Taught by: Dr. Liam Brockey – Spanish and Portuguese explorations and Empires in Africa, Asia and the Americas from late Middle Ages –1600.

Taught by: Dr. Helen Veit – This course examines American history during a period of almost unimaginable change, from early contacts between native North Americans and Europeans in the sixteenth century to the end of Reconstruction in 1876.

Taught by: Dr. Nwando Achebe

– Introduction to African History, Culture, and Society is a general survey of the history, culture, and society of Africa. Since it is impossible to provide in-depth coverage of so vast and diverse a continent, during each lecture session, I will draw on case studies from West, East, Central, and South Africa to offer an overview that will provide a narrative of a given theme.  We will also interpret primary documents, novels, and discuss documentaries. The course which is organized into a series of general topics arranged in a roughly chronological order will also explore the interplay between the internal as well as the external socio-economic, political, and religious forces operating in African societies slightly before and after 1500. Each week we will concern ourselves with exploring the main political, economic, religious, and social currents of Africa and how Africans have sought to adapt to and reshape external forces imposed by colonialism, Western Capitalism, Islam and Christianity. The course presupposes no background in African History, therefore during each session I will offer a lecture and overview that will provide a historical narrative of a given African theme.  Our quest for knowledge will commence with an overview of African kingdoms and small scale societies. We will then touch on slavery, its abolition, the great scramble, and partition of Africa, colonialism in Africa, nationalism, and end with an exploration of some neocolonial realities in the new independent African states. Our study of African History will be unearthed through an exploration of a myriad of primary and secondary sources, including: historical writings, novels, films/documentaries, and music. These documents, I am confident, will reinforce knowledge by providing regional examples that highlight specificities of African experiences.

Watch the Introductory Video for History 208

Taught by:  Dr. Ethan Segal – Learn about the amazing transformations that the peoples of East Asia have experienced over the last 300 years.  Today, China, Japan, and the two Koreas are extremely important in political, economic, and military terms, yet many Americans know little about their history.  HST 210 explores the challenges and opportunities that East Asian peoples created as they dealt with industrialization, colonialism, nationalism, modernity, war and peace, and more.  The class uses primary and secondary materials to help students better understand East Asia on its own terms and learn the exciting, powerful stories of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean efforts to become modern nation-states.

Taught by: Dr. Michael Stamm

– This course surveys United States history from the end of the Civil War to the present.  Our focus will be economic and social development, political conflict, and the cultural responses of Americans to the enormous changes over the past 145 years.  You will be presented with a variety of different sources and mediums.  This course is not about rote repetition or memorization.  There are no multiple-choice exams to test specific facts.  The assignments are designed rather to test your understanding of the larger picture and foster engagement of the materials.

Taught by: Alex Galarza

– Computers are ubiquitous.  Whether we are in our cars, our planes, our houses, our hospitals, or our classrooms, computers are now part of the infrastructure of everyday life.  How and why did this come about?  In order to explore this question, the course will be broken into three separate, though integrated themes.  First, we explore the historical foundations (going back to the mid 19th century) of modern computing technology.  Second, we investigate the technological and functional underpinnings of computers and computer systems.  Last, we examine the social dimensions of computing and computing technology, information technology, and communication technology.  The approach of the of the course will be be far more than a simple look at the historical progression of hardware and software.  Instead, the class will focus acutely on the people and institutions surrounding and facilitating the development of computers and computing technology.