Spring 2008 Course Descriptions
200-300 Level
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE! Always check the University online schedule for the latest changes.
HIS 204 - History of Africa since 1870
10315 204-01 MW 3:30-4:45
Colleen Kriger
When, how, and why did European nations colonize the African continent? And, an equally important question, What is the legacy of European colonialism in Africa today? This course examines major themes in recent African history, and discusses theoretical debates in the history of Africa during the colonial period and since.
Topics to be covered include: the imposition of colonial rule and wars of resistance; styles of colonial rule; theories of underdevelopment and the effects of colonial policies; Pan-Africanism, nationalism, and independence movements; the creation of apartheid; decolonization; and issues facing independent Africa such as neo-colonialism and the dismantling of apartheid. These themes will be studied with reference to the regions of west, east, central, and southern Africa.
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HIS 211 - United States History to 1865General survey of American history from colonization through the Civil War. 211-01 through 04 Watson Jennison
211-05 Susannah Link Online 211-06 through 09 William Ryan
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HIS 212 - United States History since 1865General survey of American history from Reconstruction to the present. 212-01 through 04 Justin Nystrom 12299 212-05 Kevin Crowder R 6:00-8:50 p.m. 12303 212-06 Susannah Link Online |
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HIS 216 - Civilizations of Asia
10329 216-01 MW 2:00-2:50
Jamie Anderson
Is Modern East Asia really �modern�? What do we mean by this term? Can we understand the modern history of the region, if we focus exclusively on the Asian response to the arrival of Western powers in the region? This course will examine political change, specifically the emergence of anti-colonial nationalist and communist movements, as well as related intellectual and social developments in East Asia since ca. 1800.
HIS 218 - The World of the Twentieth Century
10330 218-01 MW 3:30-4:45
Mark Moser
This class will examine global issues in the contemporary world, focusing mainly on the post-World War II period, from the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan in August 1945, to the complex, high-tech, evolving world of today. We will examine some of the important political, economic, social, and cultural changes of the second half of the twentieth century and how these changes have shaped the world we live in today.
HIS 220 - The Ancient World
10334 220-01 MWF 10:00-10:50
Stephen Ruzicka
Early civilizations: Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman to Reign of Constantine.
HIS 222 - Europe 1400-1789
10336 222-01 TR 11:00-12:15 Jodi Bilinkoff
10339 222-02 TR 9:30-10:45 Richard Gorden
Survey of major socio-economic, political,and cultural trends in Europe from the Renaissance to the French Revolution.
HIS 223 - Modern Europe
10437 223-01 Anne Barton MWF 9:00-9:50
10438 223-02 Anne Barton MWF 1:00-1:50
A survey of the political, social and cultural history of Europe from the time of the French Revolution to the present. Emphasis will be placed on the political culture and the emergence of the great ideological systems of the West (e.g., liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, nationalism, and fascism).
HIS 240 - Latin America: National Period
10439 240-01 Mary Floyd TR 12:30-1:45
In this introductory survey of the history of Latin America from the late eighteenth century to the early twenty-first century, we will explore the political dynamics, social transformations, and the economic evolution of Latin America. We will also attempt to keep track of three themes as they unfold over the two centuries: economic change, the evolution of democracy, and revolutionary movements. This course meets the following requirements: CNW, GHP, GMO, GN, NW.
HIS 252 - History of Western Science: A Survey
10440 252-01 TR 9:30-10:45
Ken Caneva
Introduction to major developments in the history of Western science from 18th to 20th century.
HIS 302 - Race and Segregation
10441 302-01 MW 2:00-3:15
Watson Jennison
Race and segregation in the United States since the Civil War, including the origins of the Jim Crow laws, the civil rights movement, black urbanization, the Harlem Renaissance, black nationalism, and the African American experience in America.
HIS 312 - The Crusades
13092 312-01 TR 11:00-12:15
Richard Barton
This course offers an introduction to the social, political, intellectual, military and religious movement that is known as the crusades. It focuses on the �classic era� of crusading, namely the century and a half between the call to the first crusade at Clermont (1095) and the failure of the last serious crusade in Egypt (1250). Although close attention will be paid to the actions and achievements of the European crusaders in carving out European states in the Middle East, the course it not limited to, nor even particularly oriented around, military history. Rather, it attempts to place the crusading movement and its outcomes into a proper historical and cultural context. As a result, the class will focus intensely on the social and economic conditions that gave rise to the crusades, on the motives and ideologies of the crusaders, and on the structure of the society that they attempted to construct in the East. The course also assumes that any understanding of the crusading movement must also begin with an understanding of Islam; we will spend some time looking at Muslim society in the Near East, at Islamic notions of Jihad, at the reactions of Muslims to the crusades, and at the impact of the crusades on Muslim political, social and religious affairs. While recent events of the 21 st century lend the crusading period a natural interest, and while we will be concerned to address some of the modern concerns raised by crusading ideologies, the course will insist that analysis and interpretation of motives, causes, and impacts of the crusades respect the historical and cultural uniqueness of the Christian and Islamic civilizations of the Middle Ages.
HIS 320 - Central American History
10450 320-01 TR 8:00-9:15
10451 320-02 TR 9:30-10:45
Both sections are Writing and Research Intensive
Mary Floyd
The political structure and economies of the Central American republics from independence in 1821 to the beginning of the twenty-first century and the future of the Central American Free Trade Association. Emphasis on political competition of "a nation divided" under the strain of social and economic inequality, United States scrutiny, and the dynamics of agrarian cultures. Although this course carries a lecture designation, discussion and student participation are integral to its success. Both sections of this course are offered as writing and research intensive for Spring 2008.
HIS 326 - Using Photographs as Historical Evidence
12985 326-01 TR 3:30-4:45
Lisa Tolbert
Writing and Research Intensive
This course takes a case study approach to evaluating the content and history of photographs as historical evidence. We will explore the history of photography by focusing on different types of photographs in particular social contexts from the evolution of portrait photography, to compelling images of the American Civil War, one of the earliest wars ever to be photographed, to the history of social documentary from the turn of the twentieth century through the Great Depression. Overall, we will strive to go beyond the use of photographs as mere illustrations to understand the richer meanings of their visual content as primary source evidence that must be critically evaluated in historical context. You will put these methods and perspectives into practice by developing a term paper that uses a particular type of photograph as primary source evidence (rather than as simple illustration) for your thesis.
HIS 328 - Women in American History, Part I
10453 328-01 TR 3:30-4:45
Angela Robbins
A history of women in the U.S. from colonial times through the Civil War. Topics include roles, status, image, family, work, and racial and class differences in experience.
HIS 335 - The American Colonial Period, 1607-1763
10454 335-01 W 6:00-8:50 p.m.
William Ryan
Selected topics pertaining to development of colonies to eve of American Revolution.
HIS 338 - Civil War, Reconstruction, and Reunion, 1848-1896
13293 338-01 MW 2:00-3:15
Justin Nystrom
American history from the end of the Mexican War to the Bryan campaign, centering on the slavery controversy, Civil War and Reconstruction, industrialization, urbanization, and agrarian problems.
HIS 340 - The United State Since World War II
13659 340-01 TR 11:00-12:15
Speaking Intensive
Lindsey Hinds-Brown
Selected social, political, and international trends and events: Cold War and Vietnam; conservatism from McCarthy to Reagan; black freedom, radicalism and the Great Society; feminism; mass immigration and multicultural America.
HIS 344 - The New South
10455 344-01 TR 12:30-1:45
Susan Thomas
This course examines the social, political, and economic development of the American South from the Civil War to the present. Topics covered will include the Lost Cause; Jim Crow and Civil Rights; reform; changing labor patterns�including the effects of NAFTA and immigration; political and religious conservatism; and even leisure�from Nashville to NASCAR. Throughout the course, we will uncover conflicts over race, gender, and class differences; we will examine the role of the past in shaping the modern South; and we will try to determine the degree to which the South has changed. Finally, we will look at how the commodification of the southern way of life has influenced the rest of the nation.
HIS 347 - History of North Carolina
10532 347-01 TR 12:30-1:45 Laurinda deBeck Writing Intensive Section
10534 347-02 MWF 9:00-9:50 Laurinda deBeck
13295 347-03 MWF 10:00-10:50 Christine Flood Speaking Intensive Section
This is a survey course. It spans more than 400 years of state history - from colonization to the present. It is American history with the spotlight on North Carolina. Objectives of the course include an examination of:
- when, how, and why North Carolina developed as it did.
- How its actions and reactions were similar or different from the other states.
- How the development of its economic, social, and political structure determines present-day North Carolina with special emphasis on such topics as: a) the economy b) politics c) race relations.
HIS 349 - The World at War 1914-1945
101-01 through 04 Paul Mazgaj
The period between 1914 and 1945 marked one of the most catastrophic in world history. It encompassed not only the First and Second World wars, but the Great Depression, the rise of fascism and communism, the crisis of Western democracy, and, finally, the Holocaust. An effort will be made to look at the period as a whole and measure its impact on both European and world history, but emphasis will be placed on the origins, events, interpretive questions, and impact of the Second World War.
The lecture portion of this class meets on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00-9:50. Smaller discussion groups meet on Wednesdays at either 8:00-8:50, 9:00-9:50, or 10:00-10:50
10537 101-01 - MF 9-9:50, W 8:00-8:50
12986 101-02 - MF 9-9:50, W 9:00-9:50
12987 101-03 - MF 9-9:50, W 9:00-9:50
12988 101-04 - MF 9-9:50, W 10-10:50
HIS 360 - Structure of Scientific Change
10638 360-01 MW 2:00-3:15
Ken Caneva
Writing and Research Intensive
In-depth examination of selected topics to elucidate the nature of scientific change. Representative topics: Thomas Kuhn's image of science; the Copernican Revolution; continental drift.
HIS 369 - History of Spain
10639 369-01 TR 2:00-3:15
Jodi Bilinkoff
Writing and Research Intensive
In the period between 1450 and 1700 a previously poor and isolated region of Europe emerged as a dominant political, military and cultural force. In this, its "Golden Age," Spain conquered and colonized the largest empire since the days of the Romans, dominated much of Europe, declared itself the leader of the Catholic faith, and dazzled the world with its accomplishments in art, music, literature and spiritual expression. It also grappled with intense problems of poverty, urban sprawl, racism, religious intolerance and seemingly endless wars, on both sides of the Atlantic. In this course we examine primary texts (in English translation) from the Hispanic world in the Age of Empire, and listen to the voices of people caught up in the triumphs and struggles of this complex and fascinating society.
HIS 381 - The Near and Middle East
10644 381-01 M 6:00-8:50 p.m.
April Najjaj
This course considers the history of the Middle East broadly defined (from Morocco to Iran). We begin with an introduction to Islam and then proceed from 19th Century colonialism to the modern day. Using a topical rather than chronological approach, the course includes discussions of nationalism and Islamic "fundamentalism," the Arab-Israeli conflict, the struggles for natural resources, the civil war in Lebanon, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the continuing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We conclude with consideration of 20th Century Middle Eastern society and culture, including themes in literature, art, and architecture, and contemporary social issues, such as the status of women and of human rights. Student readings and discussion are emphasized.
HIS 382A - Experimental Course: The Unfit: American �Race� Cleansing
13522 382A-01 TR 12:30-1:45
Cheryl Logan
From 1880 to well into the twentieth century, America pioneered the international movement to cleanse society of those deemed biologically �degenerate� or �unfit�. Families in American competed in county fairs like cows and horses to win ribbons as the �Fitter Families�. Laws that forcibly segregated and sterilized non-whites, women, immigrants, and the disabled made a shambles of human rights in the name of eugenics. This course will concentrate on the social and scientific influences that produced the eugenics movement, one of the great tragedies in the history of the relation between science and society. We will also explore the vestiges of eugenics present in our society today.
HIS 390 - History Internship
12040
Field learning experience in public
or applied history. Academic supervision provided by job supervisor. Assigned
reading and written reports. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Consent of Department
Head. Written permission needed to register. Contact Lisa Tolbert for information.
HIS 392 - The Holocaust: History and Meaning
10435 392-01 TR 9:30-10:45
Karl Schleunes
This course examines the history of the Nazi Holocaust during World War II and explores the variety of understandings and meanings -- historical, political, intellectual, artistic, and theological -- that have been proposed as possible explanations for how such a horror was possible. The Holocaust raises questions about the nature of good and evil, the nature of human beings, and the powers of the divine. No event of the 20th century has so shocked and unnerved the human consciousness.
The immediate focus of the course is upon the Nazi efforts to exterminate the Jewish people in its entirety, although other victims -- Roma and Sinti (Gypsies), mentally and physically handicapped, homosexuals, and the Polish intelligentsia -- are likewise defined as being "unworthy of life."
The course begins with a lengthy examination of the history of anti-Jewish sentiment in Western culture and its transformation during the 19th into a central component of European racism. From there it explores the political and social circumstances that in 1933 brought the Nazis to power and examines their efforts to establish what they believed would be a racially-pure world in which those they deemed to be inferior ceased to exist.
HIS 401 - Individual Study
Written permission of instructor and department chair required.
HIS 493 - Honors Study
Written permission required. Contact Paul Mazgaj for information.
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