History
Division of Social Sciences
A major in history consists of eight semester offerings in courses numbered 300 and above. At least three of the courses must be in U.S. history and at least three of the courses must be in non-U.S. history. One year of introductory work at the College level is required for admission to the major. Prospective majors are urged to complete either History 101, 102, Early Origins of Western Civilization, or History 103, 104, Modern World History, and History 201, 202, History of the United States before the junior year.
Senior Capstone Experience
The Senior Capstone Experiencein history consists of studies in historiographical techniques and preparation of a substantial senior thesis. During the spring term of the junior year, history majors participate in a required course entitled Historical Method (History 399). In connection with this course, each student is assigned a thesis advisor under whose supervision a prospectus and preliminary thesis chapter are prepared. Students who wish to be considered for departmental honors, or who are preparing for graduate study in history or related fields, should request permission to attempt an honors thesis as a substitute for the regular senior project. Students who wish to be candidates for honors on the senior thesis must have a 3.5 grade point average.
History majors have opportunities for internships with the Kent County Historical Society, the Maryland Department of Archives and History, the Maryland General Assembly, the Office of the Governor of Maryland, and the Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government in London, and others.
Students electing history as part of their distribution requirement may take any one of the following year sequences:
- HIS 101, 102. Early Origins of Western Civilization
- HIS 103, 104. Modern World History
- HIS 201, 202. History of the United States
Completion of any one of these sequences is a prerequisite for admission to departmental courses numbered 300 or above. At their discretion, instructors may waive the prerequisite requirement for their advanced courses if the student has equivalent preparation.
The history minor consists of at least six courses: one of the introductory sequences (101, 102; 103, 104; 201, 202) and at least four more courses at the 300 or 400 level.
History majors are eligible to prepare for secondary school teaching certification either in history or social studies. To ensure proper scheduling of courses, particularly if the social studies certificate is desired, interested students should consult with the chairs of the History and Education Departments as early in their college careers as possible.
Course Descriptions
101, 102. Early Origins of Western Civilization
A study of ancient societies, from Sumer through imperial Rome, whose cultures contributed to the development of Western civilization. The course stresses the multiplicity of cultures that melded and conflicted in the ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean worlds, and looks to the origins of cultural symbols that appear and reappear in the emerging Western world. The second course studies emerging European society from the fall of the western Roman empire through Galileo and Newton. The course is a continuation of History 101; it builds on the assimilation of ancient culture into Roman, Germanic, Greek, Christian, Jewish, and Islamic societies. It traces the development of Europe through the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution.
103, 104. Modern World History
A survey of world history from the fourteenth century to the present. The course treats the emergence of Europe as the dominant center of global economic change but provides extensive coverage of non-European civilizations and their response to global change as well.
201, 202. History of the United States
A basic course designed for students wishing to supplement their knowledge of general American history. The first semester covers the period from the European backgrounds of colonization in the New World to 1865; second semester, the period from 1865 to the present.
313. Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century America
The social, economic, and political structure of Colonial America; the background and development of the American Revolution; and the interaction of social and political life during the Confederation, Constitutional, and Federalist periods. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
315. The Early Republic
This course explores the history of the early American republic from the framing of the Constitution to the Civil War. The course investigates the clash between Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian visions, the development of party politics and a popular political culture, territorial expansion and the dispossession of Native Americans, the spread of King Cotton and slavery, the transportation and market revolutions, religious revival and social reform, and the sectional conflict between North and South. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
319. African-American History to 1865
Examines the experience of Black America from its African origins through two centuries of slavery to emancipation in 1865. Focuses on the nature of racism and race relations as well as Black initiative. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
320. African-American History from 1865
Traces the experience of Black America from emancipation in 1865, through segregation, the civil rights movement, up to the present. The course explores the nature of racism and race relations and especially Black initiative. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
334. The American Civil War
This course encompasses the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) in all pertinent areas. In addition to military history, the course reviews significant historical interpretations of the causes and effects of the Civil War; the dimensions of social, economic, political, and diplomatic history pertaining to the war; and the evolution of war aims relating to the central issues of slavery and race relations. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
335. Reconstruction and the Gilded Age
A study of the thirty-five years of American history that followed the Civil War, with particular emphasis given to problems of reconstruction, the achievements and costs of industrialization, the economic and social problems confronting workers and farmers, and the major intellectual and cultural cross-currents of American life during the late nineteenth century. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
336. Progressivism and the Twenties
A study of America's early-twentieth-century age of reform and the very different period that followed in the 1920s. Emphasis is placed on the politics and culture of reform at the local, state, and federal levels from 1900 through 1920; the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson; the impact of World War I; and the cultural contradictions and ferment of the 1920s, culminating in the Wall Street crash of 1929. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
337. The New Deal and World War II
A study encompassing a period dominated by the presidential leadership of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Emphasis is placed on the crisis and challenge of the Great Depression, the interlude of Herbert Hoover's administration, the themes and occasional contradictions of the New Deal, the struggles for the redefinition of American society, and the challenge of totalitarian aggression in World War II. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
338. The United States Since 1945
A close examination of political and economic changes since World War II with accompanying emphasis on the origins of the Cold War, American foreign policy, and social and cultural trends. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
340. American Intellectual History
A study of the origin and developments of the concepts which have shaped American public policy and private attitudes since the early Colonial period. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
342. Victorian America
Examination of American social attitudes and behavior in both the public and private spheres during the nineteenth century. Topics include marriage and the family; childhood; the individual's role in society; entertainment; race and ethnicity; religion; migration; immigration; urbanization; and reform movements. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
343. History of American Women
Examines the private lives and public roles of women throughout American history, from colonial settlement to the present. Social attitudes and laws and policies affecting women are studied, as well as women's daily lives, experiences, and accomplishments. Attention is given to women of different races, classes, and ethnic backgrounds. Topics include women's right to vote; involvement in reform movements; family life; education; birth control and abortion; and economic activities. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence required.
344. Hollywood Films in the Depression and World War II
This course uses American films of the 1930s and early-to-mid 1940s combined with appropriate readings to provide a richer understanding of the social and cultural history of the era encompassed in the regular upper-level course HIS 337 (New Deal and World War II). Films from a variety of genres—social protest/ topical exposés, melodramas, screwball comedies, musicals, historical romances, gangster films, and "film noir" detective films -- will present a wide array of themes reflecting the moods and preoccupations of the era. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence required.
348. Gender in Western Civilization to 1600
A survey of differing social roles, legal status and day-to-day lives of women and men in Mediterranean and European societies from the earliest Near Eastern civilization through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
350. The Ancient Near East and Greece
The eastern Mediterranean region from the dawn of civilization through the age of Alexander the Great, with emphasis on the Greeks. Topics will include the social, cultural, and political history of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Assyrian and Persian empires, the Hebrews, Minoan Crete, mainland Greece, and the Hellenistic world. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
351. Ancient Rome
The social, cultural, and political history of ancient Rome and its dominions, from prehistory through the decline and fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century a.d. Topics will include republican and imperial government, Rome's army and conquests, the Roman family, Roman religion, and the rise of Christianity. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
353. Medieval Europe
An exploration of the cultural and political development of medieval Europe in the period 500-1500. Topics covered include the fall of Rome, kingship, feudalism, the medieval church, art and architecture, literary culture, and the realities of everyday life. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
354. Renaissance and Reformation
A study of Europe in the period 1400-1648. Cultural developments in fifteenth-century Italy are the starting point; students then explore religious and political change and social and economic trends throughout Europe. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
355. Women in Medieval Europe
A seminar exploring the lives of women and their role in society from the fifth through the fifteenth centuries. Topics include legal status, economic activity, marriage and family, and women in religion. Readings include both traditional and feminist-influenced secondary works, medieval works about and for women, and the writings of medieval women themselves. Discussion is a major component of the course. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
360. Twentieth-Century Germany
A study of the impact of military defeat and economic crisis on the institutions, foreign and domestic politics, and society of modern Germany from the first World War to the reunified Germany of today. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
362. Europe Since 1945
A comprehensive review of the main developments in Eastern as well as Western European history since World War II, including such topics as the impact of the Cold War, loss of empire, political and economic trends, efforts to unify Europe, social welfare and consumerism, dissident forces, and chief currents in thought and culture. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
371. History of South Africa
Traces the political, economic, and social history of the Republic of South Africa. Beginning with the earliest inhabitants, the course traces the diversity of African institutions, the establishment of European colonies, the policy of apartheid, and African resistance. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
381. History of Modern China
This course traces the history of China from roughly 1800 to the present. It devotes special attention to the development of nationalism and communism in China and China's uneasy relationship with the West. Topics will include the Opium War and Taiping Rebellion, Republican era and warlordism, China in the Pacific War, Maoism and the reforms of Deng Xiaoping, among others. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
383. History of Modern Japan
An examination of Japan from the late Tokugawa era (ca. 1800-1868) to the present. The course looks at the causes and consequences of the Meiji Restoration, Japan's rise as a modern industrial state, its struggle with democratic government, imperialist expansion, the impact of World War II on the country's subsequent political, social, and economic development, the "Japanese Miracle" of the 1970s, and Japan's current difficulties in confronting its past and defining its place in the twenty-first century. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
391, 392. Russia and the Soviet Union
Russian political, social, economic, and cultural developments from the founding of the first eastern Slavic state to the present. The first semester treats Kievan Rus', Muscovy, and the Imperial period from Peter the Great to Alexander II. The second semester deals with the final decades of the Russian autocracy, the revolutionary movement, World War I, the revolutions of 1917, the Civil War, and the history of the Soviet Union to the end of the Gorbachev era. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
194, 294, 394, 494. Special Topics in History
Intensive study of specialized topics or limited periods in American history. The course will be offered only occasionally and topics will vary. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
399. Historical Method
A study of history as a discipline. Classroom lecture and discussion on fundamental aspects of research and synthesis plus the history of historical writing. With the help of an assigned advisor, each student prepares first a prospectus and then a preliminary chapter of the eventual senior thesis in history. Both papers are presented to the class for comment and review in workshop format. Enrollment is limited to history majors. Prerequisite: One year in introductory sequence in history required.
474. Historic Preservation and Cultural Resource Management
Provides a comprehensive overview of historic preservation and cultural resource management as practiced in the United States. Examines the history of the preservation movement, the role of preservation in American culture, and the legislative framework for historic preservation. Reviews the growing field of cultural resource management, looking at issues in architectural design, contract or "salvage" archaeology, and heritage tourism. Prerequisite: 200-level coursework in archaeology or American history, or permission of instructor.
190, 290, 390, 490. Internship
195, 295, 395, 495. On-campus Research
196, 296, 396, 496. Off-campus Reseearch
197, 297, 397, 497. Independent Study
SCE. Senior Capstone Experience
The Senior Capstone Experiencein history consists of studies in historiographical techniques and preparation of a substantial senior thesis. During the spring term of the junior year, history majors participate in a required course entitled Historical Method (HIS 399). In connection with this course, each student is assigned a thesis advisor under whose supervision a prospectus and preliminary thesis chapter are prepared. Considerable latitude is allowed for the reflection of student interests both in the topic chosen for the research paper and in the approach selected. Senior theses will receive a designation of pass, pass with honors, or fail. Students who wish to be considered for departmental honors, or who are preparing for graduate study in history or related fields, should request permission to attempt an honors thesis as a substitute for the regular senior project. Students who wish to be candidates for honors on the senior thesis must have a 3.5 grade point average overall at the start of their senior year.
Courses Offered In The Washington College Abroad Programs
208. Introduction to Latin American History
An introduction to Latin American History from the pre-conquest period until the present. Topics include regional geography, Pre-Columbian cultures, the colonial experience, independence and the problems of nation-building, economic and political trends from 1850 to the 1930s, demography and society, Latin America and international relations, Mexico since the Revolution, the Cuban Revolution and aftermath, Central America, and the future of democracy in Latin America. Offered in the Costa Rica program only, in the spring semester. (In English.) Prerequisite: May not be taken with History 209 or History 210. Three credits.
357. Topics in French History
The course focuses on some aspect or period of French history. Specific topics change from year to year. Courses in the past have looked at the period from World War I to World War II, the Fourth and Fifth Republics, social developments since World War II, immigration and national identity, and the evolution of the European Union. Offered in the Paris program only, in the fall semester. (In French.) Prerequisite: Introductory sequence in history desirable and FRS 202 or equivalent required. Three credits.
358. Modern Italian History
The course describes the historical evolution of Italy from its unification in 1860 to the present, with special emphasis on the connection between historical events and political and social developments. Offered in the Siena, Italy, program only, in the spring semester. Pre-requisite: Introductory sequence in history desirable. (In English.) Three credits.
359. Topics in Modern European History: The History of Spain
This course deals with the history of Spain from its unification under Isabel and Ferdinand through the contemporary period. Topics covered include the reign of the "Reyes catolicos;" the Spanish Empire under Charles V and Philip II; the decline of the Empire under the subsequent Habsburg rulers; the Bourbon reforms; the crisis of the "ancienne regime" and the formation of the liberal state; the democratic interlude and the restoration; the failure of the restoration; the Second Republic and the Civil War; Spain under Franco; and the return of democracy since 1975. Offered in the Granada, Spain, program only, in the fall semester. (In Spanish.) Prerequisite: Introductory sequence in history and Hispanic 303 or equivalent required. Three credits.
364. Topics in Modern German History
This course focuses on some aspect or period of German history. Past courses have covered German history from 1870 to 1933. Topics included the achievement of German unification, the politics of Bismarck, Wilhelm II, the First World War, and the Weimar Republic. Offered in the Bayreuth, Germany, program only, in the spring semester. (In German.) Prerequisite: Introductory sequence in history and German 202 or equivalent required. Three credits.
372. Introduction to African and South African History
An introduction to broad themes, problems, and debates in South African and African history. Designed both for students who do not proceed to History second-level courses and for those who require a foundation for the most in-depth courses in South African and African history offered at the second and third levels. Note: This course may not be taken with History 371. Offered at Rhodes University, South Africa.
373. South African History in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
This course surveys southern African history in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The central theme of the first part of the course is the establishment of a thoroughgoing colonial system in the region during the nineteenth century. In the second half of the course the main focus is on the rise of capitalism, urbanization, cultural change, and popular resistance in twentieth-century South Africa. Note: This course may not be taken with History 371. Offered at Rhodes University, South Africa.
374. Race, Class, Nationalism, and Ethnicity in Twentieth-Century South Africa
South Africa has long been a country marked by divisions of race, class, and national and ethnic affiliation. This course explores how these divisions have arisen and gained expression. It also examines how these different identities have come to be represented by different interest groups and debated by scholars. Offered at Rhodes University, South Africa.
375. History of England 1715 to Present
Rise and decline of a global power, the transformation of an oligarchy into a democracy, and the consequences of industrialization and urbanization. Offered in the London program only, both fall and spring semesters. Prerequisite: One of the introductory sequence, History 261, 262 preferred. Three credits.