting the idea of European unity. Our point of departure is the Netherlands, whose political and social structure are of interest in their own right and exemplify many of the aspirations of the union, and whose present struggles reveal some of the tensions that threaten the cohesion of the European community. Its social, economic and political history have culminated in an unusual set of institutions, an idiosyncratic approach to policy domains such as social security, labor relations, health care and education, and a highly consensus driven mode of interaction among national stakeholders on the interface of civic society and the political system. Students will explore particular issues in independent response papers corresponding to three themes selected, and will be invited to make use of comparative literature in dealing with a broader perspective on Europe. Field(s): MWE

HIST W3381 Visions of International Order. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar will attempt to offer a historical context for evaluating contemporary discussions of the role of the UN and the nature of international relations. It will cover the formation and metamorphoses of the United Nations itself, exploring in particular its role in the Cold War and in the decolonisation process. We will look too at why some international organisations [the IMF] appear to have flourished while others failed. Among the topics to be covered are the changing role of international law, sovereignty and human rights regimes, development aid as international politics, the collapse of the gold standard and its impact. We will end by looking at the politics of UN reform, and new theories of the role of institutions in global affairs, and ask what light they shed on the future of international governance now that the Cold War is over. Students will be expected to read widely in primary as well as secondary sources and to produce a research paper of their own. Field(s): MEU/US

HIST W3383 European Sexual Modernities. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Explores how conceptions of desire and sexuality, gendered and raced bodies, shaped major events and processes in modern Europe: the Enlightenment and European empires; political and sexual revolutions; consumption and commodity fetishism; the metropolis and modern industry; psychoanalysis and the avant-garde; fascism and the Cold War; secularization,and post-socialism. Featuring: political and philosophical tracts; law, literature and film. Field(s): MEU

HIST W3398 The Politics of Terror: The French Revolution. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

 This course examines the political culture of eighteenth-century France, from the final decades of the Bourbon monarchy to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Among our primary aims will be to explore the origins of the Terror and its relationship to the Revolution as a whole. Other topics we will address include the erosion of the king's authority in the years leading up to 1789, the fall of the Bastille, the Constitutions of 1791 and 1793, civil war in the Vendée, the militarization of the Revolution, the dechristianization movement, attempts to establish a new Revolutionary calendar and civil religion, and the sweeping plans for moral regeneration led by Robespierre and his colleagues in 1793-1794. Field(s): MEU

HIST W3400 The American Presidency from George Washington to Barak Obama. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course looks at the American Presidency in historical perspective. It examines the powers of the office, its place in the American imagination, and the achievements of the most significant presidents. Structured chronologically, it emphasizes the growth and transformation of the office and how it has come to assume its dominant place in the political landscape. Individual presidents are studied to understand not only their own times but also salient issues with which they are associated (Jefferson and Adams with the rise of parties; Andrew Johnson with impeachment; etc.) Intermittent thematic lectures break from the chronological thrust of the course to explore aspects of the presidency in greater depth across time.

HIST W3406 American Beginnings. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of the economic and social history of British North America (with excursions into French, Dutch, and Native American communities) from 1607 to 1763. Major themes will include immigration, community structures, the household economy, slavery and other labor systems, and the cultural transformation of the colonies in the eighteenth century. Group(s): A, D

HIST W3411 The Rise of American Capitalism. 3 points.

E-Commerce & Internet Technologies Track, Managing Emerging Technologies Track, Project Management Track, Discussion Section Required, Lab Required

Examines the social conflicts that accompanied the transformation of the United States from an agrarian republic and slave society to one of the most powerful industrial nations in the world. Particular attention will be paid to the building of new social and economic institutions and to cultural and visual representations of the nation and its people. Readings include major secondary works and primary documents. Formerly: American Society in the age of Capital, 1819-1897. Field(s): US

HIST W3412 Revolutionary America, 1750-1815. 3 points.

This course examines the cultural, political, and constitutional origins of the United States. It covers the series of revolutionary changes in politics and society between the mid-18th and early 19th centuries that took thirteen colonies out of the British Empire and turned them into an independent and expanding nation. Starting with the cultural and political glue that held the British Empire together, the course follows the political and ideological processes that broke apart and ends with the series of political struggles that shaped the identity of the US. Using a combination of primary and secondary materials relating to various walks of life and experience from shopping to constitutional debates, students will be expected to craft their own interpretations of this fundamental period of American history. Lectures will introduce students to important developments and provide a framework from them to develop their own analytical skills. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W3414 Modern American Indian Social and Political History. 4 points.

This undergraduate lecture-seminar is about the making, endurance, and resurgence of modern American Indian nations. We will examine broadly the varied historical experiences of American Indians from the late 19thC to the present, with a special focus on the 20th century. We approach this study with an understanding that American Indians (as well as Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives) are and were actors in history and not just hapless victims of Euro-American imperialism and power. Over the semester, we will focus on the ways indigenous peoples in the United States adapted and responded to the host of stresses that accompanied the rapid and often violent social, cultural, and environmental transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries. We will historicize modern social and political issues in Indian Country and examine the processes of resistance, renewal, accommodation, and change from the reservation era to the present. Particular attention will be paid to the ways native people and their communities have met the challenges they have confronted as they persist in their efforts to preserve their homelands, their cultures, their sovereignty, and their rights to selfdetermination.

HIST W3415 Immigrant New York. 3 points.

This seminar explores the intersection of immigration, race, and politics in New York City, both from the perspective of history and in relation to contemporary realities. In this course we will discuss the ways in which immigration has reshaped the cultural, economic, and political life of New York City both in the past as well as the present. Readings will focus on the divergent groups who have settled in New York City, paying close attention to issues of gender, class, race, the role of labor markets, the law, and urban development.

HIST W3420 The U.S. in the Progressive Era, 1890-1919. 4 points.

Closed to first-year students.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The period known as the "Progressive Era" in the United States witnessed major transformations in American society. We will examine currents of social change and reform in the terms of mass immigration, urbanization, and industrialization; commercialized culture; Jim Crow segregation; and U.S. projects on the world stage. The seminar will include history, historiography, and a term paper based on original research in archival and other primary materials. Field(s): US

HIST W3421 The United States and Empire. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Though the U.S. is unquestionably the world’s most powerful nation, Americans and especially American politicians are reluctant to describe their nation as an imperial one. Drawing on comparative examples and theories of empire, this seminar investigates the diverse theaters of American power (military, colonial, economic, cultural) and the reactions to them, through an imperial lens. How can the concept of empire and the experiences of other empires help to explain the nature and development of the United States? We will analyze the intersection of structure and action in the shaping of American foreign policy, and ponder the shifting meaning of empire in U.S. public discourse. For the final paper, students will apply insights from the course to contemporary topics in U.S. policy and society.   Field(s): US

HIST W3429 Telling About the South. 4 points.

A remarkable array of Southern historians, novelists, and essayists have done what Shreve McCannon urges Quentin Compson to do in William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!--tell about the South--producing recognized masterpieces of American literature.  Taking as examples certain writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, this course explores the issues they confronted, the relationship between time during which and about they wrote, and the art of the written word as exemplified in their work. Group(s): D Field(s): US  Limited enrollment. Priority given to senior history majors. After obtaining permission from the professor, please add yourself to the course wait list so the department can register you in the course.

HIST W3432 The United States In the Era of Civil War and Reconstruction. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The coming of the Civil War and its impact on the organization of American society afterwards. Group(s): D

HIST W3441 Making of the Modern American Landscape. 3 points.

Social history of the built environment since 1870, looking at urban and rural landscapes, vernacular architecture of industry, housing, recreation, and public space. Considers government policies, real estate investment, and public debates over land use and the natural environment. Group(s): D

HIST W3448 US History Since 1945. 3 points.

Topics include the cold War, McCarthyism, the postwar economy, suburbanization, consumer culture, Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, and Watergate. Field(s): US

HIST W3449 American Urban History. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Although images of the frontier and of the west have long dominated the popular imagination of American history, in fact the United States urbanized rapidly in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and 80 percent of the national population now lives in metropolitan areas of more than a million people.  How did big cities respond to issues of race, ethnicity, gender, transportation, housing, open space, and recreation?  The course will feature frequent field trips via ferry, foot, and bus. Field(s): US

HIST W3453 Politics of Slavery and Anti-slavery in the United States. 4 points.

This course examines how Americans definied and redefined the boundaries of freedom from the American Revolution to Reconstruction. In particular, it focuses on how the relationship between slavery and politics shaped the meaning(s) of freedom in this time period and how various political actors defined and manipulated this relationship to advocate for themselves. This course takes a broad definition of politics that includes not just the electoral realm but also the actions of disenfranchised political actors including slaves, women, and freedpeople.

HIST W3458 Public History in America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will explore some of the ways historical subjects can be, and have been, engaged outside of the traditional channels of scholarship. Among the many forms in which history and the historical memory are presented, we will examine exhibits, film and television productions, websites, reenactments, memorials and monuments, historical sites, oral history, performance, et al. We will use interdisciplinary critical literature and our own experiences to examine how this interactive process between the historian, the public, and the historical object/subject represents the American past. The seminar requires students to make visits to public history sites outside of scheduled class time. Field(s): US

HIST W3460 Topics in the History of Women and Gender. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Since the emergence of a field called "women's history" in the early 1970s, the amount of information we have gathered about women has mounted astronomically. Historians have discovered the presence of women in every aspect of American life and culture. In more recent years they have begun to ask a different kind of question. Does it matter?  If so, how?  What is a gender analysis and how, if at all, does it alter the way we look at our past? How does the new knowledge we have acquired change our understanding of America's past? Or does it? This course is intended to introduce you to some of the newest questions now being asked by historians of women and gender and to some of the intriguing information we have uncovered about women in the American past.  Along the way, we will explore how this material shapes our interpretations of U.S. history and examine the relationship between the history of women and the history of gender. Readings are organized roughly chronologically, moving through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and rotating around encounters with some of the most salient ideas in American life, including: Liberty, Democracy, Equality, Individualism, and Nationalism. At each juncture we will ask how introducing a gendered perspective changes our perceptions of the past. Field(s): US

HIST W3478 U.S. Intellectual History, 1865 To the Present. 3 points.

This course examines major themes in U.S. intellectual history since the Civil War. Among other topics, we will examine the public role of intellectuals; the modern liberal-progressive tradition and its radical and conservative critics; the uneasy status of religion ina secular culture; cultural radicalism and feminism; critiques of corporate capitalism and consumer culture; the response of intellectuals to hot and cold wars, the Great Depression, and the upheavals of the 1960s. Fields(s): US

HIST W3481 Culture, Memory and Crisis in Modern US History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

How have Americans used culture as a means of responding to, interpreting, and memorializing periods of social, economic, and political crisis? Do these periods create breaks in cultural forms and practices?  Or do periods of significant upheaval encourage an impetus to defend cultural practices, thereby facilitating the "invention of tradition"? How are the emotional responses produced by critical moments--whether trauma, outrage, insecurity, or fear--turned into cultural artifacts?  And, finally, how are cultural crises memorialized? This course focuses on Americans' cultural responses to the lynching of black Americans in the era of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II to answer these questions. We will examine a wide range of individual and collective cultural expressions, including anti-lynching plays and songs, WPA programs, the 1939 World's Fair, war photographs and radio broadcasts, the zoot suit and swing culture, and the military's effort to preserve culture in European war areas. Field(s): US

HIST W3483 Military History and Policy. 4 points.

This seminar features extensive reading, multiple written assignments, and a term paper, as well as a likely trip to Gettsyburg.  It focuses on the Civil War and on World Wars I and II. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W3488 Warfare in the Modern World. 3 points.

This course is a survey of the transformation of warfare between the American Civil War and 1945. Emphasis will be placed on military strategy, weaponry, and leadership.

HIST W3491 U.S. Foreign Relations, 1890-1990. 3 points.

The aim is to provide an empirical grasp of U.S. foreign relations and to put in question the historiographical views of the periods and critical events that have come up to make that history. Emphasis will be put on determining how "the United States" has been grasped in relation to the world and how historiography has in turn grasped that retrospectively. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W3503 Workers in Industrial and Post-Industrial America. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The history of work, workers, and unions during the 20th century.  Topics include scientific management, automation, immigrant workers, the rise of industrial unionism, labor politics, occupational discrimination, and working-class community life. Field(s): US

HIST W3509 Problems in International History. 4 points.

The general object of this course is to illuminate how histories of the realm we think of as "international" are structured by means of key concepts, foundational concepts that form semantic fields of politics and policy. The seminar this year will be devoted, specifically, to the combined problem of representation, empire and world fairs, the fairs that enjoyed a particular vogue around 1900, outstandingly in France and the United States. Instructor's permission is required; please see: http://www.history.columbia.edu/undergraduate/seminars/index.html for more information.

HIST W3514 Immigrants in American History and Life. 3 points.

The course surveys patterns of migration and immigrant experience from colonial time to the present. Migration to the US is considered as part of the evolving global labor market and colonial expansion in the modern world. The class considers migration in different historical periods, the relationship of immigration to nation-building, national expansion, war, and the production and reproduction of national identity; the history of the legal regulation of immigration; the experience of immigrants in settling and negotiating life in a new society, and political debates surrounding the role of immigration in American society. Course materials include recent historical literature, fiction, primary-source documents, and film. Group(s): D

HIST W3523 History of Health Inequality in the Modern United States. 3 points.

Through assigned readings and a group research project, students will gain familiarity with a range of historical and social science problems at the intersection of ethnic/racial/sexual formations, technological networks, and health politics since the turn of the twentieth century. Topics to be examined will include, but will not be limited to, black women's health organization and care; HIV/AIDS politics, policy, and community response; "benign neglect"; urban renewal and gentrification; medical abuses and the legacy of Tuskegee; tuberculosis control; and environmental justice. There are no required qualifications for enrollment, although students will find the material more accessible if they have had previous coursework experience in United States history, pre-health professional (pre-med, pre-nursing, or pre-public health), African-American Studies, Women and Gender Studies, Ethnic Studies, or American Studies. 

HIST W3528 The Radical Tradition in America. 3 points.

Major expressions of American radicalism, ranging from early labor and communitarian movements to the origins of feminism, the abolitionist movement, and on to Populism, Socialism, and the "Old" and "New" lefts. Field(s): US

HIST W3535 History of the City of New York. 3 points.

The social, cultural, economic, political, and demographic development of America's metropolis from colonial days to present. Slides and walking tours supplement the readings (novels and historical works).Field(s): US

HIST W3540 History of the South. 3 points.

A survey of the history of the American South from the colonial era to the present day, with two purposes: first, to afford students an understanding of the special historical characteristics of the South and of southerners; and second, to explore what the experience of the South may teach about America as a nation. Group(s): D Field(s): US 

HIST W3544 Science and Technology in the United States from Franklin to Facebook. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An exploration in global context of science and technology in the United States and their dynamic roles in the larger society from the colonial period to recent years. Attention will be given to key figures and their contributions to the earth, physical, and biological sciences and to innovators and their achievements.  Among the major topics covered will be exploration, the agricultural, industrial, and information economies, the military and national defense, religion, culture, and the environment. Field(s): US

HIST W3556 Narcotics and the Making of America. 4 points.

This seminar examines the history of narcotics, including sugar, tobacco, alcohol, opiates, and marijuana, in America from the colonial period to the early twentieth-century. It pays particular attention to the intoxicating and stimulating opportunities New World agriculture presented, alcohol- including its role in relations with Native Americans-, how tobacco influenced Chesapeake political culture, the spread of opiates and their medicalization, and the politics of anti-narcotic reform. The course considers the broad matters of economic role, social use, and political context. Students will propose and must receive approval for a twenty-page research paper based on primary sources, and present primary sources for discussion to the class.

HIST W3566 History of American Popular Culture Through Music. 3 points.

This course examines the history of American popular culture through music and radio, beginning in the 1830s with minstrelsy, the first distinctively "American" popular culture, and ending in the 1960s with Motown.  The course acquaints students with key concepts that aim to "read" cultural production and to explore what's unique about culture primarily experienced through the ears.  It examines debates over culture's qualifiers, from popular to mass, high to low. Field(s): US

HIST W3569 U.S. in the Nuclear Age. 4 points.

The dropping of the first atomic bomb at the end of World War II ushered in a new era in American history. From here on, warfare posed the threat of total annihilation and Americans lived with anxiety over atomic weapons. But nuclear power, with the promise of endless energy, also reflected the hopes for a prosperous future. This course explores multiple paths Americans pursued toward securing peace and prosperity in the nuclear age and the challenges they faced along the way. Topics include the Cold War, suburbanization and the new car culture, the environmental movement, the energy crisis of the 1970s, the Middle East and terrorism, nuclear power, and global warming.

HIST W3575 Power and Place: Black Urban Politics. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of African-American history since the Civil War. An emphasis is placed on the black quest for equality and community. Group(s): D Formerly listed as "Explorations of Themes in African-American History, 1865-1945". 

HIST W3584 Race, Technology, and Health. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: previous coursework in African-American history or social science; United States social history; or sociomedical sciences required.

Students will gain a solid knowledge and understanding of the health issues facing African Americans since the turn of the twentieth century. Topics to be examined will include, but will not be limited to, black women's heath organization and care; medical abuses and the legacy of Tuskegee; tuberculosis control; sickle cell anemia; and substance abuse. Group(s): D Field(s): US Formerly listed as "History of African-American Health and Health Movements".

HIST W3588 Substance Abuse Politics in African-American History. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Through a series of secondary- and primary-source readings and research writing assignments, students in this seminar course will explore one of the most politically controversial aspects in the history of public health in the United States as it has affected peoples of color: intoxicating substances. Course readings are primarily historical, but sociologists, anthropologists, and political scientists are also represented on the syllabus. The course's temporal focus - the twentieth century - allows us to explore the historical political and social configurations of opium, alcohol, heroin, cocaine, medical maintenance (methadone), the War on Drugs, the carceral state and hyperpolicing, harm reduction and needle/syringe exchange. This semester's principal focus will be on the origins and evolution of the set of theories, philosophies, and practices which constitute harm reduction. The International Harm Reduction Association/Harm Reduction International offers a basic, though not entirely comprehensive, definition of harm reduction in its statement, "What is Harm Reduction?" (http://www.ihra.net/what-is-harm-reduction): "Harm reduction refers to policies, programmes and practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of psychoactive drugs in people unable or unwilling to stop. The defining features are the focus on the prevention of harm, rather than on the prevention of drug use itself, and the focus on people who continue to use drugs."[1] Harm reduction in many U.S. communities of color, however, has come to connote a much wider range of activity and challenges to the status quo. In this course we will explore the development of harm reduction in the United States and trace its evolution in the political and economic context race, urban neoliberalism, and no-tolerance drug war. The course will feature site visits to harm reduction organizations in New York City, guest lectures, and research/oral history analysis. This course has been approved for inclusion in both the African-American Studies and History undergraduate curricula (majors and concentrators). HIST W4588 will be open to both undergraduate and masters students. To apply, please complete the Google form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xaPFhQOzkl1NHnIjQIen9h41iel2hXAdhV59D5wH8AQ/viewform?usp=send_form. Questions may be directed to skroberts@columbia.edu.  

HIST W3597 Memory and American Narratives of the Self. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will use readings from the interdisciplinary study of memory (theory) to examine published and unpublished American letters, diaries, and autobiographies (practice). With regard to memory, we will be concerned with what is remembered, what is forgotten, and how this process occurs. We’ll explore concepts including collective/shared memory, commemoration, documentation, trauma, nation, autobiography, nostalgia, etc., and we’ll test this theory against written narratives of the self. The goals of the seminar are to explore theoretical concepts of memory, apply them to written examples of memory, and to develop proficiency in the use of these skills inside and outside an academic environment. This is a history course and many of the narratives we will read are American 19th-century texts. These will include, but not be limited to, those on the experience of the Civil War. The course requires participants to commit substantial time outside of class working with unpublished materials in Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library for assignments and as part of a final project. Field(s): US

HIST W3600 Russian and Soviet Jews: On the Move. 3 points.

Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

This is an introductory course for students with no prior knowledge about East European Jewry. It will provide an overview of Jewish life in Russia and the USSR in the modern era. Particular attention will be devoted to the huge changes that East European Jews underwent during these years – a period of repeated wars and massive changes in policy, demography and culture. The goal is to familiarize students with the history and culture of Jews in the former Soviet Union and their diasporas throughout the world.

HIST W3609 Marriage and Kinship in Medieval Egypt. 4 points.

This class will explore the everyday culture reflected in the Geniza manuscripts through the lens of kinship relations and family life. The course will introduce a range of genres of Geniza documents (court records, contracts and deeds, legal responsa, and personal letters). We will read examples of these documents alongside contemporary Jewish legal and literary works, Islamic literature, and recent work in medieval Islamic social history. Taking a comparative approach to this material, we will work to understand how the authors of these documents understood marriage, divorce, and parenthood, and how these relationships positioned individuals economically and socially within the broader communities in which they lived. In the process, you will learn how to use documents and literary sources as evidence for social history, as well as learn a great deal about Jews' everyday life in medieval Egypt.

HIST W3611 Jews and Judaism in Antiquity. 3 points.

Field(s): ANC

HIST W3615 'Tradition, Tradition': Growing Up in the Shtetl. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar will focus on traditional Jewish life, in the Eastern European towns known as shtetlekh, from the early modern period until late 19th century. Through study of various primary sources, mainly memoirs, autobiographies, stories and poetry, we will portray the everyday life, especially childhood and adolescence, and the confrontation between tradition and modernity. Field(s): JEW

HIST W3616 Jews and Christians in the Medieval World. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Medieval Jews and Christians defined themselves in contrast to one another. This course will examine the conditions and contradictions that emerged from competing visions and neighborly relations. It is arranged to comprehend broad themes rather than strict chronology and to engage both older and very recent scholarship on the perennial themes of tolerance and hate. Group(s): A Field(s): JWS

HIST W3618 The Modern Caribbean. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This lecture course examines the social, cultural, and political history of the islands of the Caribbean Sea and the coastal regions of Central and South America that collectively form the Caribbean region, from Amerindian settlement, through the era of European imperialism and African enslavement, to the period of socialist revolution and independence. The course will examine historical trajectories of colonialism, slavery, and labor regimes; post-emancipation experiences and migration; radical insurgencies and anti-colonial movements; and intersections of race, culture, and neocolonialism. It will also investigate the production of national, creole, and transborder indentities. Formerly listed as "The Caribbean in the 19th and 20th centuries". Field(s): LAC 

HIST W3628 History of the State of Israel, 1948-Present. 3 points.

The political, cultural, and social history of the State of Israel from its founding in 1948 to the present. Group(s): C Field(s): ME

HIST W3630 American Jewish History. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Explores the interaction between the changing makeup of Jewish immigration, the changing social and aconomic conditions in the United States, and the religious, communal, cultural, and political group life of American Jews. Group(s): D

HIST W3636 Farming a New/Old Land: Remaking the Jewish Nation in Israel, the Americas and Europe. 3 points.

This is an introductory course for students with an interest in, but no significant prior knowledge, about modern Jewish and Israeli history. The goal of the course is to introduce students to trends in the development of practical ideologies in the Jewish world from the late-nineteenth century onward and also the actual manifestations of these ideologies “on the ground” on four continents. Throughout this period Zionism in its many forms preached the development of the Land of Israel. But other adjacent, and competitive, ideologies sought answers to the “Jewish question” in other places and by other means.  Our main subject will be the relatively unknown history of organized farming in the modern Jewish world that sprouted from these ideologies in the Americas, Europe and, of course, in Palestine/Israel starting in the last decades of the nineteenth century.  Agricultural settlement in the modern Jewish world lies at the intersection of history, national narratives, memory, historiography, economy and politics. We shall explore all of these through the lens of the ideas and practices of these hundreds of thousands of Jewish farmers and their urban supporters. One cannot fully understand the contours of contemporary Israel, or Jewish communities throughout the diaspora, without taking into account the role of these agricultural endeavors.

HIST W3640 Jewish Women and Family, 1000-1800. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will explore the changing lives of Jewish women in the medieval Islamic and Christian worlds, based on readings of primary sources. We will examine Jewish women's roles in religious and ritual life, in the family, in educational systems and in the economy, and we will compare Jewish women's experiences to those of Christian and Muslim women from the medieval through the early-modern period.

Group(s): A

Field(s): JEW/ME

HIST W3644 Modern Jewish Intellectual History. 4 points.

This course analyzes Jewish intellectual history from Spinoza to 1939. It tracks the radical transformation that modernity yielded in Jewish life, both in the development of new, self-consciously modern, iterations of Judaism and Jewishness and in the more elusive but equally foundational changes in "traditional" Judaisms. Questions to be addressed include: the development of the modern concept of "religion" and its effect on the Jews; the origin of the notion of "Judaism" parallel to Christianity, Islam, etc.; the rise of Jewish secularism and of secular Jewish ideologies, especially the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), modern Jewish nationalism, Zionism, Jewish socialism, and Autonomism; the rise of Reform, Modern Orthodox, and Conservative Judaisms; Jewish neo-Romanticism and neo-Kantianism, and Ultra-Orthodoxy.

HIST W3657 Medieval Jewish Cultures. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will survey some of the major historical, cultural, intellectual and social developments among Jews from the fourth century CE through the fifteenth. We will study Jewish cultures from the Christianization of the Roman Empire, the age of the Talmuds, the rise of Islam, the world of the Geniza, medieval Spain, to the early modern period. We will look at a rich variety of primary texts and images, including mosaics, poems, prayers, polemics, and personal letters. Field(s): JEW/MED 

HIST W3659 Crime in Latin America. 4 points.

This seminar will focus on studies that take a historical look at crime in the Latin American context and will bring the discussion to the present. Transnational connections and comparisons will be encouraged, particularly as we explore the history and contemporary phenomenon of drug trafficking, incorporating the United States as a factor and a scene for Latin American crime. Readings, discussions and reports will try to identify commonalities across Latin American and dig deeper on some specific places and moments. In order to do this, we will devote part of the semester to the analysis of primary sources, and will require a research component in the final paper. Group(s): D Field(s): LA

HIST W3660 Latin American Civilization I. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

Latin American economy, society, and culture from pre-Columbian times to 1810. Global Core Approved Group(s): A, D Field(s): *LA 

HIST W3661 Latin American Civilization II. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

Latin American economy, society, and culture from 1810 to present. Group(s): D Field(s): LA 

HIST W3662 Slave Memory in Brazil: Public History and Audiovisual Narratives in Perspective. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The research on the making of racial identities in Brazil and on the history of Brazilian black culture and black social movements have increased significantly in the last twenty years, dialoguing directly with the idea of being part of the African diaspora at the Atlantic. The discussion of the content of audiovisual resources related with this process allows connecting the contemporary discussion about public memory of slavery in Brazil with the globalized perspective of politics of identity in the Atlantic World.

HIST W3663 Mexico From Revolution To Democracy. 3 points.

Twentieth-Century Mexican History from the revolution to transition  to democracy. The Course review politics, society, culture, foreign relations, and urbanization. Group(s): D Field(s): LA

HIST W3673 Latin American Popular Culture. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this course we will study the popular culture of Latin America from a historical perspective. The primary sources, secondary texts, audiovisual materials, and lectures will give students a solid basis to understand the importance of popular culture in the formation of Latin American nationalisms, political processes, economic transformations, and demographic changes. Starting from the time of first contact with the Europeans and going up to the mid-twentieth century, we will focus on art, music, literature, and dance, as well as sports, film, and food. We will explore the role that institutions played in attempting to regulate the daily experiences and interactions among various socioeconomic groups, but we will also study how the "popular classes" contributed to shape the cultural practices of the elites across the continent.

HIST W3674 Cuba and Latin America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this colloquium we will examine what the Cold War meant in a Latin American context and how historians today are interpreting it. We will primarily be focusing on new conceptual frameworks and historiographical trends that have emerged in the last decade as a result of archival openings, oral histories and the publication of memoirs. Although it would be helpful to have a background in US-Latin American relations and/or Latin American history it is not a prerequisite of the course. Because the colloquium is largely structured chronologically, students will gain an understanding of events, turning points, and developments in Latin America throughout the twentieth century that will allow them to understand the region's past. It worth underlining that this is not a course about US interventions in the region, although the United States often contributed to the way in which the Cold War in Latin America unfolded. Instead, we will be focusing squarely on Latin American perspectives and looking at what the Cold War meant to those inside the region. Specifically, we will be addressing the role of ideology and ideological struggles in twentieth-century Latin America; how these ideas responded to the challenges of modernity and development; why Marxism was popular in the region and how it was interpreted; the extent to which it influenced nationalists and revolutionaries; and who opposed it, why, and how. Throughout the semester we will be focusing in on international and intra-regional dimensions to the conflict as well as transnational stories of exile and movements. Students will therefore also be exploring how events in one part of Latin America impacted upon people in other areas of region either directly or indirectly. In this respect, we will be paying particular attention to the overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala, the Cuban Revolution's impact on revolutionary and counter- evolutionary trends in Latin America in the 1960s, the significance of the Brazilian coup of 1964 and the subsequent influence that Brazil's military regime had in shaping politics the Southern Cone. The colloquium is also designed to allow students to examine how Latin American populations, parties, leaders and exiles interacted with their contemporaries in other parts of the world and to draw comparisons. Field(s): LA

HIST W3676 History of Cuba from Late Spanish Colonialiism to the Present. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An exploration of Cuba's late colonial period, wars of independence, republican/neocolonial period, 1933 and 1959 revolutions, and eras under the governments of Fidel and Raúl Castro, including recent history.  Topics considered will include: Cuban sovereignty; the agricultural basis of the Cuban economy under colonialism and neocolonialism; enslaved labor and abolition; social and political struggles, both nonviolent and armed; the development of Cuban nationalisms, with an emphasis on the roles of race, diaspora, and exile in this process; Cuban-U.S. relations over many decades; and Cuba's role as a global actor, particularly after the 1959 revolution. Field(s): LA

HIST W3678 Indigenous Worlds in Early Latin America. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This undergraduate seminar deals with the presence of indigenous peoples in Latin American colonial societies and aims to analyze indigenous responses to conquest and colonization. How did indigenous people see themselves and interact with other groups? What roles did they play in shaping Latin American societies? What spaces were they able to create for themselves? These and similar questions will guide our discussion through the semester. The course will offer a survey of all the main indigenous groups; however, the case studies are by necessity just a selection, and quite a few come from Mexico, reflecting the state of the scholarship in the field.

HIST W3683 Violence and History in Latin America. 4 points.

  This course will build the conceptual tools to understand Latin American violence in a historical perspective. We will look at violence as a component of oppressive power, class and gender relations. We will also consider the productive effects of violence, as violent practices constitute politics, nationalism, masculinity and revolutionary thought. We will also look at the way in which violence, particularly state but also revolutionary violence, generated enduring social efforts to seek justice and preserve the memory of victims. The course will combine readings on theory, history and the social sciences intended to build a historical perspective. In the second half of the semester, the focus will turn to the research and writing of a paper that will be based on primary sources but will also engage the readings from the first part of the semester. 

HIST W3688 1968 in Latin America: Leftist Radicalism and Youth Counterculture in Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course focuses on the cases of Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay to explore the complex relationships between social conflict, youth counterculture, and leftist radicalism which characterized the 1960s all over the region.  In-depth reading and discussion of a number of relevant primary sources and available scholarship in English will build a foundation for thinking through these issues.  In the first part of the class, we will analyze the political mobilization and cultural modernization in the framework of the conflicts that shaped the Cold War in the subcontinent.  After this general introduction, we will focus on 1968 to examine the impact of countercultural ideas and practices on different political traditions, particularly student and leftist politics.  Next we will analyze the rise and fall of the New Left, which challenged the ideological commitment, political strategies, and conservative cultural politics of the traditional left. Discussion will incorporate conventional views and recent academic debates on this shift in the region, which also addressing the spiraling of state repression that forced both old and new groups to reconsider strategies in the three countries under examination.  Finally, students will be encouraged to assess how all of these events and themes echoed in social memory through cultural representations and their increasing power to either legitimize or discredit political positions. Field(s): LA

HIST W3689 Human Rights Activism in Latin America, 1970s-1990s. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Focusing on the cases of  Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, this course examines the birth and development of the movements that protested human rights violations by right-wing authoritarian regimes in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In the first part of the class, we will explore some of the basic concerns that historians, political theorists, and social scientists have raised about authoritarian regimes in late twentieth-century South America. We will aim at concocting a working definition of authoritarianism, discussing the emergence of a new authoritarian model in the Southern Cone and examining the specific challenges confronted by the human rights movements. After this brief survey, the class will focus on the different ways of dealing with the repressive, legal, and political legacies of these regimes. We will analyze the first efforts at denunciation launched by political exiles and transnational human rights groups, as well as the formation of groups of victims' relatives that aimed at exposing ongoing abuses in their countries. We will also study the role of human rights claims during the transitional periods and the ways in which the post-transitional democratic governments faced these calls for accountability. The course will make a basic distinction between concrete legal actions taken to punish those accused of human rights violations, where the state was called to play a decisive role, and more disorganized efforts to know what happened and spread this knowledge to the society at large. We will explore this distinction, discussing how different actors posed their claims and constructed narratives to account for human rights violations and past political violence. This exploration will include the existing literature on justice and truth telling in the politics of transition, as well as scholarship on social memory and historical commemorations. Field(s): LA

HIST W3701 Ottoman Empire. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will cover the seven-century long history of the Ottoman Empire, which spanned Europe, Asia, and Africa as well as the medieval, early modern, and modern periods. The many levels of continuity and change will be the focus, as will issues of confessional diversity, imperial governance, and political belonging within the empire and of the empire within larger regional and global phenomena over the centuries. 

HIST W3705 History of Modern Egypt. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This undergraduate lecture course explores the events and currents that shaped the course of modern Egyptian history over the last two centuries. It ranges from the mid-18th century to present and covers such themes as Egypt under Ottoman, French and British rule; Egypt's dynastic rule, and its relation to neighbouring states in the 19th century; nationalism, modernism and feminism, and the role of cinema, literature and the politics of ideas in the 20th; and, finally, the regimes of Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak and their relation to the region and the wider world. Field(s): ME

HIST W3713 Orientalism and the Historiography of the Other. 4 points.

This course will examine some of the problems inherent in Western historical writing on non-European cultures, as well as broad questions of what itmeans to write history across cultures. The course will touch on therelationship between knowledge and power, given that much of the knowledge we will be considering was produced at a time of the expansion of Western power over the rest of the world. By comparing some of the "others" which European historians constructed in the different non-western societies they depicted, and the ways other societies dealt with alterity and self, we may be able to derive a better sense of how the Western sense of self was constructed. Group(s): C Field(s): ME

HIST W3715 Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Early Islamic World. 4 points.

This seminar examines how religion worked as a social and political category in the early Islamic world. In the seventh century, the Middle East was populated by a diverse mix of Christians, Jews, pagans, and others. By the eleventh century, most of these people’s descendants were Muslims; those who had not converted to Islam were mostly Jews and Christians. This transformation changed what it meant to belong to a religious community, for Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. We will examine this enormous historical change and its outcome, focusing on the social and political contexts of conversion in the first Islamic centuries (7th-10th) and on the social, political, cultural, and intellectual dimensions of religious communal life in the period immediately after (11th-12th centuries).

HIST W3716 History of Islamic Societies. 0 points.

Focus on religions, conversion, ethnic relations, development of social institutions, and the relationship between government and religion. Field(d): ME

HIST W3719 History of the Modern Middle East. 3 points.

BC: Fulfillment of General Education Requirement: Historical Studies (HIS)., BC: Fulfillment of General Education Requirement: Cultures in Comparison (CUL)., CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

This course will cover the history of the Middle East from the 18th century until the present, examining the region ranging from Morocco to Iran and including the Ottoman Empire. It will focus on transformations in the states of the region, external intervention, and the emergence of modern nation-states, as well as aspects of social, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the region. Field(s): ME

HIST W3722 America and the Muslim World. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Taking the events of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath as a point of departure, this course will begin by investigating in parallel histories of two sibling religious societies: Islam and western Christendom.  It will outline the European antecedents of American understandings and misunderstandings of the Muslim world down to World War I in comparison with Muslim experiences with, and selective efforts to appropriate, aspects of European society and thought over the same period. Field(s): INTL

HIST W3732 The Post-Ottoman World. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

In this seminar we will put the histories of the modern Balkans and Middle East in conversation by seeing them through the lens of the "post-Ottoman world." Moving beyond the national histories of countries such as Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia, we will examine the common dilemmas and divergent paths of a variety of groups, institutions, and individual figures throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Field(s): ME

HIST W3742 Modern Turkey. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Bulletin description: In this course we will explore the relationships between intellectual, social, cultural and political history of the Republic of Turkey. We will discuss questions of continuity from the Ottoman Empire, Turkey's predecessor state, and continue through the interwar, Cold War, and post-Cold War periods. Issues to be explored include Turks and their Others, political belonging within Turkey and the place of Turkey in the wider region(s) around it. Field(s): ME

HIST W3755 Oil and the History of Arab Gulf States. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar focuses on how the discovery and exploitation of petroleum at the turn of the 20th century has shaped the formation and consolidation of Arab states of the Persian Gulf, permanently changing the geo-political and social landscape of the Arabian Peninsula. We will study economic, social, and political formations across the Gulf on the eve of the discovery of oil and the attendant transformations that accompanied its exploitation. We will also pay close attention to the role that imperial rivalries and foreign oil companies played in shaping the Gulf states, their economies, systems of rule, foreign relations, borders, and built environment. We also study the populist, anti-imperialist movements of the mid-twentieth century in the context of the "Arab Cold War". Saudi Arabia has received more academic attention than the other Gulf states and thus takes up a larger part of the course, but we will also cover Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Oman. We will read historical, anthropological, literary and political economy studies and oil firm histories, drawing on works on Yemen, Iraq, Iran, and the US, to follow transformations in political, social and economic life in this understudied region that has played a central role in world politics and economy since the 1900s. Field(s): ME

HIST W3764 History of East Africa: Early Time to the Present. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

A survey of East African history over the past two millennia with a focus on political and social change. Themes include early religious and political ideas, the rise of states on the Swahili coast and between the Great Lakes, slavery, colonialism, and social and cultural developments in the 20th century.  This course fulfills the Global Core requirement. Field(s): AFR  

HIST W3772 West African History. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course offers a survey of main themes in West African history over the last millenium, with particular emphasis on the period from the mid-15th through the 20th century. Themes include the age of West African empires (Ghana, Mali, Songhay); re-alignments of economic and political energies towards the Atlantic coast; the rise and decline of the trans-Atlantic trade in slaves; the advent and demise of colonial rule; and internal displacement, migrations, and revolutions. In the latter part of the course, we will appraise the continuities and ruptures of the colonial and post-colonial eras. Group(s): C Field(s): AFR 

HIST W3800 Gandhi's India. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Focus on the history of modern India, using the life and times of Mohandas Gandhi as the basis for not only an engagement with an extraordinary historical figure, but also for a consideration of a great variety of historical issues, including the relationship between nationalism and religion, caste politics in India and affirmative action policies in the United States today, and racism as encountered by Gandhi in relation to colonialism and the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. Field(s): SA 

HIST W3811 South Asia II: Empire and Its Aftermath. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

Prerequisites: None.

(No prerequisite.) We begin with the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, and examine why and how the East India Company came to rule India in the eighteenth century. As the term progresses, we will investigate the objectives of British colonial rule in India and we will explore the nature of colonial modernity. The course then turns to a discussion of anti-colonial sentiment, both in the form of outright revolt, and critiques by early nationalists. This is followed by a discussion of Gandhi, his thought and his leadership of the nationalist movement. Finally, the course explores the partition of British India in 1947, examining the long-term consequences of the process of partition for the states of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We will focus in particular on the flowing themes: non-Western state formation; debates about whether British rule impoverished India; the structure and ideology of anti-colonial thought; identity formation and its connection to political, economic and cultural structures. The class relies extensively on primary texts, and aims to expose students to multiple historiographical perspectives for understanding South Asia's past.

HIST W3859 Asian Migration to the U.S.. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course explores the history of migration from Asia to, and throughout, the United States and North, Central and South America from the late 19th to the early 21st century. The goal of the course is to explore how and why people moved, their experiences in settlement and sojourning and their impact on life in the Americas. The course consists of a combination of readings, discussions, and research workshops.

HIST W3902 History of the World to 1450 CE. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement, Discussion Section Required

This course presents and at the same time critiques a narrative world history from prehistoric times to 1500. The purpose of the course is to convey an understanding of how this rapidly growing field of history is being approached at three different levels: the narrative textbook level, the theoretical-conceptual level, and through discussion sections, the research level. All students are required to enroll in a weekly discussion section. Graded work for the course consists of two brief (5 page) papers based on activities in discussion sections as well as a take-home midterm and a final examination. Field(s): *ANC/ME 

HIST W3903 History of the World from 1450 CE to the Present. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course presents and at the same time critiques a narrative world history from 1500 to the present. The purpose of the course is to convey an understanding of how this rapidly growing field of history is being approahced at three different levels: the narrative textbook level, the theoretical-conceptual level, and, through discussion sections, the research level. All students are required to enroll in a weekly discussion section. Graded work for the courses consists of two brief (5 page) papers based on activities in discussion sections as well as a take-home midterm and final examination. Graduate students who enroll in the course must take a discussion section conducted by the instructor and can expect heavier reading assignments. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W3904 History of Finance. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course surveys the history of modern finance, from the origin of novel banking institutions in early-modern Italy (like the Medici Bank, founded 1397) to the financial crisis of 2008. "Finance," broadly understood as the activity of allocating capital (in particular, money) within communities, will be examined from a variety of historical perspectives-economic, political, intellectual, cultural. While the course often emphasizes "high" finance in centers of Western financial power (Florence in the 1400s, London in the 1800s, New York in the 2000s), careful attention is paid to how financial activities in such global centers have impacted people across different socioeconomic and geographic locations, from "Wall St." to "Main St." and from Illinois to Argentina.

HIST W3906 Quantifying People: A History of Social Science. 3 points.

This course examines the history of the quest to understand human society scientifically. The focus will be on one specific approach to social investigation-quantification-which has been central to the historical development of "social science" and which has become especially esteemed in the 21st-century "data" age. Built around careful reading of primary social-scientific texts, the course will span from the "political arithmetic" of the 17th century through the late 20th century, touching upon the historical aspects of several modern social-science disciplines (economics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, political science). We will explore past attempts to count, calculate, measure, and model many dimensions of human social life: population, wealth, health, happiness, intelligence, crime, deviance, race. We will pay particular attention to how social-scientific numbers have not only reflected, but transformed, the individuals and communities they sought to measure. Readings will include Condorcet, Thomas Malthus, W. S. Jevons, Emile Durkheim, Francis Galton, Franz Boas, Richard Herrnstein & Charles Murray, and Ian Hacking.

HIST W3909 Information Revolutions. 4 points.

Surveying major moments in history of information technologies, this course introduces students to major kinds of historical inquiry-philosophical, engineering, labor, material, social, and cultural-necessary to understand the creation and impact of computers and other information technologies in the last 150 years.

HIST W3911 Medicine and Western Civilization. 4 points.

This seminar seeks to analyze the ways by which medicine and culture combine to shape our values and traditions. To this end, it will examine notable literary, medical, and social texts from classical antiquity to the present.

HIST W3914 Future as History. 4 points.

An introduction to the historical origins of forecasting, projections, long-range planning, and future scenarios. Topics include apocalyptic ideas and movements, utopias and dystopias, and changing conceptions of time, progress, and decline. A key theme is how relations of power, including understandings of history, have been shaped by expectations of the future.

HIST W3919 Modernity and Nation in the Twentieth Century. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course compares and contrasts the paths to modernity of four societies: China, Germany, Japan, and Italy. By adopting a comparative approach, and looking closely at the way that international contexts influenced domestic developments, this course will give students the chance to view history from outside the nation-state focus that tended to dominate history in the past. In this sense, while students are expected to expand their familiarity with the basic history of these countries, more important will be the capacity to think about the world from multiple perspectives. Key topics include national consolidation, the growth of nationalist sentiment, imperialism and fascism, the impact of World War II and the Cold War, and historical memory. Based largely on primary sources, the course presents modernity both as understood by each of these societies and also in its global interconnectedness, an interconnectedness that shapes our world today. Field(s): MEU/EA

HIST W3920 Re-Imagining Cuba, 1868-Present. 3 points.

This course explores Cuban/U.S. relations from the nineteenth century to the present. Drawing upon monographs, travel writings, primary documents, and audio/visual materials, students will examine the complex interactions between the island’s population and their U.S. American neighbors across all facets of society. While this is a course primarily rooted in Cuban history, its primary goal is to encourage students to write transnational histories of Cuban/U.S. interaction. 

HIST W3926 Historical Origins of Human Rights. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Dedicated to four main topics on human rights: 1) long-term origins; 2)short-term origins; 3) evolution through the present; 4) moral defenses and ideological criticisms Field(s): INTL

HIST W3929 War and Memory. 4 points.

This course provides an overview on the remembering of wars and conflicts, at a global scale, in the 20th and 21th centuries. It intends to present how and why this issue became a central one in contemporary politics, culture, and society. It is based on my own research and a large experience as an expert for many French and European private and public institutions. It offers first a general framework, presenting the theories and methods used in the field of “Memory Studies” through the writings of major authors like Maurice Halbwachs and the invention of the concept of “collective memory”, or Pierre Nora and the invention of the “history of memory”. It addresses than a series of examples throughout contemporary history: the memory of WWI and WWII in a short and a long-term perspective; the question of the Holocaust; the issue Colonial wars, Communism, and the memory of other Genocides in the XXth and XXIth centuries. It ends with the study of some specific testimonies and monuments, in a comparative perspective. 

HIST W3940 Science Across Cultures. 3 points.

HIST W3943 Cultures of Empire. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Empires have been consistent - but ever changing - forms of rule in the modern world. This course explores how empires and imperialism have connected the world by forging new forms of politics and culture from 1850 to 2011. It examines key dimensions of imperialism such as nationalism, capitalism, racism, and fascism in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America. Based largely on primary sources - novels, memoirs, official documents, and visual arts, including photographs and film - the course presents imperialism both as experienced in different societies and also in its global interconnectedness. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W3948 Capitalism in Crisis 2007-2015: A Global History of the Great Recession. 4 points.

The Financial Crisis that struck the United States and Europe in 2007 is the most severe in history. We are still living with its fall out. This course will explore the history of the crisis and the political reaction to it. We will explore how the crisis radiated out from the Atlantic economy where it originated to the rest of the world economy.

HIST W3979 Childhood and Policy in Europe & the U.S.. 4 points.

This course explores the relationship between changing perceptions of childhood and the development of social policies over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the United States and Europe. Conceiving of childhood as a social construct, rather than a fixed and biological stage of life, historians of childhood have focused on the experiences of children to understand how society perceives of itself and how it has been affected by economic, political, intellectual, and social shifts over time. In this course, we will ask what might explain similarities and differences in how childhood was perceived across regions and cultures? The course focuses on how various class, racial, and gender inequalities affected the material experience of children in the past and how these clashed with ideologies of childhood, examining whether it is possible for a child to not experience a childhood. We will also concentrate on the place of children in the emergence of welfare state programs, paying particular attention to the burgeoning influence of the medical and social sciences. We will ask: what is the relationship between children and the national community? What are some of the instrumental ways in which childhood was used to shape the values or norms of the citizenry? How did concerns about child protection, and tensions regarding the public or private responsibility for children’s well-being, shape the formation of social policy?

HIST W3993 Healthcare and the Welfare State. 4 points.

This course examines state-based guarantees to healthcare through a comparative analysis of different welfare states. It asks why unlike most other advanced, industrial, and wealthy countries, the United States has not guaranteed a right to healthcare. Depending on the country, the place of healthcare amidst other demands for social insurance, which includes unemployment benefits, parental leave, childcare, and pensions varies widely. This course aims towards a closer understanding of the political and social choices that influence whether healthcare is a social right.

HIST W3997 World War II in History and Memory. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An exploration of the changes in public memory of World War Two in different countries in Asia, Europe, and North America over the past sixty-five years, with particular attention to the heightened interest in the war in recent decades and the relation of this surge of memory to what we used to call history. Field: INTL

HIST W4001 The Eastern Mediterranean in the Late Bronze Age. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A comparative study of the histories of Egypt, the Near East, Anatolia, and the Aegean World in the period from c. 1500-1100 BC, when several of the states provide a rich set of textual and archaeological data. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4007 Development of the Greek City-State. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will trace the development of the polis or city-state as the dominant socio-political unit in ancient Greece, looking at how and why this development took place and what effect it had on Greek society and culture. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4008 Wealth and Poverty in the Classical World. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

The seminar will combine cultural with economic history, but with more stress on the former. The aim is to investigate the meaning of being rich and being poor among the Greeks and Romans, that is to say in a pre-industrial society, with special attention to methods of research. We shall discuss among other topics ways of getting rich, contempt for wealth, safety nets, ostentation, consumption choices, bribery, markers of well-being - and money. The time period will extend from Homer to about 250 CE. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4010 The Roman World in Late Antiquity. 4 points.

This course explores the social history, cultural and economic history of the Roman Empire in late antiquity.  This period, from 284 to 642 AD, begins with the accession of Diocletian and ends with the Islamic conquest of Egypt.  The course focuses primarily on the eastern half of the Roman Empire, which presents a political unity absent from the western half of the Roman Empire and its successor states in the same period.  It will explore the decline of traditional (pagan) religions and the role of Christianity in this period.  The rise of monasticism; the role of Christian holy men; and the doctrinal disputes that caused internal rifts throughout the Christian world will require special attention.  The course will approach the social history of the city and the countryside through specific case studies: riots in Alexandria and peasant agency in Syria and Egypt.  The course will explore the poetry, rhetoric and philosophy that comprised an important part of elite culture in this period, and also attempt to use chariot racing and the circus factions to access the culture of the masses.  Exploration of economic history will focus on an emerging gap in the field’s historiography between materialists who see the period as one of rising oppression of the peasantry by a profit-driven elite on the one hand and papyrologists who see a risk-averse elite working alongside an entrepreneurial and growing middle class on the other hand.  The semester will close with a study in micro-history, the Roman Egyptian village of Aphrodito, its leading families and its agricultural working classes whose lives are recorded in the documentary papyri.

HIST W4024 The Golden Age of Athens. 4 points.

The 5th century BCE, beginning with the Persian Wars, when the Athenians fought off the might of the Persian Empire, and ending with the conclusion of the Peloponnesian War in 404, is generally considered the "Golden Age" of ancient Athens. This is the century when Athenian drama, both tragedy and comedy, throve; when the Greeks began to develop philosophy at Athens, centered around the so-called "Sophistic movement" and Sokrates; when classical Greek art and architecture approached perfection in the monuments and sculptures of the great Athenian building programs on and around the Akropolis. This seminar will cover the political, military, economic, social, and cultural history of Athens' "Golden Age". Much of the course reading will be drawn from the ancient Athenian writing themselves, in translation. Everyone will be required to read enough to participate in weekly discussions; and all students will prepare two oral reports on topics to be determined. The course grade will be based on a ca. 20-25 page research paper to be written on an agreed upon topic. Group(s): A Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4045 Rome: A Preindustrial Metropolis. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Ancient Rome from the 1st century BCE to the beginning of the 5th Century  AD had about one million inhabitants. This demographic density is an exceptional feature among all preindustrial societies, equalled by London only at the beginning of the nineteenth century.. After a short theoretical introduction to the subject of urbanism in pre-industrial societies and in particular in the classical period, the seminar will focus on  three issues: the demographic trend of the city, the grain and water supply and the actual organization of water and grain distribution, and  the role of the imperial court and government in building activities, feeding the people and assuring basic administrative services. Special attention will be paid to quantitative aspects of the social and economic history of the city. A wide range of sources will be examined: literary and juridical texts, inscriptions, archaeological and topographic evidence. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4046 Egypt, Ethiopia and Nubia in Late Antiquity. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This is a fifteen-week undergraduate seminar.  It is designed to provide an introduction to the late antique period of the three great civilizations of the ancient Nile Valley, Egypt, Ethiopia and Nubia.  Course material will cover the social and religious history of Egypt under Roman rule; the collapse of the ancient Nubian civilization of Meroe; the emergence of its independent successor kingdoms; the birth of a centralized and literate society in the Ethiopian highlands; the Christianization of Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia; and the survival of all three civilizations in the early medieval period, Egypt under Islamic rule and Nubia and Ethiopia as independent powers. Field(s): ANC*

HIST W4053 Roman Coins in Context. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course introduces students to the study of coins as historical disciplines. It will provide a survey of the production and use of coinage in the Roman world from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.  Students will also asses the contribution that the study of coinage makes to the study of Roman social, economic, and political history. The majority of the course will take place at the American Numismatic Society. Field(s): *ANC

HIST W4061 Medieval Society, Politics, and Ethics: Major Texts. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar examines major texts in social and political theory and ethics written in Europe and the Mediterranean region between the fifth and the fifteenth centuries CE.  Students will be assigned background readings to establish historical context, but class discussion will be grounded in close reading and analysis of the medieval sources themselves. Field(s): MED

HIST W4063 Love and Hate in the Early Medieval Societies. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will examine the role of love and hate and their changing place in the culture of the elite groups from Late Antiquity to the twelfth century. Medieval chronicles, poems, letters and legal texts, both religious and civil, will be used, deconstructed and decoded with a special attention to gender and to the emotional relations between men and women. Field(s): MED

HIST W4065 Urban Culture in the Dutch Golden Age. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In the celebrated words of the 17th-century English ambassador Sir William Temple the Dutch Republic was "the fear of some, the envy of others, and the wonder of all their neighbors." This course introduces students to this powerful new state that arose from the epic revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule in the late sixteenth century. It analyzes how the federation of seven ‘united' provinces, a political anomaly in a time of centralized monarchies, became an economic superpower. A modern ‘bourgeois' society dominated by merchants and professional administrators rather than by noblemen, prelates, and aristocrats, the Dutch Republic built a colonial empire reaching from Brazil to Japan. It was the first European state to practice religious toleration on a large scale, while it produced artistic riches by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Hals that are still treasured today. This course provides a varied and dynamic picture of a highly urbanized society in a period that the Dutch with good reason call their ‘Golden Age'.   Field(s): EME

HIST W4076 Devotional Objects in Medieval and Early Modern Christianity. 4 points.

This course will consider the history of religious objects from ca. 1200 to ca. 1600 mostly in northern Europe, examining both what kind of religious "charge" they carried and what sorts of ambivalence and/or rejection they met with in the period of the Protestant Reformation. Although we will spend approximately half the course time studying examples of what we would today call "art"-that is panel paintings, miniatures, and statues-we will place these in the context of other sorts of things (for example, relics of the saints, the Eucharist, and religious clothing) that also expressed the sacred through their materiality, as well as in the context of written sources.

HIST W4081 Building Forever: Rome through its Monuments, Antiquity and the Middle Ages. 4 points.

How did a small Italian settlement by the Tiber River rise to become the capital of a vast Mediterranean Empire? How did this same city reinvent itself as the spiritual capital of Western Christendom? How were these dramatic changes registered, recorded, remembered, forgotten or erased in the urban fabric? This course ‘reads’ the multilayered city of Rome from its origins through the Middle Ages: Part I: From Village to Empire; Part II: A Christian Capital; Part III: Reform and Renewal in the Middle Ages. Each meeting focuses on select sites or monuments in the city, each paired with a primary text, to consider larger economic, social, cultural, religious, and political changes taking place in Rome and the impact that they had on the urban landscape. Throughout, we will delve into the methodological challenges faced by scholars in understanding these changes. Students will be encouraged to think creatively about the intersections of history and legend and the participation of monuments in their wider urban setting.

HIST W4101 The World We Have Lost: Daily Life in Pre-Modern Europe. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

What was daily life like for the "average" European in pre-industrial society? This course will examine the material circumstances of life in Europe from 1400-1800, and will investigate how historians are able to enter into the inner life and mental world of people who lived in past. How did people respond intellectually and emotionally to their material circumstances? The readings and discussions in the course aim to examine such questions, with an eye both to learning about the material conditions of life in pre-modern Europe, and to understanding the techniques by which historians are able to make the imaginative leap back into the mental world of the past. Field(s): *EME

HIST W4103 Empires and Cultures of the Early Modern Atlantic World. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course follows historical developments in the Atlantic World-across Western Europe, the Americas, West Africa, and-from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth century. It highlights both the comparative, structural evolutions of European colonial empires and the cultural experiences and perspectives of Atlantic World inhabitants-including soldiers, merchants, slaves, missionaries, and revolutionaries. 

HIST W4104 Family, Sexuality & Marriage in Pre-Modern Europe. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This course examines the meaning of marriage in European culture from the early Middle Ages until the eighteenth century, concentrating on the period from 1200 to 1800. It begins with a study of Jewish and Christian teachings about marriage – the nature of the conjugal bond, the roles of men and women within marriage, and marital sexuality. It traces changes in that narrative over the centuries, analyzes its relationship to actual practice among various social groups, and ends in the eighteenth century with an examination of the ideology of the companionate marriage of modern western culture and its relation to class formation. Group(s): A Field(s): EME

HIST W4110 French America, 1534-1804. 4 points.

A study of the French Atlantic World from the exploration of Canada to the Louisiana Purchase and Haitian Independence, with a focus on the relationship between war and trade, forms of intercultural negotiation, the economics of slavery, and the changing meaning of race. The demise of the First French Colonial Empire occurred in two stages: the British victory at the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, and the proclamation of Haitian Independence by insurgent slaves in 1804. The first French presence in the New World was the exploration of the Gulf of St. Lawrence by Jacques Cartier in 1534. At its peak the French Atlantic Empire included one-third of the North American continent, as well as the richest and most productive sugar and coffee plantations in the world. By following the history of French colonization in North America and the Caribbean, this class aims to provide students with a different perspective on the history of the Western hemisphere, and on US history itself. At the heart of the subject is the encounter between Europeans and Native Americans and between Europeans and Africans. We will focus the discussion on a few issues: the strengths and weaknesses of French imperial control as compared with the Spanish and the British; the social, political, military, and religious dimensions of relations with Native Americans; the extraordinary prosperity and fragility of the plantation system; evolving notions of race and citizenship; and how the French Atlantic Empire shaped the history of the emerging United States. The course is designed for advanced undergraduates. It will be open to graduate students by permission of the History DGS and the instructor.

HIST W4113 Popular Culture in the Late Medieval Low Countries. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Court records surviving from the late medieval centuries -- the time of Chaucer and Boccaccio, the time of some of Europe’s most splendid courts, the time when cities like Venice and Bruges were at their height -- often contain lively records of popular culture – how people thought about the world, about their family, friends and neighbors, about their rulers, their God, and even their bodies. Court registers, verdicts by judges, notes of the bailiffs in their accounts, investigations of the prosecutors, critical examinations of eyewitnesses, and any other type of judicial  document surviving from this age often reveal human emotions, describe people’s motivations, document their blunders, and report their gossip. Among such sources, letters of remission, which princes issued to grant pardons to criminals of various kinds, are perhaps the most precious. Such documents cannot, however, be read straight, as though they were perfectly reliable accounts of facts or feelings. Rather they are laden with many contradictions. Rival accounts of the same events by the various involved parties and witnesses, outright lies, the biases of judges, narratives designed to please or mislead the rulers -- all such factors render any “pardon letter,” as these documents are known, a difficult, even if an incomparably rich, source. They need a significant effort of critical decoding. This course will focus on how we can use a collection of such letters surviving from the Low Countries, where commercial cities thrived and one of Europe’s most elegant courts was situated, to gain insight into late medieval society – its rich and poor, women and men, city-dwellers and peasants. Field(s): *MED

HIST W4115 Culture, Politics, and the Economy in the Low Countries in the Later Middle Ages. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course will examine the relation between a rich and urban elite and artistic creativity during The Low Countries' several and successive ‘Golden Ages'. Therefore, the course will address the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century, Antwerp and Brabant from c. 1480 to c. 1580, and the southern Low Countries as a whole from c. 1380 to c. 1480. The following questions will be considered: Who were the sponsors, and why did they invest in specific artistic genres? Why did the gravity centers regularly shift to a neighboring region, from south to north? What were the reasons for the dynamics in the system as a whole, which surely also have political dimensions? All these questions will be discussed for the period from the 13th to the 16th-early 17th century, keeping in mind that these patterns may have a more general character. Field(s): EME

HIST W4120 Witchcraft and the State in Early Modern Europe. 3 points.

Tens of thousands of women and men died as a result of witchcraft trials in early modern Europe.  The same period witnessed the consolidation of the territorial state in many parts of Europe and the rise of modern science.  How are these developments related?  Through primary and secondary readings, this course examines the phenomenon of witchcraft belief and trials in Europe. This course involves reading a sequence of books about philosophy and politics: more specifically, about what it might mean to forge a convincing philosophy of modern political life.  This historical goal is following the development of a specific tradition of theoretical inquiry about politics (and eventually about democracy and human rights).  The chronological and historcial focus is on France, in the postwar years, and Russian history

HIST W4125 Censorship and Freedom of Expression in Early Modern Europe. 0 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

In this course we will examine theoretical and historical developments that framed the notions of censorship and free expression in early modern Europe. In the last two decades, the role of censorship has become one of the significant elements in discussions of early modern culture. The history of printing and of the book, of the rise national-political cultures and their projections of control, religious wars and denominational schisms are some of the factors that intensified debate over the free circulation of ideas and speech. Indexes, Inquisition, Star Chamber, book burnings and beheadings have been the subjects of an ever growing body of scholarship. Field(s): EME

HIST W4127 Enlightenment and its Critics: Montaigne & Skepticism. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar examines Montaigne's double-sided skepticism regarding our capacity for knowledge and the wisdom of pursuing it, which inspired both partisans and critics of the modern Enlightenment.  Group(s): A; Field(s): EME

HIST W4147 A Botanical History of European Expansion, 1400-1850. 4 points.

This course investigates the connection between plants and European empires from roughly 1450 to 1850. The search for spices and other Asian luxury goods compelled Europeans to cross the Atlantic. Instead, they stumbled upon continents that were new to them and held great riches of their own. They found both new plants, like tobacco and potatoes, and lands suitable for growing exotic Old World crops, like sugar and coffee. To capitalize on the riches these plants promised, empires imported slaves, destroyed civilizations, altered landscapes, and transformed cultures. Plants made the global world in which we live. In this seminar, you will meet a diverse cast of characters: monarchs who financed the search for new botanicals; seafarers and merchants who helped take them all over the world; unfree and indigenous laborers who grew them; and the everyday men, women, and children who consumed them. By considering how plants and their products were grown, bought, sold, used, and circulated, this course will provide cultural, economic, and environmental histories of European empires in the early modern era.

HIST W4152 Byzantine Encounters: Western Europeans in Constantinople, Byzantine Culture in Western Europe. 4 points.

This course examines western Europeans' encounters with Constantinople and Byzantine culture after the separation of the "Latin" from the "Greek." We will follow merchants, pilgrims and merchants as they visit, trade with, or march into Constantinople, study the sources they have left recording their impressions and their encounters, and consider what westerners took from Byzantium in the way of art forms, learning, sociopolitical practices, and material artifacts.

HIST W4155 Christian Missions in the Early Modern World. 4 points.

This course follows the spread and transformation of Christianity by Western missionaries in American, African, and Asian settings, from the late fifteenth through early nineteenth centuries. We examine what missionaries preached and urged others to believe and practice, and also what motivated missionaries, mission converts, and those who resisted proselytization. We also examine missions as sites of intercultural and colonial encounters with long-term impacts on politics, wars, and social dynamics.

HIST W4176 Into the East: European Merchants in Asian Markets, ca. 1300-1800. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An examination of medieval and early modern European merchants' entry into the global commercials economy then centered in various Asian markets.  The course begins in the late Middle Ages, when Europe was a minor outposts of the world economy, and ends about 1800, when european merchants, in alliance with national states, were competing to control Asian markets. Field(s): EME

HIST W4180 Conversion in Historical Perspective. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Boundary crossers have always challenged the way societies imagined themselves. This course explores the political, religious, economic, and social dynamics of religious conversion. The course will focus on Western (Christian and Jewish) models in the medieval and early modern periods. It will include comparative material from other societies and periods. Autobiographies, along with legal, religious and historical documents will complement the readings. Field(s): *JWS

HIST W4189 Composing the Self in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course explores manners of conceiving and being a self in early modern Europe (ca. 1400-1800). Through the analysis of a range of sources, from autobiographical writings to a selection of theological, philosophical, artistic, and literary works, we will address the concept of personhood as a lens through which to analyze topics such as the valorization of interiority, the formation of mechanist and sensationalist philosophies of selfhood, and, more generally, the human person's relationship with material and existential goods. This approach is intended to deepen and complicate our understanding of the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and other movements around which histories of the early modern period have typically been narrated. Field(s): EME

HIST W4197 You Are What You Eat: A History of Thinking About Food. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A survey of the relationships between medical expertise and human dietary habits from Antiquity to the present, giving special attention to the links between practical and moral concerns and between expert knowledge and common sense. Field(s): EME

HIST W4200 Beyond Serfdom: History of Modern Eastern and Central Europe. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The emancipation of serfs in Prussia, Habsburg empire and Russia (1780s to 1860s) coincided with the process of rejection of slavery. All over the globe, the acts of emancipation unleashed political contestations, socioeconomic experiments and population policies that targeted former serf/slaves and generations of their descendants. Postemancipation as a predicament of the nineteenth and twentieth-century Eastern and Central Europe, in other words, the abolition of serfdom and its historical significance, is the keynote of the seminar. We will focus on pivotal issues in Eastern and Central European modernity: unfree/free labor, backwardness/progress, mass emigration vs. access to ethnic nationalism, as well as politics of class, race and ethnicity from the Enlightement to the establishment of communist rule. The seminar asks: what happened to the populations and economies of the region in the wake of enserfed labor? How can we historically relate postemancipation Eastern and Central Europe to postemancipation societies in other parts of the modern world? Students of modern Europe, but also those interested in modern history of bondage, labor, empire and social migrations are welcome.

HIST W4202 Early Modern Eastern Europe 1500-1800. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course concentrates on the early modern period (roughly 1500 to 1800) and addresses the history of the region which includes mainly the territories of present day Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. The course presents the history of the region through the analysis of such important pan-European processes as the growth of empires and absolutism, the Reformation and revival of Catholicism, the Enlightenment and urbanization. It also emphasizes that that region's culture and society were in many ways unique and distinctive from the West European civilization.

HIST W4206 Power and Violence in Russian History. 4 points.

Each meeting of this seminar will consider a particular way in which power was structured and exercised in Imperial and Soviet Russia, looking at violence in its various manifestations, at the role of law in containing it, and at the changing ways Russia's rulers represented their personal authority. Through a combination of novels, memoirs, and selected scholarly texts, we will also examine Russians' traditional obsession with war and all things military; the development of modern terrorism, secret police, and political repression; and power hierarchies within families and communities.

HIST W4214 The Era of Witness: Twentieth Century Poland in Personal Accounts. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The course explores the dramatically changing human landscape of modern Poland through personal narratives (diaries, letters, memoirs) and social documentation (autobiography contests, life-record method, and the Oyneg Shabes Archive in the Warsaw ghetto). The course serves as an introduction to key personal experiences of the Poland's twentieth century: social distress, emigration and forced dislocation, genocide, and political violence. We will reflect critically on the main categories of "the era of the witness," such as personal experience and literary responses to it, testimony, memory and eye-witnessing. The course aims to broaden, both historically and conceptually, our understanding of the witness as an iconic figure of the twentieth-century atrocities by including the East Central European tradition of personal writing and social documentation of the interwar and postwar periods. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4223 Personality and Society in 19th-Century Russia. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

A seminar reviewing some of the major works of Russian thought, literature, and memoir literature that trace the emergence of intelligentsia ideologies in 19th- and 20th-century Russia. Focuses on discussion of specific texts and traces the adoption and influence of certain western doctrines in Russia, such as idealism, positivism, utopian socialism, Marxism, and various 20th-century currents of thought. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4225 The Future of the Soviet Union: New Approaches to the Soviet Past. 4 points.

The Soviet Union ceased to exist within living memory. Its dissolution largely coincided with the end of much of the post-World-War-Two international order, whether called Cold War or Détente. We are still living through the reverberations of these two "ends of history." One consequence is that our perspective on Soviet history has been changing and will continue to change.  This course will introduce its participants to what is new about the Soviet past. It will combine approaches that are mostly still new when applied to Soviet history (subaltern studies or the history of sexuality, for instance), topics that are largely new (capitalism, for instance), and topics that are traditional (revolution or Communism, for instance), which we will seek to look at in a fresh way. Focusing on what is new does not mean to exclude the "classics"; in fact, sometimes it means to return to them.   Field(s); MEU

HIST W4227 Empire and Nation: Nationality Issues in the Russian Empire. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This senior seminar deals with nationalist challenges and nationality policies in imperial Russia. Particular emphasis will be placed on the imperial policies vis-à-vis national peripheries (primarily Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic, and Volga region) as well as religious minorities (particularly Jews, Roman Catholics, and Muslims). We will also analyze the relationship between the imperial government and Russian nationalism. The gap between nation and empire in Russia will be considered. The main chronological focus of the seminar is the long nineteenth century, the late eighteenth-the early twentieth centuries. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4235 Central Asia: Imperial Legacies, New Images. 4 points.

This course is designed to give an overview of the politics and history of the five Central Asian states, including Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan starting from Russian imperial expansion to the present. We will examine the imperial tsarist and Soviet legacies that have profoundly reshaped the regional societies’ and governments’ practices and policies of Islam, gender, nation-state building, democratization, and economic development. Field(s): ME/EA

HIST W4250 The Other Global Village: Cinema under State Socialism. 4 points.

The rise, decline, and fall of the Soviet Union, the first Communist state (and great power), and its postwar sphere of hegemony in Central and Eastern Europe largely coincided with the development and pervasive spread of a defining technology of twentieth-century modernity: film and cinema. Moreover, while Communism in power was always authoritarian, massively violent over substantial periods, and consistently hostile to individual freedom and self-expression for masses as well as cultural elites, many of the classic masterpieces of cinema were produced by artists working under Communist regimes. These regimes were modern and modernizing but illiberal and societies under Communist rule were not open. Yet their film-makers and audiences were never entirely cut off from the rest of the world, quite the opposite: film was an area of human activity and experience in which global interaction, influence, and emulation was woven into as well as constantly tearing at the texture of ideological divides and geopolitical rivalries that shaped the last century. In sum, film offers us a way to learn about the true complexity of a paradoxical century that witnessed two World Wars, one Cold War, and the somehow apparently inexorable shrinking of global imaginary space. In this course, we will not be able to explore all the possibilities offered by film as a quintessential cultural artifact of modernity and we will also not be able to cover films, schools, or countries comprehensively. But we will be able to use film selectively to reflect about the history of Communism (as realized in the former Soviet Union and it client states) and we will use Communism to think about the place of film in modernity. We will watch and discuss select movies and read a sample of texts. Field(s):MEU

HIST W4271 Rock-n-Roll, Western Films, and a Crisis of Soviet Identity: Problems of Cultural Consumption in Ukraine after Stalin. 4 points.

Traditionally, for their studies of late (after Stalin) socialism in the Soviet Union, a majority of post-Soviet and Western scholars use only material from Moscow and Leningrad/St. Petersburg, ignoring provincial cities and towns, especially in non-Russian Soviet republics such as Ukraine. This Moscow/Leningrad centered and Russian focused approach does not allow to understand not only the “late socialist” developments in provincial Soviet society, but also completely ignores and misinterprets the apparent anti-Soviet character of the recent political events in post- Soviet space such as Maidan Revolution. These recent events also demonstrated the important role of cultural consumption and visual media in identity formation and national mobilization in post-Soviet politics. Therefore, using the new research based on the archival material from Ukraine and the recent studies on cultural production and consumption, this seminar challenges the traditional Moscowcentered interpretations of Soviet History and explores how consumption of the western cultural products, such as popular music, books and movies, contributed to the crisis of Soviet identity in Ukraine after Stalin. This seminar also offers a historical comparison of the popular cultural consumption in the West and Soviet Ukraine during the Cold War between 1953 and 1991, showing a process of indigenization of Western popular culture in the Ukrainian context. Major focus of seminar’s discussions is on historical role of popular music, films and television in identity formation and cultural politics in Soviet and post-Soviet Ukraine. Students will read a core set of course reading as noted below, but will be expected to develop their own research/reading projects on a topic of their individual interest – to be approved by the instructor.

HIST W4281 Culture in Polish Lands. 4 points.

There are few places in the world that witnessed the shift from the multi-ethnic territory to the nationally homogenous nation-state as much as Polish lands. Crucial site of collapse of Central and Eastern European empires, the Holocaust, ethnic cleansings, Nazi occupation, Soviet-style socialism and the EU-accession, Poland’s twentieth-century and contemporary culture has developed in the shadow of catastrophe and political economic revolutions. This seminar investigates shifting meanings of cultural difference and sameness since 1918 until present, including Polish debates on multiculturalism spurred by the ongoing European refugee crisis. We will look at meanings attached to peoples, things and landscapes - Polish, Jewish Ukrainian, German or Soviet - through the lens of visual arts, objects of everyday life, scholarly discourses as well urban and rural topographies. The cultural responses to the political transformations, wars and revolutions include StanisÅ‚aw Lem’s philosophy of chance, creation of socialist cities and the remaking of Jewish and German spaces. While we will pay special attention to historiography of the twentieth-century Eastern Europe, the course relies on interdisciplinary approaches and welcomes students interested in history of arts and architecture, intellectual history anthropology, cultural studies, including critical museology. 

HIST W4285 Post-Stalinism: The Soviet Union and Its Successor Societies, 1953-2012. 4 points.

This class focuses on the history of the Soviet Union and Russia between the death of Stalin/the end of totalitarianism and the present. It spans the turning-point date of 1991 when the Soviet Union abolished itself and was replaced by successor states, the most important of which is Russia. Not ending Soviet history with 1991 and not beginning Russian history with it either, we will seek to understand continuities as well as change. We will also draw on a diverse set of texts (and movies), including history, political science, journalism, fiction, and memoirs, feature and documentary movies. Geographically weighted toward Russia (and not the other also important successor states), in terms of content, this class concentrates on politics and society, including, crucially, the economy. These concepts, however, will be understood broadly. To come to grips with key issues in Soviet and Russian history in the historically short period after Stalinist totalitarianism, we will have to pay close attention to not only our analytical categories, but also to the way in which the political and the social have been understood by Soviet and Russian contemporaries. The class will introduce students to crucial questions of Russia's recent past, present, and future: authoritarianism and democratization, the role of the state and that of society, reform and retrenchment, communism and capitalism, and, last but not least, the nature of authority and legitimacy. 

HIST W4287 Russian Rulers: History and Myth. 4 points.

To this day, the power of Russia's rulers often appears to be uncommonly expansive and even consecrated by its centuries-old tradition of monarchical government. This course will begin with medieval Eastern Slavic conceptions of kingship and focus on the emergence and development of unlimited monarchy as a key political institution in Russia, discussing the ways in which ordinary individuals -rich and poor- responded to these presentations. We will consider several of Russia's most prominent historical figures as case studies, including Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas II, as well as Stalin, described by one recent biographer as the "red tsar.

HIST W4288 Russia at War, 1462-1945. 4 points.

This seminar introduces students to the impact of the military and war on Russia’s politics, culture, and society, beginning with the “military revolution” of the 15th-17th century and ending with Russia’s role in the two world wars. The course is organized chronologically to cover the major European and world-wide conflicts in which Russia and the early Soviet Union participated, as well as the “small” wars of imperial conquest. Throughout the course, we will focus on the connections between Russia’s geopolitical situation, technological changes, and the impact of wars and of the military on Russian daily life and on the mentalities and culture of ordinary Russians. All of these events and issues are crucial for understanding today’s Russia. This course will rely on a wealth of exciting new scholarship, as well as several carefully chosen primary sources, including fiction and film.

HIST W4295 Wars within a War: A History of the Second World War in Eastern Europe. 4 points.

Traditionally, the Second World War on the Eastern Front has been analyzed as a military conflict between two behemoths, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, as well as a battle driven by two personalities, Stalin and Hitler (due to the “Great Man” theory of history). However, since the fall of the Soviet Union and opening up of eastern European archives, a reevaluation of this conflict through the lenses of local populations and local conflicts has begun. Scholars have begun to tackle the complex issues of collaboration/resistance, nationalist uprisings, inter-ethnic conflict, and local internecine struggles that are shot through this larger war. Nowhere are these struggles more apparent than in the lands that make up current-day Ukraine. This seminar will analyze new scholarship on these controversial topics in the Eastern European borderland region, with a focus on Ukraine as the centerpiece. Students will become acquainted with the literature on these topics and learn to think critically not only about how these topics relate to the larger history of the Second World War, but how they influence politics and society in contemporary Eastern Europe.

HIST W4300 Modern Greece. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This is an undergraduate research seminar which will allow students with an interest in the Balkans, eastern Europe and the Ottoman empire to trace in detail the emergence of the independent Greek nation-state in the early 19th century and to draw on contemporary literature and the secondary historiography to evaluate theories of ethnicity, nationalism and state formation. It is open to all students with a background in modern European or Middle Eastern history and covers the period from the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries.

HIST W4303 HISTORY OF SOFT POWER IN EUROPE AND THE U.S. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar examines the history of the ambiguous concept "Soft Power," by bringing together literatures in European and U.S. history, international relations, and communications studies that are normally treated in isolation. After thoroughly familiarizing seminar participants with the recent U.S. evolution of the concept and comparing its usage to related terms, such as "normative power," "hegemony," "propaganda," "strategic communication," and "public diplomacy," weekly classes focus on several case studies. These span the period from the 19th to 21st centuries and include Napoleon's Propaganda Wars, France's "Civilizing Mission" in Africa, Germany's Kultur Empire, Wilson versus Lenin, The Nazi-Fascist Effort to coopt Muslim peoples, Vatican Diplomacy and the Holocaust, The Marshall Plan, Soviet Soft Power in Eastern Europe, and U.S. Public Diplomacy in the wake of 9/11. Class requirements include weekly reading, organizing class discussion, and a 15-page research paper to be presented at a final student-organized workshop.

HIST W4305 The European Enlightenment. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course will include an in-depth examination of some major tinkers and texts of the French, Germans, and Scottish Enlightenments. By reading works of Montesquieu, Voltaire, Lessing, Mendelssohn, and Hume, we will examine their radically divergent responses to the central intellectual quandries of their day, and in many ways our own: the realtionship between rationalism, science, and faith; religion and the state; the individual and the polity; cosmopolitanism and particularism; pluralism and relativism; and the meaning of liberty. Group(s): A, B

HIST W4308 Nations and Nationalisms in Nineteenth Century Europe. 4 points.

This seminar will address the emergence and course of nationalism in Western Europe (France, Germany and Italy) from the period of the French Revolution to that of the unifications of Italy and Germany.  It will be comparative in approach, transnational in perspective, political and cultural in focus, and entail engagement with current historiographical debates

HIST W4331 Modern Germany, 1900-2000. 4 points.

The development of Germany in the last century has influenced the history of Europe and, indeed, of the world in major and dramatic ways. Most historians agree that the country and its leaders played a crucial role in the outbreak of two world wars which cost some 80 million lives. Germany experienced a revolution in 1918, hyperinflation in 1923, the Great Depression after 1929, and the Nazi dictatorship in 1933. Between 1933 and 1945 there followed the brutal military conquest of most of Continental Europe and, finally, the Holocaust. After 1945, Germany was divided into two halves in which there emerged a communist dictatorship and a Western-style parliamentary-democratic system, respectively. The division of the country ended in 1989 with the collapse of the Honecker regime and the reunification of East and West Germany. No doubt, Germany’s history is confused and confusing and has therefore generated plenty of debate among historians. This course offers a comprehensive analysis of the country’s development in the 20th century. It is not just concerned with political events and military campaigns, but will also examine in considerable detail German society and its changing structures, relations between women and men, trends in both high and popular culture, and the ups and downs of an industrial economy in its global setting. The weekly seminars are designed to introduce you to the country’s conflicted history and the controversies it unleashed in international scholarship. Both M.A. students and advanced undergraduates are welcome.

HIST W4345 John Stuart Mill: Life, Work, Legacy. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course is designed for undergraduates and graduate students who, having had some introduction to Mill in CC or elsewhere, would like to spend a semester exploring his life, thought, and impact. This task is particularly interesting today, for Mill, revered by progressives in his own time for his support for intellectual liberties, a wider democratic franchise, and women's suffrage, and for his fierce criticism of military repression in Jamaica, is now often seen as one of the architects of Victorian thought, examining his writings in the context of political debates at the time, as well as his own involvement in key controversies over economic policy, the nature of the Victorian state, political reform and imperial governance. Together, we will try to understand not only what Mill though and did, but why has he continued to act as a lightening-rod for political controversy, in his time and in our own. 

HIST W4347 Europe and Islam in the Modern Period, 1798-Present. 4 points.

Though the relationship between Europe and Islam has a centuries-long and complex history, this course looks closely at the unfolding of this relationship in the modern period. Following Edward Said, we start with Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt in 1798, then cover a series of topics including: migration and travel writing on the eve of conquest; colonial aggression in the Middle East and North Africa; colonial governance of Islam; race, gender, and religious difference; Islamic modernity; and Islamic veiling ‘controversies.’ The object of this course is to historicize contemporary debates on immigration, pluralism, and the management of difference by examining cases of discursive and institutional continuity from the colonial into the postcolonial periods. Instructor's permission required: http://www.history.columbia.edu/undergraduate/seminars/index.html

HIST W4349 German Thinkers Around Heidegger. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar is situated in the field of intellectual history and puts the focus on a group of German scholars around Martin Heidegger who were tracing the question of historical truth in the first half of the 20th century. The mostly Jewish thinkers like Hannah Arendt, Karl Löwith and Erich Auerbach were forced into exile after 1933 and found at last academic and personal shelter in North-America. By the critical and close reading of exemplary texts the seminar aims a comparison of the different horizons on historical truth. We will open up a wide range panorama of crucial perspectives which were important contribution to the American culture in the tradition of European “Geisteswissenschaften” (Humanities).   Field(s): MEU

HIST W4351 American Big Business and German Industry, 1900-2000. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

There is a great deal of research and debate on the role that the United States played in the reconstruction and recasting of Europe after World War II. This work is usually seen in the larger context not only of the East-West conflict since 1945, if not since 1917, but also as part of the process of the "Americanization" of the world. By the end of the 20th century this process is deemed to have been replaced by a trend toward "globalization" which is assumed to have started before 1914 until it was interrupted by two world wars, integral nationalism, the Great Depression of the 1930s, the struggles over decolonization and seemingly endless civil wars. It was only in the 1990s that "globalization" is said to have resumed where it stopped in 1914. Against the background of these wide-ranging scholarly debates that also revolved around notions of "modernization" of both economies and societies,  this course "homes in" on the development of German industry and its relationship with American big business before coming back, at the end of the semester, to the big questions that have been raised at the beginning. Field(s): US/MEU

HIST W4352 Europe in the Cold War. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar is dedicated to studying the historical developments of Europe in the Cold War, from the immediate aftermath of the Second World War until the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. We will examine the major shifts in contemporary European history as they relate to Cold War conflicts and competitions, including the Yalta and Potsdam meetings; Marshall Plan reconstruction; the workings of NATO; the Prague Spring; non-proliferation movements; and Eurocommunism trends. We will consider a wide range of historical perspectives, including but not limited to political, geographic, economic, cultural, and military frameworks. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4357 History of the Self: Rousseau. 4 points.

This course is one of a series on the history of the modern self.  After examining Montaigne and Pascal in previous semesters we now focus on Rousseau, and in particular Emile,  his treatise on education and psychology.   We then examine two of his autobiographical works, the Confessions and the Reveries of a Solitary Walker, to see how this theory of the self shapes and is shaped by his understanding of himself.  Seminar application required: http://www.history.columbia.edu/undergraduate/seminars/index.html

HIST W4358 Themes in Intellectual History: Pascal. 4 points.

Themes in Intellectual History offers an intensive examination of one major intellectual concept or problem as it develops over time.

HIST W4359 Dreaming of the Future in the 1820s: The Birth of Modernity. 4 points.

The purpose of this course is to explore the mental horizon of the 1820s through the works of professional revolutionaries, artists, poets and writers, as well as via recent historical and literary studies. The period marked the intellectual origins of modernity and many of our key organizing principles - the very idea of socialism, liberalism and communism for instance - originated then. Readings connect political transformations in Europe and across the globe to a new sense of time and speed, history, technology and economics. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4364 The Other Idea of Europe: Mass Annihilation in the 20th Century. 4 points.

The idea of Europe implies the notions of "Civilization" and "Modernity," but also images of conquest, tyranny and mass annihilation. This seminar will explore the "dark side of Europe:" the succession of genocidal episodes perpetrated during the long 20th century by Europeans in colonial expeditions overseas and in murderous campaigns on the subcontinent itself. The assigned literature ranges from anthropology, sociology and political science, to psychology and contemporary history. It contains a variety of perspectives on genocidal regimes and their perpetrators, as well as an array of descriptive accounts of episodes of mass anihilation. An overall theoretical framework is provided by Prof. Abram de Swaan's The Killing Compartments: The Mentality of Mass Murder (Yale UP, 2015). The experience with mass violence of the Dutch - a nation with a relatively peaceful past and a self-image of righteousness - will serve as a touchstone for a subcontinent that at the dawn of the 20th century was considered the epitome of peace an progress. Field: MEU  

HIST W4369 The Long War of the 1940s: The Dutch Case in European History and Memory in WWII. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will examine the immediate impact and the longer-running legacies of the Second World War in the Netherlands, with reference to several other Western European nations (France, Belgium). The ‘Long War' will relate to the Second World War as history in the first place, discussing the place of the occupied nation(s) in ‘Hitler's Empire' (Mark Mazower). We also will take into account that the end of the war in Europe was followed by new kinds of external conflicts with strong internal repercussions: the Cold War and the first wave of European decolonization. The perspective will focus on the nation-states, endangered in its very existence by oppressive foreign occupation, subsequently in need of rebuilding and reinventing themselves against many odds. The second element of the seminar is the legacy of the ‘Long War', stretching over the generations to the present day. The Long War has been subject to a never-ending series of controversies in the public sphere that have profoundly influenced the historiography of the war in the different nations. In the course, we will explore the interconnections between politics of memory, historiography and cultural interpretations of the embattled past (films, novels, televised documentaries in particular). Field(s): MEU

HIST W4371 Europe in International Thought, 1815-1914. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar explores the changing meaning of the term 'Europe" from its emergence as an organizing principle of international life after Napoleon's defeat in 1815 until the end of the First World War.  It aims to combine an exploration of the term's conceptual and intellectual history with a study of its deployment in practice in the realms of diplomacy, international law, and radical politics.  Topics to be covered include: the establishment and transformation of the Concert of Europe; the idea of European civilization, its rise and fall; the international thought of Mazzini, Mill, Marx, Cobden, Burckhardt and Nietzsche among others.

HIST W4377 Cold War Public Diplomacy: Cultural Battles Abroad. 4 points.

This course has three purposes: (i) to examine the role of culture and the arts as a reflection and enactment of Cold War politics; (ii) to provide an understanding of the arts as a cultural force in building ideas in foreign markets; (iii) to reframe the arts as a part of Cold War cultural battles.

HIST W4380 The Idea of Europe. 4 points.

This course, a seminar open to both advanced undergraduates and graduates, will examine the "Idea of Europe" from the perspective of the European Union's formation, expansion, and the crises now confronting the idea of European unity. Our point of departure is the Netherlands, whose political and social structure are of interest in their own right and exemplify many of the aspirations of the union, and whose present struggles reveal some of the tensions that threaten the cohesion of the European community. Its social, economic and political history have culminated in an unusual set of institutions, an idiosyncratic approach to policy domains such as social security, labor relations, health care and education, and a highly consensus driven mode of interaction among national stakeholders on the interface of civic society and the political system. Students will explore particular issues in independent response papers corresponding to three themes selected, and will be invited to make use of comparative literature in dealing with a broader perspective on Europe. Field(s): MWE

HIST W4381 Visions of International Order. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar will attempt to offer a historical context for evaluating contemporary discussions of the role of the UN and the nature of international relations. It will cover the formation and metamorphoses of the United Nations itself, exploring in particular its role in the Cold War and in the decolonisation process. We will look too at why some international organisations [the IMF] appear to have flourished while others failed. Among the topics to be covered are the changing role of international law, sovereignty and human rights regimes, development aid as international politics, the collapse of the gold standard and its impact. We will end by looking at the politics of UN reform, and new theories of the role of institutions in global affairs, and ask what light they shed on the future of international governance now that the Cold War is over. Students will be expected to read widely in primary as well as secondary sources and to produce a research paper of their own. Field(s): MEU/US

HIST W4383 European Sexual Modernities. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Explores how conceptions of desire and sexuality, gendered and raced bodies, shaped major events and processes in modern Europe: the Enlightenment and European empires; political and sexual revolutions; consumption and commodity fetishism; the metropolis and modern industry; psychoanalysis and the avant-garde; fascism and the Cold War; secularization,and post-socialism. Featuring: political and philosophical tracts; law, literature and film. Field(s): MEU

HIST W4396 Britain in the Age of Revolutions: Radicalism, Repression, and Reform. 4 points.

This course examines Britain from the 1780s to the 1830s. The first part concentrates on how Britain responded to, and was shaped by, the American and French Revolutions. It focuses in particular on the political impact of these conflicts, including their effect on political thought and grassroots political activism. The second half of the course then looks at how reactions to these revolutions created conditions for reform in the early nineteenth century, and how Britain became Europe's first modern democracy. Themes to be explored include: political agitation and government repression; revolutionary and anti-revolutionary ideologies; national identity; class conflict and consciousness; propaganda; empire and imperial culture; and industrialization.

HIST W4400 Americans and the Natural World, 1800 to the Present. 4 points.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar deals with how Americans have treated and understood the natural world, connected or failed to connect to it, since 1800. It focuses on changing context over time, from the agrarian period to industrialization, followed by the rise of the suburban and hyper-technological landscape. We will trace the shift from natural history to evolutionary biology, give special attention to the American interest in entomology, ornithology, and botany, examine the quest to save pristine spaces, and read from the works of Buffon, Humboldt, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Darwin, Aldo Leopold, Nabokov, among others. Perspectives on naming, classifying, ordering, and most especially, collecting, will come under scrutiny.  Throughout the semester we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the environmentalist movement, confront those who thought they could defy nature, transcend it, and even live without it. Field(s): US

HIST W4404 Native American History. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course introduces students to the forces that transformed the aboriginal inhabitants of the Americas into "Indians." The class takes a very broad approach, moving chronologically and thematically from the dawn of time to the present. The course aims to expose students to the diversity of the Native American experience by including all of the inhabitants of the Americas, from Greenland to Tierra del Fuego, within its purview. Group(s): A, D Field(s): *US 

HIST W4410 Old and New Religions in the New World: Religion and the Colonization of North America. 4 points.

The course introduces students to a historical perspective on religion in the settlement of the New World, in particular North America. It looks at Islam, Judaism, Native American religion, and different kinds of Christianity. The course emphasizes the formative influence of social and political context as well as the dynamism of religion. How and why did Judaism and Islam come to the New World? How did Protestantism influence Anglo colonial society, and how did Catholicism shape New Spain and New France? What about African religions and why is Afro-American Christianity different? Who were the Puritans and why are they famous? The course concludes with a look at the beginnings of Mormonism, perhaps the characteristic American religion.

HIST W4411 Colonial American History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This reading seminar will examine the history of colonial North America from the sixteenth through mid-eighteenth centuries.  Employing a comparative Atlantic framework to study Spanish, French, Dutch, and English settlements in North America, this course will explore key themes of conflict and community in the societies that developed during this era.  Readings will include some of the most important recent literature in the field and cover topics such as European-indigenous relations, race and slavery, religious culture, and gender construction. This seminar requires two response papers, a final historiographical essay, and class participation, including an oral presentation. Field(s): US

HIST W4412 Americans and the Good Life, 1750-1910. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Americans have not always agreed about the nature of the good life or about how to achieve it. In this course we focus on a range of compelling writers, among the best in American history, each with a different perspective on what matters and each articulated within a different context. Among the paths to good life examined will be religion, nature, aesthetics or beautify, farming or country life, urban living, untrammeled individual expression, and money and consumption. We begin with the sermons of Jonathan Edwards and end with Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser. In between are works by Benjamin Franklin, Henry Thoreau, Walt Whitman, George Santayana, Liberty Hyde Bailey, Anna Comstock, Charles Cooley, and William James.   Field(s): US

HIST W4413 Archives and Knowledge. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will examine interdisciplinary approaches to the writing of history using archival material. We will look at how knowledge is organized, stored, described, accessed, and replicated through the use of digital and material objects held in archives. The seminar takes as its point of departure the University of Michigan Sawyer Seminar's conception of archives "not simply as historical repositories but as a complex of structures, processes, and epistemologies situated at a critical point of the intersection between scholarship, cultural practices, politics, and technologies." Among the topics we will explore are how archives and archiving intersect with the production of knowledge, with social memory, and with politics. This is a U.S. history course. While the theoretical approaches we will study are, of necessity, interdisciplinary, the application of them will be to archival material related to U.S. history. This seminar requires participants to commit substantial time outside of class working with unpublished materials in Columbia's Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) both for reading assignments and as part of a final project. Field(s): US

HIST W4414 Modern American Indian Social and Political History. 4 points.

This undergraduate lecture-seminar is about the making, endurance, and resurgence of modern American Indian nations. We will examine broadly the varied historical experiences of American Indians from the late 19thC to the present, with a special focus on the 20th century. We approach this study with an understanding that American Indians (as well as Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives) are and were actors in history and not just hapless victims of Euro-American imperialism and power. Over the semester, we will focus on the ways indigenous peoples in the United States adapted and responded to the host of stresses that accompanied the rapid and often violent social, cultural, and environmental transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries. We will historicize modern social and political issues in Indian Country and examine the processes of resistance, renewal, accommodation, and change from the reservation era to the present. Particular attention will be paid to the ways native people and their communities have met the challenges they have confronted as they persist in their efforts to preserve their homelands, their cultures, their sovereignty, and their rights to selfdetermination.

HIST W4415 The U.S. and Latin America in the Cold War and Beyond: Revolution, Globalization and Power. 4 points.

This course seeks to understand the Cold War and what it meant for the United States, inter-American relations and Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century. The course encourages students to consider to what extent the Cold War is helpful as a way of understanding Latin American nations and people, and their relationships with their Northern neighbor.

HIST W4420 The U.S. in the Progressive Era, 1890-1919. 4 points.

Closed to first-year students.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The period known as the "Progressive Era" in the United States witnessed major transformations in American society. We will examine currents of social change and reform in the terms of mass immigration, urbanization, and industrialization; commercialized culture; Jim Crow segregation; and U.S. projects on the world stage. The seminar will include history, historiography, and a term paper based on original research in archival and other primary materials. Field(s): US

HIST W4421 The United States and Empire. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Though the U.S. is unquestionably the world’s most powerful nation, Americans and especially American politicians are reluctant to describe their nation as an imperial one. Drawing on comparative examples and theories of empire, this seminar investigates the diverse theaters of American power (military, colonial, economic, cultural) and the reactions to them, through an imperial lens. How can the concept of empire and the experiences of other empires help to explain the nature and development of the United States? We will analyze the intersection of structure and action in the shaping of American foreign policy, and ponder the shifting meaning of empire in U.S. public discourse. For the final paper, students will apply insights from the course to contemporary topics in U.S. policy and society.   Field(s): US

HIST W4429 Telling About the South. 4 points.

A remarkable array of Southern historians, novelists, and essayists have done what Shreve McCannon urges Quentin Compson to do in William Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom!--tell about the South--producing recognized masterpieces of American literature.  Taking as examples certain writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, this course explores the issues they confronted, the relationship between time during which and about they wrote, and the art of the written word as exemplified in their work. Group(s): D Field(s): US  Limited enrollment. Priority given to senior history majors. After obtaining permission from the professor, please add yourself to the course wait list so the department can register you in the course.

HIST W4431 Making the Modern: Bohemia from Paris to Los Angeles. 0 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course interrogates the function of art and artists within modern capitalist societies. We will trace the cultural productions, internal dynamics, and social significance of bohemian communities from their origins in 1840s Paris to turn of the century London and New York to interwar Los Angeles to present day Chicago. Students will conduct research exploring the significance of some aspect of a bohemian community. Field(s): US

HIST W4434 The Atlantic Slave Trade. 4 points.

This seminar provides an intensive introduction to the history of the Atlantic slave trade. The course will consider the impact of the traffic on Western Europe and the Americas, as well as on Africa, and will give special attention to the experiences of both captives and captors. Assignments include three short papers and a longer research paper of 20 to 25 pages. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W4437 Poisoned Worlds: Corporate Behavior and Public Health. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

In the decades since the publication of Silent Spring and the rise of the environmental movement, public awareness of the impact of industrial products on human health has grown enormously. There is growing concern over BPA, lead, PCBs, asbestos, and synthetic materials that make up the world around us. This course will focus on environmental history, industrial and labor history as well as on how twentieth century consumer culture shapes popular and professional understanding of disease. Throughout the term the class will trace the historical transformation of the origins of disease through primary sources such as documents gathered in lawsuits, and medical and public health literature. Students will be asked to evaluate historical debates about the causes of modern epidemics of cancer, heart disease, lead poisoning, asbestos-related illnesses and other chronic conditions. They will also consider where responsibility for these new concerns lies, particularly as they have emerged in law suits. Together, we will explore the rise of modern environmental movement in the last 75 years. Field(s): US

HIST W4452 American Conservatism Since 1945. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar will ask students to examine primary sources and important works of scholarship on the rise of conservatism since 1945. Few issues of the postwar era have been more important in the last half century than the rapid growth of the right – its political clout, its intellectual bases, its movements and organizations, and its alliances with the Republican Party and much of the corporate world. Field(s): US

HIST W4455 Transnational Migration and Citizenship. 4 points.

This course will read recent scholarship on migration and citizenship (with some nod to classic works); as well as theoretical work by historians and social scientists in the U.S. and Europe on the changing conceptual frameworks that are now shaping the field.  The first half of the course will read in the literature of U.S. immigration history.  The second half of the course is comparative, with readings in the contexts of empire, colonialism and contemporary refugee and migration issues in the U.S. and Europe.

HIST W4458 Public History in America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will explore some of the ways historical subjects can be, and have been, engaged outside of the traditional channels of scholarship. Among the many forms in which history and the historical memory are presented, we will examine exhibits, film and television productions, websites, reenactments, memorials and monuments, historical sites, oral history, performance, et al. We will use interdisciplinary critical literature and our own experiences to examine how this interactive process between the historian, the public, and the historical object/subject represents the American past. The seminar requires students to make visits to public history sites outside of scheduled class time. Field(s): US

HIST W4470 Cold War Power. 4 points.

Cold War “soft power” ideological campaigns for the “hearts and minds of men” abutted “hot war” confrontations between 1945 and 1991 and beyond. This seminar examines the history of government and private sector mechanisms used to export national ideals and ideas about America in order to enact foreign policy agendas in contested regions. The class will open with an examination of power - hard and soft - propaganda, "truth," and "informational" practices - and then continue to explore cultural diplomacy. Primary sources including radio broadcasts, music, agriculture, and architecture are examined in the context of secondary readings about the Cold War. Because New York City became postwar “cultural capital of the world,” student trips include the Rockefeller Archives Center, the Museum of Radio and Television, Columbia University’s Avery Architectural and Fine Arts archives, and the Oral History Research Center, Rare Book and Manuscript Library.   This course has three purposes: (i) to examine the role of culture as a reflection and enactment of Cold War politics; (ii) to provide an understanding of cultural forces in building ideas in foreign markets; (iii) to reframe the understanding of “soft” and “hard” power as a strategy of Cold War battles.

HIST W4481 Culture, Memory and Crisis in Modern US History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

How have Americans used culture as a means of responding to, interpreting, and memorializing periods of social, economic, and political crisis? Do these periods create breaks in cultural forms and practices?  Or do periods of significant upheaval encourage an impetus to defend cultural practices, thereby facilitating the "invention of tradition"? How are the emotional responses produced by critical moments--whether trauma, outrage, insecurity, or fear--turned into cultural artifacts?  And, finally, how are cultural crises memorialized? This course focuses on Americans' cultural responses to the lynching of black Americans in the era of World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II to answer these questions. We will examine a wide range of individual and collective cultural expressions, including anti-lynching plays and songs, WPA programs, the 1939 World's Fair, war photographs and radio broadcasts, the zoot suit and swing culture, and the military's effort to preserve culture in European war areas. Field(s): US

HIST W4483 Military History and Policy. 4 points.

This seminar features extensive reading, multiple written assignments, and a term paper, as well as a likely trip to Gettsyburg.  It focuses on the Civil War and on World Wars I and II. Group(s): D Field(s): US

HIST W4485 Politics and Culture in Cold War America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

An examination of the years from the end of World War II to the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on three areas:  the Cold War, the “Affluent Society,” and the “Haunted Fifties,” It includes both works of history and works of literature. Field(s): US

HIST W4518 Research Seminar: Columbia and Slavery. 4 points.

In this course, students will write​ ​ original, independent​ ​ papers of around 25 pages, based on research in both​ ​ primary and secondary sources, on an aspect of the relationship between Columbia​ ​ College​,​ and its colonial predecessor King's College, with the institution of slavery​.​

HIST W4532 The American Civil War. 4 points.

Few events in American history can match the significance of the American Civil War and few left a better cache of records for scholars seeking to understand its signal events, actors, and processes. Indeed, between 1861 and 1865, as the war assumed a massive scope it drove a process of state building and state-sponsored slave emancipation in the United States that ultimately reconfigured the nation and remade the terms of political membership in it. This is a research seminar. The course introduces students to key issues and contributions to the literature, and provides an opportunity to undertake independent research on any topic related to the history of the American Civil War. Pedagogically the course pursues a parallel process of reading in the relevant literature and guided research on a topic of the student's choice. The course is designed to model the research and writing process professional historians use, beginning with a paper proposal and bibliography of primary and secondary. sources. It proceeds through the various stages of the research process to produce drafts of the essay and finally the finished essay. All major written work is for peer review. The course fulfills the research requirement for the history major.

HIST W4534 Capitalism in the Archives. 4 points.

This course explores how documentary sources of the history of capitalism have been created, preserved, collected, and organized in the archives; and how scholars have used these sources to interpret changing economic institutions, social relations, politics, and cultural practices of capitalism in the United States. The course meets at Columbia's Rare Books and Manuscripts Library and links its collections to the historiography of capitalism in the twentieth century. Learning how to evaluate and use archival materials to interpret the past, students will write a substantial research paper based on Rare Books and Manuscript Library collections.   NOTE: This course meets in the Chang Room in the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library on the 6th floor of Butler Library.

HIST W4535 20th Century New York City History. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This course explores critical areas of New York's economic development in the 20th century, with a view to understanding the rise, fall and resurgence of this world capital. Discussions also focus on the social and political significance of these shifts. Assignments include primary sources, secondary readings, film viewings, trips, and archival research. Students use original sources as part of their investigation of New York City industries for a 20-page research paper. An annotated bibliography is also required. Students are asked to give a weekly update on research progress, and share information regarding useful archives and websites.Field(s): US

HIST W4555 American Nativism: Crusades Against Immigrants in a Nation of Immigrants. 4 points.

This seminar examines the history of nativism, or intense hostility toward foreigners, in the United States. While the constant influx of immigrants characterizes the history of the United States, intolerance with foreigners who seemed to threaten the cultural, economic, and political fabric of American society from the perspective of native-born Americans has equally shaped the American immigration experience. By exploring nativist writings, cartoons, images, immigrant memoirs, and laws as well as scholarly books and articles based on intensive reading and class discussion, we will trace the historical development of American nativism from the late colonial period to the present. Themes to be pursued in the course include the ideological and religious origins of anti-alien sentiment in America; the social, economic, and political circumstances of the time for the rise of nativism; principal targets of nativism in each period; the various ways hostile sentiment was expressed; and governmental policy against foreigners. An exercise in interdisciplinary study, this course draws materials from a wide range of academic disciplines, including History, Law, Ethnic Studies, and Political Science.

HIST W4556 Narcotics and the Making of America. 4 points.

This seminar examines the history of narcotics, including sugar, tobacco, alcohol, opiates, and marijuana, in America from the colonial period to the early twentieth-century. It pays particular attention to the intoxicating and stimulating opportunities New World agriculture presented, alcohol- including its role in relations with Native Americans-, how tobacco influenced Chesapeake political culture, the spread of opiates and their medicalization, and the politics of anti-narcotic reform. The course considers the broad matters of economic role, social use, and political context. Students will propose and must receive approval for a twenty-page research paper based on primary sources, and present primary sources for discussion to the class.

HIST W4568 The American Landscape to 1877. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Field(s): US

HIST W4577 Culture and Politics in the Progressive Era, 1890-1945. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This class begins during the fabled "Gilded Age," when the nation's capitalist expansion created the world's largest economy but splintered Americans' ideals. From the fin-de-siècle through the cataclysms of World War II, we will explore how Americans defined, contested, and performed different meanings of American civilization through social reform movements, artistic expressions, and the everyday habits and customs of individuals and groups. The class will pay particular attention to how gender, race, and location--regional, international, and along the class ladder--shaped perspectives about what constituted American civilization and the national discourse about what it should become. Field(s): US

HIST W4584 Race, Technology, and Health. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: previous coursework in African-American history or social science; United States social history; or sociomedical sciences required.

Students will gain a solid knowledge and understanding of the health issues facing African Americans since the turn of the twentieth century. Topics to be examined will include, but will not be limited to, black women's heath organization and care; medical abuses and the legacy of Tuskegee; tuberculosis control; sickle cell anemia; and substance abuse. Group(s): D Field(s): US Formerly listed as "History of African-American Health and Health Movements".

HIST W4596 American Consumer Culture. 4 points.

This seminar examines how and why twentieth-century Americans came to define the “good life” through consumption, leisure, and material abundance. We will explore how such things as department stores, nationally advertised brand-name goods, mass-produced cars, and suburbs transformed the American economy, society, and politics. The course is organized both thematically and chronologically. Each period deals with a new development in the history of consumer culture. Throughout we explore both celebrations and critiques of mass consumption and abundance.

HIST W4597 Memory and American Narratives of the Self. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this seminar we will use readings from the interdisciplinary study of memory (theory) to examine published and unpublished American letters, diaries, and autobiographies (practice). With regard to memory, we will be concerned with what is remembered, what is forgotten, and how this process occurs. We’ll explore concepts including collective/shared memory, commemoration, documentation, trauma, nation, autobiography, nostalgia, etc., and we’ll test this theory against written narratives of the self. The goals of the seminar are to explore theoretical concepts of memory, apply them to written examples of memory, and to develop proficiency in the use of these skills inside and outside an academic environment. This is a history course and many of the narratives we will read are American 19th-century texts. These will include, but not be limited to, those on the experience of the Civil War. The course requires participants to commit substantial time outside of class working with unpublished materials in Columbia’s Rare Book & Manuscript Library for assignments and as part of a final project. Field(s): US

HIST W4601 Jews in the Later Roman Empire, 300-600 CE. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement

This course will explore the background and examine some of the manifestations of the first Jewish cultural explosion after 70 CE. Among the topics discussed: the Late Roman state and the Jews, the rise of the synagogue, the redaction of the Palestinian Talmud and midrashim, the piyyut and the Hekhalot. Field(s): JWS, ANC

HIST W4604 Jews and the City. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Over the course of the nineteenth century, millions of Jews uprooted themselves from their places of birth and moved to cities scattered throughout the world.  This mass urbanization not only created new demographic centers of world Jewry, but also fundamentally transformed Jewish political and cultural life.  In this course, we shall analyze primary source material, literary accounts as well as secondary sources as we examine the Jewish encounter with the city, and see how Jewish culture was shaped by and helped to shape urban culture.  We shall compare Jewish life in six cities spanning from Eastern Europe to the United States and consider how Jews’ concerns molded the urban economy, urban politics, and cosmopolitan culture.  We shall also consider the ways in which urbanization changed everyday Jewish life.  What impact did it have on Jewish economic and religious life?  What role did gender and class play in molding the experiences of Jews in different cities scattered throughout the world?

HIST W4607 Rabbis for Historians. 4 points.

This course introduces the central historical issues raised by ancient Palestinian and Babylonian rabbinic literature through exploration of some of the crucial primary texts and analysis of the main scholarly approaches to these texts.

HIST W4609 Marriage and Kinship in Medieval Egypt. 4 points.

This class will explore the everyday culture reflected in the Geniza manuscripts through the lens of kinship relations and family life. The course will introduce a range of genres of Geniza documents (court records, contracts and deeds, legal responsa, and personal letters). We will read examples of these documents alongside contemporary Jewish legal and literary works, Islamic literature, and recent work in medieval Islamic social history. Taking a comparative approach to this material, we will work to understand how the authors of these documents understood marriage, divorce, and parenthood, and how these relationships positioned individuals economically and socially within the broader communities in which they lived. In the process, you will learn how to use documents and literary sources as evidence for social history, as well as learn a great deal about Jews' everyday life in medieval Egypt.

HIST W4610 The Ancient Jews and the Mediterranean. 4 points.

What can the history and ethnography of the Mediterranean world teach us about ancient Jews and early Christians and how can the experiences of the ancient Jews and early Christians be used to criticize and refine modern ideas about Mediterranean culture. We will examine selected ancient Jewish, Christian and Roman texts from a critical "mediterraneanist" perspective.

HIST W4611 Jews and Muslims in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar examines aspects of the history of the Jews in the medieval Islamic world, beginning with the historiographical debate about this contentious subject. The seminar will move from discussion of the early encounter between Islam and the Jews at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, discussing the Qur'an and other foundational texts, to the legal and actual status of the Jews. We will examine how the famous Cairo Geniza documents illuminate Jewish economic life, and how the realities of economic life affected commercial autonomy, with its foundations in the Geonic period. Through a discussion of the problem of adjudication we will address the large problem of how much autonomy the Jews actually had. Comparisons will be drawn with the situation of the Jews in medieval Latin Europe, as well as with Christian communities under Islam. In addition to discussion of secondary readings, classes will focus on the close reading of seminar primary resources in English translation.   Field(s): MED/JEW

HIST W4615 'Tradition, Tradition': Growing Up in the Shtetl. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

The seminar will focus on traditional Jewish life, in the Eastern European towns known as shtetlekh, from the early modern period until late 19th century. Through study of various primary sources, mainly memoirs, autobiographies, stories and poetry, we will portray the everyday life, especially childhood and adolescence, and the confrontation between tradition and modernity. Field(s): JEW

HIST W4617 Jews in Muslim Lands in the Middle Ages. 4 points.

This undergraduate seminar examines central aspects of the history of the Jews in the medieval Islamicate world, including Islamic attitudes and policies towards the dhimmis (non-Muslim monotheists); the legal and actual status of the Jews; the evidence of the Cairo Geniza documents; economic life; Jewish law; community organization; and the question of communal autonomy.

HIST W4635 Ancient Jewish Texts: Leviticus Rabbah. 4 points.

May be repeated.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Close reading in the original languages of ancient Jewish texts including selected tractates from Mishnah, Tosefta, Palestinian Talmud, early midrash collections, and pre-Islamic liturgical poetry. Field(s): *ANC/JEW

HIST W4641 Holocaust and Genocide in American Culture. 4 points.

When the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. opened in 1993, some people asked why a “European” catastrophe was being memorialized alongside shrines to Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln while there was still no museum documenting the experience of African slaves in the United States or the effort to exterminate the Native Americans on the continent. Why has the Holocaust in Europe become the subject of many museums, high school and college courses and continuing media attnetion while in contrast, the genocide against Native Americans garners scant attention in any of these forums? This course is comparative at its core as it examines the implications of the United States' failure to come to grips with its own genocidal programs. The course will review how historical trauma -- the intergenerational effects of community-wide traumas such as genocide, which has been validated by science, continues to manifest in both Holocaust survivors and Native American communities such that the need to come to terms with these events is not just an academic exercise but one necessary to assist Native communities overcome the severe poverty, high youth suicide, alcoholism and incarceration rates that is the legacy of the genocide against them. It is the hope that students will learn from the ways this country has dealt with the Holocaust to give the Native American genocide the visibility needed to finally produce healing as well as to examine the implications of new scientific findings showing that the trauma suffered by Holocaust survivors are inherited by their children.

HIST W4644 Modern Jewish Intellectual History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course analyzes Jewish intellectual history from Spinoza to 1939. It tracks the radical transformation that modernity yielded in Jewish life, both in the development of new, self-consciously modern, iterations of Judaism and Jewishness and in the more elusive but equally foundational changes in "traditional" Judaisms. Questions to be addressed include:  the development of the modern concept of "religion" and its effect on the Jews; the origin of the notion of "Judaism" parallel to Christianity, Islam, etc.; the rise of Jewish secularism and of secular Jewish ideologies, especially the Jewish Enlightenment (Haskalah), modern Jewish nationalism, Zionism, Jewish socialism, and Autonomism; the rise of Reform, Modern Orthodox, and Conservative Judaisms; Jewish neo-Romanticism and neo-Kantianism, and Ultra-Orthodoxy. Field(s): JWS

HIST W4645 Spinoza to Sabbatai: Jews in Early Modern Europe. 4 points.

A seminar on the historical, political, and cultural developments in the Jewish communities of early-modern Western Europe (1492-1789) with particular emphasis on the transition from medieval to modern patterns. We will study the resettlement of Jews in Western Europe, Jews in the Reformation-era German lands, Italian Jews during the late Renaissance, the rise of Kabbalah, and the beginnings of the quest for civil Emancipation. Field(s): JWS/EME

HIST W4659 Crime in Latin America. 4 points.

This seminar will focus on studies that take a historical look at crime in the Latin American context and will bring the discussion to the present. Transnational connections and comparisons will be encouraged, particularly as we explore the history and contemporary phenomenon of drug trafficking, incorporating the United States as a factor and a scene for Latin American crime. Readings, discussions and reports will try to identify commonalities across Latin American and dig deeper on some specific places and moments. In order to do this, we will devote part of the semester to the analysis of primary sources, and will require a research component in the final paper. Group(s): D Field(s): LA

HIST W4667 The Nahua World. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This undergraduate seminar aims to give the students a basic knowledge of Nahuatl, the main indigenous language of central Mexico, still in use nowadays. During the classes we will explore the principal structures as for grammar and usage, focusing on classical Nahuatl, the version of the language employed during colonial times to produce documents and communicate. A vast and varied literature of mundane documents and ecclesiastically sponsored texts exists; we are going to concentrate on the type of everyday Nahuatl which goes well into the eighteenth century and includes all the Spanish contact phenomena that are still in the language today. The objective goes beyond pure language learning, using the language as a way to reach a better understanding of indigenous society and history. Following an agreement with the universities of Yale and Chicago, the seminar will offer the possibility to join an intensive training in contemporary Nahuatl in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, during the summer, with Professor Jonathan Amith (FLAS scholarships are available). In addition, pending an agreement with the University of Zacatecas, Mexico, there will be the possibility to work with an indigenous speaker for one week during the seminar. Group(s): A, D Field(s): LA Listed formerly as "Nahuatl Language and Culture"  

HIST W4669 The Dictatorship that Changed Brazil, 1964-1985. 0 points.

This course seeks to analyze the period of military dictatorship in Brazil (1964-1985), supported by many civilians as well. Different conjunctures will be studied, since the years before the coup of 1964 until the process of democratization. The course aims to understand a paradox: the dictatorship was established in the name of democracy, allegedly threatened. The main hypothesis is that the paradox was due to the character of the conservative modernization of society imposed by the military regime and its civilian allies. The dictatorship had ambiguities and distinct phases, involving a complex set of political and military forces. The involvement with the modernization also implied the use of illegitimate brute force against its enemies, which allows to characterize the regime as a dictatorship, in spite of its democratic façade. Special attention will be given to the opponents of the order. The relationship between the dominant and the dominated, even in authoritarian regimes, must be understood not only based on confrontation and repression, but also on negotiation and concessions to the opponents, without which it is impossible to build a base of legitimacy. The topics will be examined in the light of concepts such as conservative modernization (Barrington Moore Jr.), legitimate domination (Weber), hegemony (Gramsci), among others. The course also introduces students to critical interpretations of society and politics produced by Brazilian and Brazilianist historians and social scientists. Field(s): LA

HIST W4670 Culture and Politics in Brazil, 1960-1989. 4 points.

This course seeks to elucidate the elective affinities between culture and politics in the activities of artists and intellectuals, especially those who opposed the military dictatorship in Brazil. The problem of the identity of the Brazilian people was essential for them. They sought alleged popular roots and wanted to overcome underdevelopment. At the time there was a revolutionary romanticism which involved the utopia of integrating intellectuals with the common man of the people, which could give life to an alternative project of society that was eventually defeated by the military dictatorship (1964-1985). Many artists and intellectuals engaged in the opposition to the regime, in spite of its efforts of modernization, which gave them good job opportunities, in a complex process that involved both dissent and integration to the established order. The lectures will analyze different conjunctures, from the years before the coup of 1964 until the end of the democratization process that was completed with the free elections of 1989. Particularly the decades of 1960 and 1970 were some of the most creative periods of Brazilian culture, including the Cinema Novo, the Teatro de Arena, the Bossa Nova and the Tropicalism. The topics will be examined in the light of concepts such as structures of feeling (Raymond Williams), field (Bourdieu), engagement (Sartre), commodity fetishism and reification (Karl Marx, G. Lukacs, Walter Benjamin, F. Jameson), society of the spectacle (Guy Debord), culture industry (Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer), revolutionary romanticism (Michael Löwy and Robert Sayre), among others. The course also introduces students to critical interpretations of society and culture produced by Brazilian and Brazilianist historians and social scientists.

HIST W4674 Cuba and Latin America. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In this colloquium we will examine what the Cold War meant in a Latin American context and how historians today are interpreting it. We will primarily be focusing on new conceptual frameworks and historiographical trends that have emerged in the last decade as a result of archival openings, oral histories and the publication of memoirs. Although it would be helpful to have a background in US-Latin American relations and/or Latin American history it is not a prerequisite of the course. Because the colloquium is largely structured chronologically, students will gain an understanding of events, turning points, and developments in Latin America throughout the twentieth century that will allow them to understand the region's past. It worth underlining that this is not a course about US interventions in the region, although the United States often contributed to the way in which the Cold War in Latin America unfolded. Instead, we will be focusing squarely on Latin American perspectives and looking at what the Cold War meant to those inside the region. Specifically, we will be addressing the role of ideology and ideological struggles in twentieth-century Latin America; how these ideas responded to the challenges of modernity and development; why Marxism was popular in the region and how it was interpreted; the extent to which it influenced nationalists and revolutionaries; and who opposed it, why, and how. Throughout the semester we will be focusing in on international and intra-regional dimensions to the conflict as well as transnational stories of exile and movements. Students will therefore also be exploring how events in one part of Latin America impacted upon people in other areas of region either directly or indirectly. In this respect, we will be paying particular attention to the overthrow of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala, the Cuban Revolution's impact on revolutionary and counter- evolutionary trends in Latin America in the 1960s, the significance of the Brazilian coup of 1964 and the subsequent influence that Brazil's military regime had in shaping politics the Southern Cone. The colloquium is also designed to allow students to examine how Latin American populations, parties, leaders and exiles interacted with their contemporaries in other parts of the world and to draw comparisons. Field(s): LA

HIST W4676 History of Cuba from Late Spanish Colonialiism to the Present. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An exploration of Cuba's late colonial period, wars of independence, republican/neocolonial period, 1933 and 1959 revolutions, and eras under the governments of Fidel and Raúl Castro, including recent history.  Topics considered will include: Cuban sovereignty; the agricultural basis of the Cuban economy under colonialism and neocolonialism; enslaved labor and abolition; social and political struggles, both nonviolent and armed; the development of Cuban nationalisms, with an emphasis on the roles of race, diaspora, and exile in this process; Cuban-U.S. relations over many decades; and Cuba's role as a global actor, particularly after the 1959 revolution. Field(s): LA

HIST W4677 Latin American Growth and Wellbeing in Historical Perspective. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

In this seminar the main debates about long-run economic development in Latin America are examined from an international perspective. In particular, the course will address the impact of Latin American integration into the world market (including trade, capital flows, immigration, and changes in wellbeing and inequality) and the reactions to globalization (including restrictions to free trade and capital and labor mobility).

HIST W4678 Indigenous Worlds in Early Latin America. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This undergraduate seminar deals with the presence of indigenous peoples in Latin American colonial societies and aims to analyze indigenous responses to conquest and colonization. How did indigenous people see themselves and interact with other groups? What roles did they play in shaping Latin American societies? What spaces were they able to create for themselves? These and similar questions will guide our discussion through the semester. The course will offer a survey of all the main indigenous groups; however, the case studies are by necessity just a selection, and quite a few come from Mexico, reflecting the state of the scholarship in the field.

HIST W4688 1968 in Latin America: Leftist Radicalism and Youth Counterculture in Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course focuses on the cases of Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay to explore the complex relationships between social conflict, youth counterculture, and leftist radicalism which characterized the 1960s all over the region.  In-depth reading and discussion of a number of relevant primary sources and available scholarship in English will build a foundation for thinking through these issues.  In the first part of the class, we will analyze the political mobilization and cultural modernization in the framework of the conflicts that shaped the Cold War in the subcontinent.  After this general introduction, we will focus on 1968 to examine the impact of countercultural ideas and practices on different political traditions, particularly student and leftist politics.  Next we will analyze the rise and fall of the New Left, which challenged the ideological commitment, political strategies, and conservative cultural politics of the traditional left. Discussion will incorporate conventional views and recent academic debates on this shift in the region, which also addressing the spiraling of state repression that forced both old and new groups to reconsider strategies in the three countries under examination.  Finally, students will be encouraged to assess how all of these events and themes echoed in social memory through cultural representations and their increasing power to either legitimize or discredit political positions. Field(s): LA

HIST W4689 Human Rights Activism in Latin America, 1970s-1990s. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Focusing on the cases of  Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, this course examines the birth and development of the movements that protested human rights violations by right-wing authoritarian regimes in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In the first part of the class, we will explore some of the basic concerns that historians, political theorists, and social scientists have raised about authoritarian regimes in late twentieth-century South America. We will aim at concocting a working definition of authoritarianism, discussing the emergence of a new authoritarian model in the Southern Cone and examining the specific challenges confronted by the human rights movements. After this brief survey, the class will focus on the different ways of dealing with the repressive, legal, and political legacies of these regimes. We will analyze the first efforts at denunciation launched by political exiles and transnational human rights groups, as well as the formation of groups of victims' relatives that aimed at exposing ongoing abuses in their countries. We will also study the role of human rights claims during the transitional periods and the ways in which the post-transitional democratic governments faced these calls for accountability. The course will make a basic distinction between concrete legal actions taken to punish those accused of human rights violations, where the state was called to play a decisive role, and more disorganized efforts to know what happened and spread this knowledge to the society at large. We will explore this distinction, discussing how different actors posed their claims and constructed narratives to account for human rights violations and past political violence. This exploration will include the existing literature on justice and truth telling in the politics of transition, as well as scholarship on social memory and historical commemorations. Field(s): LA

HIST W4700 Utopia. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

The idea of utopia can be traced across many different periods and places. This seminar explores (imagined or reasoned) conceptions of the perfect society in literary, intellectual, and political texts. The ambiguous character of the utopian ideal holds out the promise of human perfection but also encodes a precariousness that speaks to some inevitable future disorder. Reading across a variety of genres and times, examining this interplay between visions of collective redemption and human suffering allows us to consider the ways in which authors have recorded the ideals and fears of their own political or social orders. It thus examines the very idea, whether historical or "mythical", of human progression or retrogression (understood as the "fall") to examine conceptions of time, history and humanity across numerous discursive traditions. The course will pay special attention to a number of themes and ideals. Among these are: the idea of a "golden age," as exemplified in some of the earliest cosmological and other writings and found in number of "visions of paradise"; the rise of millenarianist movements, ideas of eschatology and apocalypse; the ideal republic, whether as a proper political order or as exemplified through a new epistemic community, or "republic of letters"; the "perfect state," ranging from revolutionary, democratic, anarchist and socialist ones; and, finally, ending finally with modernist visions of dystopia which many of these same ideals would come to inspire. We will read a selection of texts ranging from Hesiod's Works and Days, Plato's Republic, works by Augustine and Farabi, and Thomas More's Utopia to Voltaire's Candide and Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto.

HIST W4704 Sunnis, Shias, and Others. 4 points.

This seminar explores historical formations of religiously-defined identities in Islam. The most commonly known religiously-defined identities in Islamic history are those of Sunnis and Shias (for the sake of convenience, the word Shia is used consistently throughout this course instead of Shi'i or Shiite, etc.). Besides Sunni and Shia, many other religiously-defined identity labels have been and continue to be used in the history of Muslim societies. Sufis, for instance, may identify themselves as either Sunni or Shia: sometimes they are shunned by both Sunnis and Shias. Tens of different Sufi group affiliations, also known as Sufi Brotherhoods are known. Still, there have existed so many other such identity labels that mostly now are forgotten, deemed irrelevant or sometimes subsumed other labels: Salafis, Ismailis, Qadiyanis or Ahmedis, Azalis, Panjpris, Nusayris, Alewis, and ghulat are but few examples of such religiously-defined identities. The notion of "sect" is often used, but the applicability of this term which has strong roots in Christian history to Islamic identities needs clarification. This seminar also examines the modes in which religiously-defined identities may become obsolete or otherwise be rendered insignificant. The historical process of making and unmaking "orthodoxy" is linked with the ways in which various religiously-defined identities may come under a unifying rubric. The notion of Schools of law (maz'habs) and Schools of theology (Mu'tazili, Ash'ari, Maturidi, etc.) is linked with local dynasties, patrician families, community & neighborhood dynamics, etc. The effect of ritual practice, rites of passage, geographical localization, etc is discussed, drawing on primary sources and contemporary studies mostly in history and anthropology. Examples are drawn from the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia, Europe, the Americas and elsewhere. The course is divided into three chronologically defined parts: classical (7th-16th centuries), post-classical (17th-19th centuries) and modern (20th century).

HIST W4705 Constitutions and Democracy in the Middle East. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: application requirements: SEE UNDERGRAD SEMINAR SECTION OF DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

Where the establishment of sustainable democracies is concerned, the Middle East has perhaps the poorest record of all regions of the world since World War II. This is in spite of the fact that two of the first constitutions in the non-Western world were established in this region, in the Ottoman Empire in 1876 and in Iran in 1906. Notwithstanding these and other subsequent democratic and constitutional experiments, Middle Eastern countries have been ruled over the past century by some of the world's last absolute monarchies, as well as a variety of other autocratic, military-dominated and dictatorial regimes. This course, intended primarily for advanced undergraduates, explores this paradox. It will examine the evolution of constitutional thought and practice, and how it was embodied in parliamentary and other democratic systems in the Middle East. It will examine not only the two Ottoman constitutional periods of 1876-78 and 1908-18, and that of Iran from 1905 onwards, but also the various precursors to these experiments, and some of their 20th century sequels in the Arab countries, Turkey and Iran. This will involve detailed study of the actual course of several Middle Eastern countries' democratic experiments, of the obstacles they faced, and of their outcomes. Students are expected to take away a sense of the complexities of the problems faced by would-be Middle Eastern democrats and constitutionalists, and of some of the reasons why the Middle East has appeared to be an exception to a global trend towards democratization in the post-Cold War era.

HIST W4713 Orientalism and the Historiography of the Other. 4 points.

This course will examine some of the problems inherent in Western historical writing on non-European cultures, as well as broad questions of what itmeans to write history across cultures. The course will touch on therelationship between knowledge and power, given that much of the knowledge we will be considering was produced at a time of the expansion of Western power over the rest of the world. By comparing some of the "others" which European historians constructed in the different non-western societies they depicted, and the ways other societies dealt with alterity and self, we may be able to derive a better sense of how the Western sense of self was constructed. Group(s): C Field(s): ME

HIST W4714 Modern Arabic History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This undergraduate seminar course will introduce students to major trends in modern Arabic intellectual history. Drawing on a range of intellectual movements from the 18th century to the present, we will cover such themes as: the history of readers and the role of publics and 'counter-publics' in the Middle east; encounters with Europe, Orientalism and its critics; the impact of liberalism, positivism and colonialism, and, finally, the rise of new discourses around law, science, socialism and religious reform.  We will end by paying special attention to contemporary religious movements, from the Salafiyya reformers to the Muslim Brotherhood and contemporary expressions of the new 'global Islam'. This is a general introductory course: no knowledge of Arabic or previous experience in modern Middle East history is necessary. Students who can work with Arabic of other language sources, however, are encouraged to do so, particularly for their final assignment. Field(s): ME

HIST W4715 Jews, Christians, and Muslims in the Early Islamic World. 4 points.

This seminar examines how religion worked as a social and political category in the early Islamic world. In the seventh century, the Middle East was populated by a diverse mix of Christians, Jews, pagans, and others. By the eleventh century, most of these people’s descendants were Muslims; those who had not converted to Islam were mostly Jews and Christians. This transformation changed what it meant to belong to a religious community, for Muslims, Jews, and Christians alike. We will examine this enormous historical change and its outcome, focusing on the social and political contexts of conversion in the first Islamic centuries (7th-10th) and on the social, political, cultural, and intellectual dimensions of religious communal life in the period immediately after (11th-12th centuries).

HIST W4718 Theories of Islamic History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Unlike European history, which divides into generally agreed upon eras and is structured around a clear narrative of religious and political events from Roman times down to the present, the broad sweep of Islamic and Middle Eastern history appears in quite different lights depending on who is wielding the broom. Theories of Islamic history can embody or conceal political, ethnic, or religious agendas; and no consensus has gained headway among the many writers who have given thought to the issue. The study of theories of Islamic history, therefore, provides a good opportunity for history majors to explore and critique broad conceptual approaches. A seminar devoted to such explorations should be a valuable capstone experience for studnets with a special interest in Islam and the Middle East. One or two works will be read by the entire class each week, and two students will be assigned to lead the discussions of the week's readings. Grades for the course will be based half on class participation and half on a 15-page term paper devoted to a topic approved by the instructor. Field(s): ME

HIST W4732 The Post-Ottoman World. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

In this seminar we will put the histories of the modern Balkans and Middle East in conversation by seeing them through the lens of the "post-Ottoman world." Moving beyond the national histories of countries such as Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia, we will examine the common dilemmas and divergent paths of a variety of groups, institutions, and individual figures throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Field(s): ME

HIST W4746 Modern Turkey. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

Bulletin description: In this course we will explore the relationships between intellectual, social, cultural and political history of the Republic of Turkey. We will discuss questions of continuity from the Ottoman Empire, Turkey's predecessor state, and continue through the interwar, Cold War, and post-Cold War periods. Issues to be explored include Turks and their Others, political belonging within Turkey and the place of Turkey in the wider region(s) around it. Field(s): ME

HIST W4751 The Ottomans and the West, 1700-1900. 4 points.

This is an undergraduate seminar covering two centuries of transformation of the Ottoman Empire viewed from the perspective of contacts with, and of the influence of, the western world. Based on a wide perspective embracing political, economic, social, and cultural history, the seminar will address such basic issues as modernization, modernity, westernization, orientalism, and imperialism to understand a long process of transformation from an early-modern imperial structure to a periphery of the modern world order.

HIST W4755 Oil and the History of Arab Gulf States. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar focuses on how the discovery and exploitation of petroleum at the turn of the 20th century has shaped the formation and consolidation of Arab states of the Persian Gulf, permanently changing the geo-political and social landscape of the Arabian Peninsula. We will study economic, social, and political formations across the Gulf on the eve of the discovery of oil and the attendant transformations that accompanied its exploitation. We will also pay close attention to the role that imperial rivalries and foreign oil companies played in shaping the Gulf states, their economies, systems of rule, foreign relations, borders, and built environment. We also study the populist, anti-imperialist movements of the mid-twentieth century in the context of the "Arab Cold War". Saudi Arabia has received more academic attention than the other Gulf states and thus takes up a larger part of the course, but we will also cover Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and Oman. We will read historical, anthropological, literary and political economy studies and oil firm histories, drawing on works on Yemen, Iraq, Iran, and the US, to follow transformations in political, social and economic life in this understudied region that has played a central role in world politics and economy since the 1900s. Field(s): ME

HIST W4768 Writing Contemporary African History. 4 points.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

An exploration of the historiography of contemporary (post-1960) Africa, this course asks what African history is, what is unique about it, and what is at stake in its production. Field(s): AFR

HIST W4769 Health and Healing in African History. 4 points.

This course charts the history of health and healing from, as far as is possible, a perspective interior to Africa. It explores changing practices and understandings of disease, etiology, healing and well-being from pre-colonial times through into the post-colonial. A major theme running throughout the course is the relationship between medicine, the body, power and social groups. This is balanced by an examination of the creative ways in which Africans have struggled to compose healthy communities, albeit with varied success, whether in the fifteenth century or the twenty-first. Field(s): AFR

HIST W4789 Poverty in Africa: Historical Perspectives. 4 points.

In this course we will explore in a critical manner the concept of poverty in Africa. The emphasis is on historicizing categories such as poverty and wealth, debt and charity and on the ways in which people in Africa have understood such categories. As such the course takes a longue durée approach spanning over a millennium of history, ending with contemporary understandings of poverty. Field(s): AFR

HIST W4803 Subaltern Studies and Beyond: History and the Archive. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This is an advanced undergraduate seminar course that will retrace the history of the making of the Subaltern Studies problematic, considered a major intervention in both Indian nationalist history and the wider discipline of history itself, with a focus on the relationship between method, archives, and the craft of history writing. Group(s): A, C Fields: *SA

HIST W4848 Pakistan in Modern South Asia: 1924-2014. 4 points.

Pakistan is the second largest Muslim nation and the sixth most populous country in the world. Entangled in multiple political, economic, and social conflicts, the citizens of the country are likewise engaged in multiple struggles for re-imagining, resistance, and survival. This course will situate Pakistan in the context of modern South Asia, and examine its diverse struggles and life-worlds from a historical, environmental, and literary perspective. It will cover topics such as the partitions of 1947 and 1971, debates on Islam and the constitution, gender and sexuality, and the literary imagination. The course will engage with the most recent historiographic debates in studying Pakistan within the South Asian and global contexts.

HIST W4858 Islam in India since 1526: Coexistence and Conflict, Gender and Personhood. 4 points.

This course explores five hundred years of the history of Islam and Muslims in India. It is concerned with understanding the many faces of Islam and the many ways of being Muslim in India and how these have changed over time. On one level we will study the connection between Islam and political power in South Asia: the course explores the ruling ideologies of the Mughal Emperors, the different ways in which Muslims responded to the rise of British power on the subcontinent, and the various responses Muslims articulated in response to the introduction of democracy in India. These questions naturally ensure that the course is also concerned the question of how different Muslims interacted with members of other religious groups in India. We will interrogate moments of coexistence and conflict between religious communities to try to understand their origins and nature. At another level, the course is concerned with the changing shape of Muslim lives over the same period. It explores everyday practices of Muslim belief as well as notions of gender, family and personhood, and explores the interplay of these with political, economic and cultural changes over five centuries of history.

HIST W4859 Asian Migration to the U.S.. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This course explores the history of migration from Asia to, and throughout, the United States and North, Central and South America from the late 19th to the early 21st century. The goal of the course is to explore how and why people moved, their experiences in settlement and sojourning and their impact on life in the Americas. The course consists of a combination of readings, discussions, and research workshops.

HIST W4865 Vietnam War: History, Media, Memory. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

The wars in Vietnam and Indochina as seen in historical scholarship, contemporary media, popular culture and personal recollection. The seminar will consider American, Vietnamese, and international perspectives on the war, paying particular attention to Vietnam as the "first television war" and the importance of media images in shaping popular opinion about the conflict. Group(s): B, C, D

HIST W4870 Japan Before 1600. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Introduces the cultural, political, social, and economic history of the Japanese archipelago from earliest times through the 16th century C.E.  A variety of primary source materials in translation and a sampling of English-language secondary sources.  Loosely organized around particular places or spaces of premodern Japan, and emphatically not a comprehensive survey. Field(s): EA*

HIST W4900 Historian's Craft. 4 points.

Intended for history majors.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This course raises the issues of the theory and practice of history as a discipline.  Considers different approaches to the study of history and offers an introduction to research and the use of archival collections. Special emphasis on conceptualization of research topics, situating projects historiographically, locating and assessing published and archival sources. Field(s): METHODS

HIST W4902 World War II. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

A global examination of the coming, course, and consequences of World War II from the differing viewpoints of the major belligerents and those affected by them.  Emphasis is not only on critical analysis but also on the craft of history-writing. Group(s): B, C, D Field(s): INTL

HIST W4911 Medicine and Western Civilization. 4 points.

Priority given to majors and concentrators, seniors, and juniors, but other majors are welcome.Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission.

This seminar seeks to analyze the ways by which medicine and culture combine to shape our values and traditions. To this end, it will examine notable literary, medical, and social texts from classical antiquity to the present. A, B, D

HIST W4914 The Future as History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An introduction to the historical origins of forecasting, projections, long-range planning, and future scenarios. Topics include apocalyptic ideas and movements, utopias and dystopias, and changing conceptions of time, progress, and decline. A key theme is how relations of power, including understandings of history, have been shaped by expectations of the future. Group(s): ABCD

HIST W4915 History of Domestic Animals. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will consider the evolution of human-animal relations on a global basis over the entire course of human history.  Student papers will engage specific topics from different times and places. Field(s): INTL

HIST W4917 Children of the Revolution. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In 1972 the British rock band Tyrannosaurus Rex sang "no, you won't fool the children of the revolution" implying the commitment of the 1968ers to the revolutionary cause; in 1987 David Horowitz, one of the most prominent figures of 1960s radicalism, publicized his regret for belonging to the "destructive generation". What happens to revolutionary movements when the "great steam engine of history" seems not to be heading to the desired destination? Main goal of this course is to explore the transformation of revolutionary generations and the connection between disillusioned radicals and the shaping of political and intellectual trends of the 20th century.

HIST W4919 History of Public Policy: Diplomacy from the Cold War to the War on Terrorism. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

History of changes in the concept and practice of public diplomacy, mainly American. The course focuses on state-coordinated efforts to influence foreign public opinion, examining these against the background of major shifts in U.S. hegemonic strategies since the 1930s. Class topics and readings, drawing on histories, political science, communications theory, are mainly devoted to comparing two periods, the Cold War and the Global War on Terrorism. Class work includes analysis of military-strategic and other primary sources and a research paper to be presented at end-of-the semester workshop. Field(s): INTL

HIST W4920 Global Justice in Historical Perspective. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

In Anglo-American political philosophy today, "global justice" is a booming field. How did this happen? Where did it come from? This course offers an alternative introduction to the field, assuming that history helps place it in a different perspective. In 1971, John Rawls published his Theory of Justice, which arrived at social principles through abstraction - from the constraints and particularities of body, class, and culture, but taking extant national spaces as fixed architecture. Within a few years, however, some of his own followers challenged this constraint. After 1989, a long-term canon emerged, casting "cosmopolitanism" as long-brewing since the time of the Greeks, running through Immanuel Kant, into our own day. We will revisit this canon as intellectual historians, attempting to reconcile it with the sudden turn to global justice in our own age of globalization.

HIST W4922 The Engineering and Ownership of Life. 4 points.

This course will examine the history of innovation in plants, animals, and human genes and the arrangements that innovators have devised through the law and by other means to establish and protect intellectual property rights in the fruits of their labors. Attending mainly though not exclusively to the United States, it will probe the history of these two subjects both in their own right and their connections to each other and the larger social, economic, and political context from the late eighteenth century to the present. In the first half of the course, which will run to about 1950, we will consider the history of plant and animal breeding and the role in establishing and maintaining intellectual property rights in plants and animals of devices such as breeder's associations, paintings, contracts, trade secrets, and the Plant Patent Act of 1930 which provided the first patent coverage of any type of living organisms in the world. The second half of the course, which will run from c. 1950 to the present, will cover in part advances in plant breeding and the enlargement of intellectual property protection for plants both in the U.S. and Europe through the creation of the plant variety protection system. The bulk of the second half will be devoted to the rise of genetic engineering, statutory and case law establishing patent protection for living organisms in the U.S. and Europe, the biotechnologies of medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture, and the controversies surrounding these developments, including the legal battles over the patenting of human DNA, in the context of globalization.

HIST W4923 Narratives of World War II. 4 points.

An examination of literary and cinematic narratives of the Second World War produced in the decades since 1940 in Europe, America, and Asia. The analytic approach centers both on the historicity of, and the history in, the texts, with the goal of questioning the nature of narrative in different forms through a blend of literary and historical approaches.

HIST W4928 Comparative Slavery and Abolition in the Atlantic World. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Prerequisites: seminar application required. SEE UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR SECTION OF THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.

This seminar investigates the experiences of slavery and freedom among African-descended people living and laboring in the various parts of the Atlantic World. The course will trace critical aspects of these two major, interconnected historical phenomena with an eye to how specific cases either manifested or troubled broader trends across various slaveholding societies. The first half of the course addresses the history of slavery and the second half pertains to experiences in emancipation. However, since the abolition of slavery occurs at different moments in various areas of the Atlantic World, the course will adhere to a thematic rather than a chronological structure, in its examination of the multiple avenues to freedom available in various regions. Weekly units will approach major themes relevant to both slavery and emancipation, such as racial epistemologies among slaveowners/employers, labor regimes in slave and free societies, cultural innovations among slave and freed communities, gendered discourses and sexual relations within slave and free communities, and slaves’ and freepeople’s resistance to domination. The goal of this course is to broaden students’ comprehension of the history of slavery and freedom, and to promote an understanding of the transition from slavery to freedom in the Americas as creating both continuities and ruptures in the structure and practices of the various societies concerned. Group(s): ABCD Field(s): US/LA 

HIST W4934 Poisons in World History. 4 points.

For the Greeks, a pharmakon could be both medicine and poison. The German alchemist Paracelsus went even further: ”All things are poisons,” he famously wrote, “and nothing is without poison.” Today, we tend to use different words to differentiate “medicines,” “poisons,” and “drugs” - but as this class will explore, the histories of these three categories have more in common than we might think. Readings for this class will range from the “Poison King” Mithridates I of Pergamum to the theories of Paracelsus, the techniques of early modern assassins, the use of poisons as a form of resistance by African slaves, and finally the emergence of the discipline of toxicology in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. No prior knowledge in poisons is required, but students should have an interest in premodern history and/or the life sciences. 

HIST W4946 International Criminal Law: History and Theory. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Many people in our time think some of the highest ethical purposes today were achieved in the struggle to establish the International Criminal Court in 2002, and continue to be at stake in the institution's first steps. Why do people think so, and of what use are the tools of history (assisted by theory) to put this belief in perspective? Answering this question is the main purpose of this course, which presupposes covering the court's origins and several dimensions of its doctrines and workings during its short existence. A main theme is the politics of law, and whether Judith Shklar's brilliant account of legalism is defensible. Field(s): INTL

HIST W4947 History of the Wheel in Transport. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will address critical turning points in the world history of wheeled transport, starting with the time, place, and rationale for the first appearance of wheels; moving onto the diffusion of wheeled transport to other parts of the world; and thence to the emergence of modern wheeled transport out of technological innovations that became evident in eastern Europe in late medieval times. Student papers may be devoted either to these early historical developments, or to episodes in motor-driven vehicular history from more recent times. Field(s): INTL

HIST W4959 A History of the Body in the Atlantic World. 4 points.

This course examines the history of the body in the Atlantic world with a focus on race and gender in North America and the Caribbean. It is designed primarily for students with some background in history, as we will examine a number of primary sources. We will analyze these sources in the context of secondary readings on health and disease, class and labor, transgression and punishment, and the relationship between people and their environment. Through all of these readings we will consider the ways in which race, gender, and bodily difference are constructed over time and space, and reflect on how these categories of difference and power were(and are)culturally specific and subject to change.

HIST W4976 Symbolic Geography: East and West in Modern European Political Thought. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This seminar discusses how frequent changes in European political borders during the 19th and 20th centuries have been reflected in the political thought of the continent. It focuses on 20th century Eastern and Central European interpretations of the regions. Group(s): B Field(s): MEU

HIST W4977 History, Big and Deep. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course will engage in close readings of recent works that attempt to understand human history within broader contexts of natural history, evolution and complexity theory. In addition to looking carefully at the kinds of logic and evidence used in each work, we will also follow these works into broader discussions of the relationship of human history to the natural world, the development and significance of consciousness and human culture, and the relevance of huge scales of time and space to understanding human life.   Field(s): INTL

HIST W4983 Science and Empire from Baghdad to Byzantium. 4 points.

This seminar explores the flourishing world of medieval science and scientists in the Byzantine and Islamic empires. Scholars read and wrote books on astronomy, medicine, alchemy, and other subjects in a variety of changing social and political contexts. What was the nature of the relationship between science and empire, between knowledge and power, in Byzantium and the medieval Islamic world? How did specialized knowledge and its bearers serve, subvert, and complicate imperial agendas? What was science understood to entail, and to what end? The course is designed for students interested in the history of science, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern empires, and/or the pre-modern world. It introduces students to medieval Greek and Arabic science and political contexts, from roughly the 7th to the 12th century. Readings from primary sources (in translation) and modern scholarship will be analyzed and discussed with respect to several interrelated themes, including: knowledge in the service of empire; communities of knowledge-producers (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other); narratives of the history of science and their political significance; and taxonomies of the sciences.

HIST W4985 Citizenship, Race, Gender and the Politics of Exclusion. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

This course explores the surge of increasingly radical political revolutions that crisscrossed the Atlantic beginning with Britain's Glorious Revolution, extending through the US and French Revolutions to the Haitian Revolution and efforts to establish an Irish Republic in the 1790s. These successive revolutions created the first modern republics and the first modern republican citizens. In the process, they raised a host of questions: What rights could the modern citizen claim? Who could claim those rights? Do the rights of citizens war with human rights? As one revolution led to another, the answers to these questions became progressively democratized and radicalized - until Caribbean slaves' bloody assertion of their freedom and independence (the Haitian Revolution) sent a shudder through Europe and the Americas leading to a retreat from the radical inclusionary vision initially espoused by both the American and the French Revolutions. Field(s): INTL 

HIST W4993 Histories of Cold. 4 points.

Common sense tells us that cold is a basic fact of existence: cold can be seen registered on a thermometer, or felt by stepping out of doors on a winter’s day. But what is cold? This is a question that has fascinated scientists and engineers for at least the last few hundred years. Beginning with Francis Bacon’s famous experiments on frozen chickens, this course follows a frosty trail through experimental science, polar exploration, and social and environmental engineering from the seventeenth century to the present day, asking along the way, how cold itself functioned as an object of scientific inquiry, a basic element of the natural world, and a potential source of economic profit. We will ask, how did lay observers and scientific experts define cold, and how did these understandings change over time? To what extent did temporal and geographic context shape understandings of cold? Was cold the same entity or experience for ocean voyagers becalmed in the tropics in the 1840s as it was for Antarctic explorers at the turn of the twentieth century? What was the relationship between embodied experience and experimental knowledge for people interested in making sense of cold? Between sensation and measurement? Above all, what is cold? And what does it mean to contemplate it in an age of global warming? Students in this course will explore these questions in the context of the expansion of the West and the globalization of western science during the early modern and modern period.

HSAF UN3504 COLUMBIA 1968. 4.00 points.

This undergraduate seminar examines the social, political, and cultural transformations of the 1960s through the lens of local history. The course is centered on the student and community protests that took place at Columbia University and in Morningside Heights in 1968. Scholarly and popular histories have underscored the ways 1968 was a watershed moment in the history of the 20th century. Although the protest is one of the touchstone events from the year and the decade, reliable historical treatment is still lacking. This class encourages students to examine and craft histories of the university and the surrounding community in this period. Designed to work in tandem with the “Columbia and Slavery” course, this course is a public-facing seminar designed to empower students to open up a discussion of all the issues connected with the protests, its global, national, and local context, and its aftermath. The course aims to raise questions, elicit curiosity, and encourage students and those interested in Columbia and Morningside Heights history to investigate one of the most important events to take place in the university’s history. The recent 50th anniversary of those events, and the availability of new sources & publications on the protests, have presented opportunities to prompt fresh answers to old questions: What were the factors that led to the protests? How did student and community mobilization shape, and were shaped by, national and international forces? What are the local, national, and international legacies of Columbia 1968? The recent graduate student strike is a very tangible legacy of the protests. This seminar is part of an on-going, multiyear effort to grapple with such questions and to share our findings with the Columbia community and beyond. Working independently, students will define and pursue individual research projects. Working together, the class will create digital visualizationsof these projects. Course Objectives: 1. To explore, document, and contextualize the Columbia/Morningside Heights protests of 1968. 2. To practice the “historian’s craft” by conducting research, analyzing primary material, and making coherent arguments based on an interrogation of evidence. 3. To analyze, engage in, and reflect on the relationship between archival research and the production of historical research in the digital realm as a point of interaction with a broader public

Spring 2024: HSAF UN3504
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HSAF 3504 001/11602 T 2:10pm - 4:00pm
301m Fayerweather
Frank Guridy 4.00 13/13

HSCL GU4607 Rabbis for Historians. 3 points.

This course introduces the central historical issues raised by ancient Palestinian and Babylonian rabbinic literature through exploration of some of the crucial primary texts and analysis of the main scholarly approaches to these texts.

HSCL UN3000 The Persian Empire . 4 points.

This seminar studies the ancient Persian (Achaemenid) Empire which ruled the entire Middle East from the late 6th to the late 4th centuries BCE and was the first multi-ethnic empire in western Asian and Mediterranean history. We will investigate the empire using diverse sources, both textual and material, from the various constituent parts of the empire and study the different ways in which it interacted with its subject populations. This course is a seminar and students will be asked to submit a research paper at the end of the semester. Moreover, in each class meeting one student will present part of the readings.


Grading: participation (25%), class presentation (25%), paper (50%).

HSEA W2863 The History of Modern Korea. 3 points.

Prerequisites: Recommended: HSEA W3862.

Korean history from the mid 19th century to the present, with particular focus on politics, society, and culture in the 20th century. Major Cultures Requirement: East Asian Civilization List B. Group(s): C

HSEA W3837 Postwar Japan in the World. 4 points.

Field(s): EA

HSEA W3863 The History of Modern Korea. 3 points.

Prerequisites: Recommended: HSEA W3862.

Korean history from the mid 19th century to the present, with particular focus on politics, society, and culture in the 20th century. Major Cultures Requirement: East Asian Civilization List B. Group(s): C

HSEA W4720 20th Century Tibetan History. 4 points.

    This course is designed for students interested in gaining a broad view of Tibetan history in the 20th century. We will cover the institutional history of major Tibetan state institutions and their rivals in the Tibetan borderlands, as well as the relations with China, Britain, and America. Discussion sessions throughout the semester will focus on important historical issues. Group(s): C

HSEA W4837 Postwar Japan in the World. 4 points.

Field(s): EA

HSEA W4839 Family in Chinese History. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Field(s): EA

HSEA W4890 Historiography of East Asia. 3 points.

This course is designed primarily for majors in East Asian studies in their junior year; others may enroll with the instructor's permission.

Major issues in the practice of history illustrated by critical reading of important historical works on East Asia. Group(s): A, C Field(s): EA

HSME UN2810 HISTORY OF SOUTH ASIA I. 4.00 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Graduate students must register for HIST G6998 version of this course.

This survey lecture course will provide students with a broad overview of the history of South Asia as a region - focusing on key political, cultural and social developments over more than two millennia. The readings include both primary sources (in translation) and secondary works. Our key concerns will be the political, cultural and theological encounters of varied communities, the growth of cities and urban spaces, networks of trade and migrations and the development of both local and cosmopolitan cultures across Southern Asia. The survey will begin with early dynasties of the classical period and then turn to the subsequent formation of various Perso-Turkic polities, including the development and growth of hybrid political cultures such as those of Vijayanagar and the Mughals. The course also touches on Indic spiritual and literary traditions such as Sufi and Bhakti movements. Near the end of our course, we will look forward towards the establishment of European trading companies and accompanying colonial powers

HSME UN2811 South Asia: Empire and Its Aftermath. 4 points.

Prerequisites: None.

(No prerequisite.) We begin with the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire, and examine why and how the East India Company came to rule India in the eighteenth century. As the term progresses, we will investigate the objectives of British colonial rule in India and we will explore the nature of colonial modernity. The course then turns to a discussion of anti-colonial sentiment, both in the form of outright revolt, and critiques by early nationalists. This is followed by a discussion of Gandhi, his thought and his leadership of the nationalist movement. Finally, the course explores the partition of British India in 1947, examining the long-term consequences of the process of partition for the states of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. We will focus in particular on the flowing themes: non-Western state formation; debates about whether British rule impoverished India; the structure and ideology of anti-colonial thought; identity formation and its connection to political, economic and cultural structures. The class relies extensively on primary texts, and aims to expose students to multiple historiographical perspectives for understanding South Asia's past.

Spring 2024: HSME UN2811
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HSME 2811 001/11589 M W 10:10am - 11:25am
301 Uris Hall
Anupama Rao 4 70/70

HSME UN2812 HIST OF SOUTH ASIA I-DISC. 0.00 points.

MANDATORY Discussion Section for HSME 2811 South Asia: Empire and Aftermath. Students must also be registered for HSME 2811

HSME UN2813 S ASIA II:EMPIRE/ITS AFTR - DISC. 0.00 points.

Required discussion for History of South Asia II lecture (S ASIA II:EMPIRE/ITS AFTR HSME UN2811). Discussion section day & times to be determined

Spring 2024: HSME UN2813
Course Number Section/Call Number Times/Location Instructor Points Enrollment
HSME 2813 001/11590  
0.00 17/70

HSME UN3810 History of South Asia I: al-Hind to Hindustan. 3 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Graduate students must register for HIST G6999 version of this course.

This survey lecture course will provide students with a broad overview of the history of South Asia as a region - focusing on key political, cultural and social developments over more than two millennia. The readings include both primary sources (in translation) and secondary works. Our key concerns will be the political, cultural and theological encounters of varied communities, the growth of cities and urban spaces, networks of trade and migrations and the development of both local and cosmopolitan cultures across Southern Asia. The survey will begin with early dynasties of the classical period and then turn to the subsequent formation of various Perso-Turkic polities, including the development and growth of hybrid political cultures such as those of Vijayanagar and the Mughals. The course also touches on Indic spiritual and literary traditions such as Sufi and Bhakti movements. Near the end of our course, we will look forward towards the establishment of European trading companies and accompanying colonial powers.

HSME W2810 History of South Asia I: al-Hind to Hindustan. 4 points.

CC/GS/SEAS: Partial Fulfillment of Global Core Requirement
Graduate students must register for HIST G6998 version of this course.

This survey lecture course will provide students with a broad overview of the history of South Asia as a region - focusing on key political, cultural and social developments over more than two millennia. The readings include both primary sources (in translation) and secondary works. Our key concerns will be the political, cultural and theological encounters of varied communities, the growth of cities and urban spaces, networks of trade and migrations and the development of both local and cosmopolitan cultures across Southern Asia. The survey will begin with early dynasties of the classical period and then turn to the subsequent formation of various Perso-Turkic polities, including the development and growth of hybrid political cultures such as those of Vijayanagar and the Mughals. The course also touches on Indic spiritual and literary traditions such as Sufi and Bhakti movements. Near the end of our course, we will look forward towards the establishment of European trading companies and accompanying colonial powers.

HSPB UN2950 Social History of U.S. Public Health. 4.00 points.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an historical understanding of the role public health has played in American history. The underlying assumptions are that disease, and the ways we define disease, are simultaneously reflections of social and cultural values, as well as important factors in shaping those values. Also, it is maintained that the environments that we build determine the ways we live and die. The dread infectious and acute diseases in the nineteenth century, the chronic, degenerative conditions of the twentieth and the new, vaguely understood conditions rooted in a changing chemical and human-made environment are emblematic of the societies we created. Among the questions that will be addressed are: How does the health status of Americans reflect and shape our history? How do ideas about health reflect broader attitudes and values in American history and culture? How does the American experience with pain, disability, and disease affect our actions and lives? What are the responsibilities of the state and of the individual in preserving health? How have American institutions--from hospitals to unions to insurance companies--been shaped by changing longevity, experience with disability and death?

HSPB UN2951 SOCIAL HIST OF AMER PUB HEALTH-DIS. 0.00 points.

Required Discussion Section for HSPB 2950 Social History of American Public Health. Students must also register for HSPB 2950

HSPB W2950 Social History of American Public Health. 4 points.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an historical understanding of the role public health has played in American history. The underlying assumptions are that disease, and the ways we define disease, are simultaneously reflections of social and cultural values, as well as important factors in shaping those values. Also, it is maintained that the environments that we build determine the ways we live and die. The dread infectious and acute diseases in the nineteenth century, the chronic, degenerative conditions of the twentieth and the new, vaguely understood conditions rooted in a changing chemical and human-made environment are emblematic of the societies we created. Among the questions that will be addressed are: How does the health status of Americans reflect and shape our history? How do ideas about health reflect broader attitudes and values in American history and culture? How does the American experience with pain, disability, and disease affect our actions and lives? What are the responsibilities of the state and of the individual in preserving health? How have American institutions--from hospitals to unions to insurance companies--been shaped by changing longevity, experience with disability and death?

HSPB W3950 Social History of American Public Health. 3 points.

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an historical understanding of the role public health has played in American history. The underlying assumptions are that disease, and the ways we define disease, are simultaneously reflections of social and cultural values, as well as important factors in shaping those values. Also, it is maintained that the environments that we build determine the ways we live and die. The dread infectious and acute diseases in the nineteenth century, the chronic, degenerative conditions of the twentieth and the new, vaguely understood conditions rooted in a changing chemical and human-made environment are emblematic of the societies we created. Among the questions that will be addressed are: How does the health status of Americans reflect and shape our history? How do ideas about health reflect broader attitudes and values in American history and culture? How does the American experience with pain, disability, and disease affect our actions and lives? What are the responsibilities of the state and of the individual in preserving health? How have American institutions--from hospitals to unions to insurance companies--been shaped by changing longevity, experience with disability and death?

HSPS GR8445 LEGACIES OF EMPIRE & SOV UNION. 4.00 points.

This intensive course offers an introduction to multiple disciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches to the major issues defining the emergence, persistence, and transformation of the countries that once comprised the Soviet bloc. The course explores the history, politics, economies, societies, and political cultures of Russia, the non-Russian republics of the former USSR, and East Central Europe, focusing on the conceptual, methodological, and theoretical developments employed by Soviet studies in North America and related disciplines. It also critically interrogates the enduring relevance and problems posed by the widespread use of the term “Soviet legacy” in reference to contemporary features and challenges faced by the region. The intensive nature of this course is reflected in two ways- preparation and focus. First, the course carries a substantial reading load designed to inform and prepare students for the course sessions. These assignments will mostly be academic readings, but may also include short videos, news articles, and digital archival materials. In order to use our time together productively, the lectures and discussion will build upon, not review, the assignments for the session. Second, the remote nature of the course will require active listening and focus. Each session typically will be split into 2 segments, roughly of 55-60 minutes each. Many of these segments will be taught by guest lecturers who will give 30 mins presentations on their topic and then field questions. During our limited time for Q&A students should ask single, concise questions

HSSL W3224 Cities and Civilizations: an Introduction To Eurasian Studies. 3 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

An introduction to the study of the region formerly occupied by the Russian and Soviet Empires focusing on cities as the space of self-definition, encounter, and tension among constituent peoples. Focus on incorporating and placing in dialogue diverse disciplinary approaches to the study of the city through reading and analysis of historical, literary, and theoretical texts as well as film, music, painting, and architecture. Group(s): B

HSSL W3860 Post-Socialist Cities of Eurasia. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Beginning with the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the reorganization of urban life was a central goal of Marxist-Leninist state socialism. Despite its claim to be making a radical break with the past, however, this new vision of the city was realized in practice through interaction with earlier urban forms, and the legacy of socialist urbanity continues to be felt in the physical spaces and daily lives of current post-Soviet and post-communist metropolises. This course examines the "socialist city" from its origins in the early USSR, through its transformations across time and space in Eastern Europe and East Asia, down to the present day. Our definition of "Eurasia" therefore extends beyond the former Soviet space to include cities in socialist and post-socialist societies such as China, East Germany, Poland, Mongolia, and North Korea. The course will also venture as far afield as Havana, Brasilia, Mexico City, and New York, considering the socialist city as an experiment in urban living carried out in various times and places well outside the former socialist "bloc." These cities will be studied through a variety of sources across several disciplines, including history, literature, film, art and architecture, anthropology and geography. The spring course continues with the Global Scholars Program Summer Workshop 2014, "Contemporary Cities of Eurasia: Berlin, Moscow, Ulan Bator, Beijing." Students are expected to enroll in both courses.

HSSL W4860 Post-Socialist Cities of Eurasia. 4 points.

Not offered during 2023-2024 academic year.

Beginning with the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the reorganization of urban life was a central goal of Marxist-Leninist state socialism. Despite its claim to be making a radical break with the past, however, this new vision of the city was realized in practice through interaction with earlier urban forms, and the legacy of socialist urbanity continues to be felt in the physical spaces and daily lives of current post-Soviet and post-communist metropolises. This course examines the "socialist city" from its origins in the early USSR, through its transformations across time and space in Eastern Europe and East Asia, down to the present day. Our definition of "Eurasia" therefore extends beyond the former Soviet space to include cities in socialist and post-socialist societies such as China, East Germany, Poland, Mongolia, and North Korea. The course will also venture as far afield as Havana, Brasilia, Mexico City, and New York, considering the socialist city as an experiment in urban living carried out in various times and places well outside the former socialist "bloc." These cities will be studied through a variety of sources across several disciplines, including history, literature, film, art and architecture, anthropology and geography. The spring course continues with the Global Scholars Program Summer Workshop 2014, "Contemporary Cities of Eurasia: Berlin, Moscow, Ulan Bator, Beijing." Students are expected to enroll in both courses.

HSWM UN2761 GENDER & SEXUALITY IN AFRICA. 4.00 points.

This course examines the history of gender, sexuality and ways of identifying along these lines in Africa from early times through the twentieth century. It asks how gender and sexuality have shaped key historical developments, from African kingdoms and empires to postcolonial states, from colonial conquest to movements for independence, from indigenous healing practices to biomedicine, from slavery to the modern forms of work. It will also explore the history of different sexualities and gender identities on the continent. A key objective is to extend the historical study of gender and sexual identity in Africa beyond ‘women’s history’ to understand gender as encompassing all people in society and their relationships, whether domestic or public.

TBD UN2901 Data: Past, Present, and Future. 3 points.

Prerequisites: Corequisite discussion/lab section HSAM UN2902

Critical thinking and practice regarding the past, present, and future of data.  Readings covering how students, scholars, and citizens can make sense of data in science, public policy, and our personal lives.  Labs covering descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive modeling of data.

TBD UN3504 Columbia 1968. 4 points.

This undergraduate seminar examines the social, political, and cultural transformations of the 1960s through the lens of local history. The course is centered on the student and community protests that took place at Columbia University and in Morningside Heights in 1968. Although the protest is one of the touchstone events from the year and the decade, reliable historical treatment is still lacking. This class encourages students to examine and recraft histories of the university and the surrounding community in this period. Modeled on the recently designed “Columbia and Slavery” course, this course is a public-facing seminar designed to empower students to open up a discussion of all the issues connected with the protests, its global, national, and local context, and its aftermath. The course aims to prompt fresh answers to old questions: What were the factors that led to the protests? How did the student and community mobilization shape, and were shaped by, national and international forces? What were the local, national, and international legacies of Columbia 1968?  This seminar is part of an on-going, multiyear effort to grapple with such questions and to share our findings with the Columbia community and beyond.  Working independently, students will define and pursue individual research projects.  Working together, the class will create digital visualizations of these projects.

TBD UN3545 Urban Politics and Policies in a Global Age . 4 points.

Prerequisites: At least two Urban Studies A-Level courses

Through readings and discussion, we will examine current political, economic, social cultural and demographic forces that are continuing to shape urban areas today as well as analyze the political, economic and social challenges that today's cities face.  One important theme of this course will be the integration of theoretical frameworks with urban realities as we consider the challenges facing the 21st century city.