Additional Course Information

Table of Contents

History Major
Distribution Requirements

History Minor
Distribution Requirements

Courses in the History Department
Survey Courses
Pre-Modern History
Modern European History
United States History
World History

Seminar Courses
Pre-Modern History
Modern European History
United States History
World History

History Majors and Minors Handout Document

Full PDF of Course Descriptions

History Major
Distribution Requirements:

A major in history consists of ten courses.
These courses must include History 360 (History Workshop: Methods and Practice), which should be taken no earlier than spring of the sophomore year and no later than fall of the senior year; two seminars or one seminar and one Independent Study Course (History 490) taken during the junior and senior years; and three additional courses at the 300 level, only one of which may be a Directed Readings Course (History 390). A student may count one course taken outside of the department towards the major in history with prior approval by his/her adviser. This course must be at the 300 or 400 level. History majors must fulfill a distributional requirement by taking two courses in each of the following areas—United States (designated U), European (designated E), and World (Latin American, African, and Asian) (designated W) history—two of which must be designated pre-modern (designated PM). In most cases, majors must take at least 5 history courses at Franklin & Marshall.

History Minor
Distribution Requirements:

A minor in history consists of at least 6 courses. These courses must include History 360 (History Workshop: Methods and Practice), which should be taken no earlier than spring of the sophomore year and no later than fall of the senior year; one seminar; and two additional courses at the 300 level. History minors must fulfill a distributional requirement by taking one course in two of the following areas—United States (U), European (E), and World (Latin American, African, and Asian) history) (W)—one of which must be designated pre-modern (PM). In most cases, minors must take at least 4 history courses at Franklin & Marshall.

Survey Courses
Pre-Modern History

Modern European History

United States History

World History


Seminar Courses
Pre-Modern History

Modern European History

United States History

World History

Course Descriptions

SURVEY COURSES

Courses in this group are open to all students. Either half of a two-semester sequence may be taken alone for credit.

113. The History of Ancient Greece. (S) (E) (PM) Spring 2006
An introductory survey of the history of ancient Greece from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander the Great, including simultaneous developments in the ancient Near East. Students are also introduced to the problems and methods of historical inquiry. Same as CLS 113. Castor

114. The History of Ancient Rome. (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2005
An introductory survey of the history of ancient Rome from the Etruscan period to the decline and fall of the empire. Special attention will be paid to the political, social, and economic circumstances that contributed to the growth of Rome, to the transformation from Republic to Principate, and to the collapse of the empire. Students are also introduced to the problems and methods of historical inquiry. Same as CLS 114. Castor

215. The Middle Ages. (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2005
The history of western Europe from the decline of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the sixteenth century. Emphasizes traditional themes such as monasticism, the development of feudal relations, and the conflict between church and state as well as other topics, including popular religion, the impact of disease, and the life of the peasantry. McRee

217, 218. Early Modern Europe. (S) (E) (PM) Spring 2006 (HIS 217 only)
First semester traces the development of Renaissance ideas and political institutions, followed by a consideration of the religious and social changes in western Europe down to 1648. Topics explored include Renaissance humanism, the growth of monarchical power, and the Protestant Reformation. Second semester focuses on the period of French predominance and the causes and results of the French Revolution, and ends with a consideration of the Era of Napoleon. McRee, Schrader

221, 222. Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries. (S) (E) Fall 2005 (HIS 221), Spring 2006 (HIS 222)
First semester deals with the development of centralized states, the Enlightenment, the impact of the dual revolutions—French and Industrial—on European society, the rise of nationalism, Liberalism, and socialism, the emergence of gendered spheres, the influence of racism, and the dynamics of imperial conquest. Second semester covers the decline of the liberal synthesis, the emancipation of women, communism, fascism, the two world wars, the Holocaust, decolonization, the Cold War, the sixties, and Europe since 1989. Mitchell, Schrader, Staff

225, 226. History of Russia. (S) Fall 2005 (HIS 225) (E) (PM), Spring 2006 (HIS226) (E)
First semester examines Russian history from the Muscovite period through the early twentieth century, emphasizing the interaction of state and society, and how social, political, economic, and cultural events influenced tsarist policies, imperial expansion, and efforts to reform and revolutionize Russian life. The second semester covers major historical developments in Russia and the Soviet Union from the revolutionary era of 1905 to the present. It traces the evolution of new political, social, and cultural identities, and the re-formulation and dismantling of old ones during the Soviet era and beyond. Schrader

231, 232. History of Latin America. (NW) (S) Fall 2005 (HIS 231) (W) (PM), Spring 2006 (HIS 232) (W)
General survey of Latin America from pre-Conquest times to the present. First semester begins with the historical backgrounds of indigenous societies as well as Spain and Portugal before 1492, and then examines the conquest and colonial period up through independence. Second semester focuses on comparative history and political economy, U.S.-Latin American relations, and cultural forces. A focus on case studies is complemented by an examination of broad patterns of change in Latin America as a whole. Zolov

237, 238. History of the United States. (S) (U) Offered in 2005–2006
Colonial background of American history and national developments to 1865, in the first semester; national and international problems of the late 19th and 20th century, in the second semester. Pearson, Staff

241. History of Africa I: North and West Africa. (NW) (S) (W) Fall 2006
The first half of a two-part survey of African history, this course begins in ancient Egypt. It deals with the arrival of Islam in Africa and follows the trans-Saharan trade to West Africa. Key topics include the spread of Islam, the origins and development of West African states, West Africa’s role in the Atlantic and trans-Saharan slave trades, the meaning of colonialism in North and West Africa, and struggles for independence in those areas. Materials include textbook readings, novels, some primary documents, and video material. No prior knowledge of Africa is required. Same as AFS 241. Anthony

242. History of Africa II: East and Southern Africa. (NW)(S) (W) Fall 2005
The second half of the two-part Africa survey traces developments in East and Southern Africa. It will begin with ancient Axum and go on to explore topics such as the creation of a cosmopolitan commercial society on Africa’s east coast, the process of state creation, and the tumultuous relationship between Africans and Europeans in the region’s settler and non-settler colonies. Like History of Africa 1, the course utilizes a variety of primary and secondary materials, and requires no previous knowledge of Africa. Same as AFS 242. Anthony

251. East Asian Cultures 1. (NW) (S) (W) (PM) Fall 2006
An introduction to the history and culture of China, Japan, and Korea, from earliest times to 1800. The focus will be on the development of political institutions and on social transformations during this period. Readings will include works of philosophy, primary documents, plays, and memoirs. Same as ASN 251. Staff

252. East Asian Cultures 2. (NW) (S) (W) Spring 2006
A survey of the political, social, cultural, and economic transformations of China, Japan, and Korea from 2000 BCE to the present. The focus of the course will be on the ways in which these countries dealt with internal and external challenges during these times. Readings will include novels, memoirs, and other primary documents. Same as ASN 252. Staff

253. Jewish History 1: Jews of East and West Through the Middle Ages. (NW) (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2005
This class is intended to serve as a broad introduction to Jewish history beginning with the first centuries of the Common Era and continuing until the end of the 17th century. The class will examine some of the central themes and patterns in Jewish history as we focus on the development of the major Jewish communities both in Christian Europe and the Arab/Muslim world, observing the main similarities and differences between them. We will devote our attention especially to the ways in which Jewish culture and identity (collective and individual) were constructed in these various communities during the Middle Ages, as well as to the relationships between Jewish and non-Jewish cultures and communities during this time. We will read narrative as well as documentary histories and discuss different theoretical approaches to the writing of Jewish history. Same as JST/RST 253. Hoffman

254. Jewish History II: Jews in the Modern World. (S) (E) Every Spring
This class is intended to serve as a broad introduction to Jewish life in the modern era beginning with the period of Emancipation and Enlightenment at the close of the 18th century and continuing to the present. In this course we will survey key events, personalities, movements, and themes as we trace the transformations of Jewish life during this turbulent era. Broad historical sketches will be combined with close readings of particular texts, movements, and thinkers in an effort to flesh out the contours and dynamics of the Jewish experience in the Modern world. We will examine a plethora of new Jewish ideologies and movements that emerged in this period and we will also explore the major epoch-changing events of Jewish history in the 20th century, such as the Holocaust, the foundation of the State of Israel, and the mass migration of European Jews to the Americas. We will read both secondary and primary sources, including memoirs, ideological manifestos, and excerpts of literature; view works of visual art, and see both feature and documentary films. Same as JST/RST 254. Hoffman

265. Globalization: History of the International Economy. (S) (W) Offered in 2005–2006
Globalization—the increasing international integration of markets for goods and services and for factors of production—in historical perspective, with primary focus on the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Topics covered include: international migration, capital flows, exchange rates, international trade, financial crises, and the political and economic determinants of international economic policy. Prerequisite: ECO 100. Same as ECO 265. A’Hearn

316. Tudor-Stuart England. (S) (E) (PM) Spring 2006
English history from the coming of the Tudors in 1485 to the “Glorious Revolution” 1688-89. Particular attention will be devoted to the religious reformations of the sixteenth century, the civil war and political upheavals of the seventeenth century, and the effects that both developments had on the lives of English men and women. McRee

320. Women in American Society and Politics since 1890. (S) (U) Offered in 2007–2008
An interdisciplinary study of the various ways women have participated in American society and politics. Topics include the suffrage movement, modern modes of political participation, and the New Deal and World War II. Critical analysis of the meaning of feminism and special attention to the post-1945 period. Although a continuation of Women in American Society and Culture to 1890, students may take this course without having taken its predecessor. Background in twentieth-century history, or junior or senior class standing recommended. Same as AMS/WGS 320. Stevenson

331. African American History 1. (S) (U) Offered in 2006–2007
Introduction to the various historical experiences of African Americans from the early 1500s until the American Civil War. Emphasis on the cultural and social worlds from which African Americans came in the 17th and 18th centuries and how they sought to recreate those worlds on the plantations and in the towns of the American South. Also examines the establishment of free institutions and the struggle for freedom. Same as AFS 331. Pearson

332. African American History 2. (S) (U) Offered in 2006–2007
Examines the development and the impact of the wide range of African American political thought and social movements that have transformed contemporary American society. Focuses on the broad array of ideas and strategies embraced by African Americans as they sought equality and justice from Reconstruction to the present day. Same as AFS 332. Gosse

339. Civil War and Reconstruction. (S) (U) Offered in 2007–2008
This interdisciplinary course asks students to investigate the causes, events, results of the American Civil War, and its enduring impact on American life. The class usually takes one all-day trip to battlefields. No prerequisite, although some background in nineteenth-century history is helpful. Stevenson

341. U.S.-Latin American Relations. (NW) (S) (U or W) Spring 2007
Focuses on the historical relationship between the United States and Latin America in its diplomatic, economic, and cultural manifestations from the early nineteenth century to the present. Examines the myriad ways in which forces such as racism and paternalism, control over markets, security concerns, domestic politics, and the export of U.S. mass culture have interacted with and conditioned options for development in Latin America, including revolution and militarism. Any one of the following classes (or permission of instructor) is required as a prerequisite: HIS 232, HIS 345, GOV 104 (“Comparative Politics”), GOV 230 (“Foreign Policy Analysis”), GOV 240 (“Political and Social Change in Non-Western Societies”), SPA373 (“Latin American Short Story”). Zolov

345. Recent America since 1945. (S) (US) Spring 2006
Major political, social and cultural developments examined within the framework of the Cold War. Gosse, Staff

348. Modern Mexico. (NW) (S) (W) Offered in 2007–2008
Begins with the period of Independence (1810–1820) and follows the course of Mexican history through to the present. Particular emphasis is given to the consolidation of a national identity, the revolutionary period (1910–1920), and the rise and fall of the one-party state (PRI). Also examines the continuities and discontinuities in Mexico’s political, economic, social, and cultural history, from imperialism to populism; official culture to the rock counterculture; Emiliano Zapata to the present-day Zapatistas. Any one of the following classes (or permission of instructor) is required as a prerequisite: HIS 231, HIS 232, ANT 263 (“Indians of Mexico”), ANT 265 (“Hispanic Cultures of the U.S.”), SPA 373 (“Latin American Short Story”). Zolov

349. Modern South Africa. (NW) (S) (W) Fall 2006
South Africa’s modern history is one of civilizations in conflict. Beginning with the arrival of Europeans into an area already grappling with pressure from Bantu-speaking Africans, the course explores problems of slavery, colonialism, nationalism, and deeply racialized capitalism. The second half of the course is discussion-intensive and concentrates on the Apartheid era through film and primary documents. Same as AFS 349. Anthony

350. Africana Studies Seminar. (S) (W) Spring 2006
An examination of the historical, cultural, political, and intellectual impact that the African Diaspora has had upon the contemporary world. Prerequisite: successful completion of five of the required courses listed above, or permission of the instructor. Same as AFS 350. Staff

360. History Workshop: Methods and Practice. Every Semester
The History Workshop trains students in the methodology and practice of history by preparing them for research and reading in advanced seminars and orienting them to the scholarly practice of history. The principal objectives of the History Workshop are twofold: to acquire basic “historiographical literacy” (that is, a reasonably comprehensive grasp of the variety of historical approaches, methodologies, and schools of historical analysis) and to learn the “mechanics of doing history” (that is, how to research and write history, including the ethical and practical issues of working with archival materials, how to use the library and the web, the mechanics of citation, and more). Classes will center on critical analysis of readings, textual interpretation of primary documents, and library activities. This course is open to all students, but priority is granted to History majors and minors. This course should be taken no earlier than spring of the sophomore year and no later than fall of the senior year. Zolov, Schrader, Staff

370–379. Topics in History. Offered in 2005–2006
Survey level topics in history. Topics vary from year to year. Some of these courses have prerequisites (see relevant departmental listings). The History Department intends to offer the following in 2005–2006: “East European Jewish Culture” (Fall 2005), “Music, Nation, and History in Latin America” (Spring 2006), “Cinema and the American Jewish Experience” (Spring 2006).

391. Directed Readings.
Tutorial. Topics adapted to the knowledge and interests of the individual student. Admission by consent of the instructor.

HISTORY SEMINARS

400. Selected Studies in Medieval History. (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2005
Readings and research on selected topics in medieval social and political history. Recent seminars include “Plague, Famine, War, and the End of the Middle Ages” and “Medieval Urban Life.” McRee

403. Selected Studies in Modern European History. (S) (E) Fall 2005, Spring 2006
Readings and research in selected aspects of the political, social, and cultural history of Modern Europe. Recent seminars include “Gender in Modern Europe,” “Social Discipline and Social Deviance: The Construction of Modern European Subjectivity,” “The French Revolution,” “The Politics of Memory,” and “Human Rights and Civil Rights.” Some of these courses have prerequisites (see relevant departmental offerings). Schrader, Mitchell, Merrow

404. Selected Studies in the History of Russia. (S) (E)
Readings and research in all aspects of the history of Russia and the Soviet Union, with special emphasis on cultural, social, political, and legal developments. Recent seminars include “Russian Revolutionary Culture.” Schrader

407. Aspects of Latin American History. (NW) (S) (W) Spring 2006
Readings and research in problems in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of Latin America. Recent seminars include “Nation, State, and Violence in Latin America,” “Latin America in the 1960s,” and “U.S-Latin American Relations.” See relevant departmental offerings for prerequisites. Zolov

409, 410, 411. Selected Studies in the Social and Political History of North America. (U) Every Semester
Readings and research in the social and political history of North America. Recent seminars include “The American South,” “Colonial America,” “The American Revolution,” “The Atlantic World,” “Colonies, Conquests, and Empires in the New World,””The Radical Tradition in Pennsylvania,” and “Black Politics and Black Power.” Some of these courses have prerequisites (see relevant departmental offerings). Gosse, Pearson, Stevenson, Staff

420. Selected Topics in the Cultural and Intellectual History of the United States. (H) (U) Offered in 2006–2007
Recent topics include: “Lincoln” “Books, Reading, and Popular Culture,” and “National Discourse.” Stevenson

421. Selected Studies in Greek History. (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2006
A close examination of a particular period, place, or individual in ancient Greek history. Seminar topics include “Alexander the Great” and “Persia and Greece.” Prerequisite: CLS/HIS 113. Same as CLS 421. Castor

422. Selected Studies in Roman History. (S) (E) (PM) Fall 2005
A close examination of a particular period, place, or individual in ancient Roman history. Seminar topics include “Imperial Women: Power Behind the Throne,” “The Rise of Rome” and “The Roman Empire.” Prerequisite: CLS/HIS 114. Same as CLS 422. Castor

430. Selected Studies in African History. (NW) (S) (W) Fall 2005
Readings and research in selected topics of the political, social, and cultural history of Africa. See relevant departmental offerings for prerequisites. Recent topics include “Africans and Apartheid” and “Slavery in Africa.” Same as AFS 430. Anthony

450. Selected Studies in East Asian History. (NW) (S) (W) Offered in 2006–2007
Readings and research in selected topics of the social, political, and cultural history of East Asia. Recent seminars include “Women and Gender in Chinese History.” Same as ASN/WGS 450. Staff

470–479. Selected Studies in History.
Recent topics include “Rebels in China” and “Africans and Apartheid.”

490. Independent Study.
Independent study directed by members of the History staff. Permission of chairperson.

Full PDF of Course Descriptions

 

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