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Hist 298  Ancient Rome- Gordon Kelly TF 3:30-5, 3:00-4:30

This course provides an introduction to the history and civilization of Rome from the foundation of the Roman Republic in the late-5th century BC to the end of Severan Dynasty in AD 235.  Special emphasis will be given to Rome's political transformation from a Republic to an Empire and the effect of this transition on Roman civilization.  Topics that we will examine include Roman conquest and imperialism, religion, class conflict, law and governance, slavery, and family structure.  While we will read works by modern historians, the majority of our readings will be actual ancient historical documents in translation.  By reading, evaluating and interpreting ancient sources, students will gain first-hand experience on how modern historians form their opinions and observations about Classical Rome.

HIST 198  Survey of Modern Africa- Ousmane Traoré   MWF 10:20-11:20

A course on African history is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the cultures, history, social structures, political organizations and economy of Africa before and after the arrival of Europeans on the continent. We will examine the dynamics of historical change and continuity in Africa and the contributions of Africa and Africans to world civilizations. The major geographic areas of the continent will be studied within a broader chronological and thematic framework. We will look at the emergence and state building processes, transformation in the interior and along the Atlantic and Indian coasts, the Atlantic slave trade and its consequences.

HIST 298  African Slavery- Ousmane Traoré     TTH 9:40-11:110      

 This course will explore the history of African slavery and the slave trade from a new vantage point, focusing on diplomacy, negotiation, and the decision-making power of African rulers. These important issues map out a new approach to the slave trade and the history of the Atlantic world. This course, by making use of various perspectives, will draw connections in order to emphasize the strong ties between diplomatic representation, negotiating power, manoeuvering space, and decision-making, and the European presence in Africa. It examines, also, the exchange of representatives between African and European courts. This approach shows that diplomacy and negotiations characterized relations between Europeans and Africans during the eighteenth century. African states demonstrated strong diplomacy through their control of commercial foreign affairs and played an integral role in the Atlantic slave trade in Africa. Consequently, slavery will be analysed with reference to social structure.

HIST 323 Modern European Intellectual History- Chana Cox MWF 12:40-1:40

The history of ideas is shaped by trailblazing thinkers who reinvent the lenses through which their world is seen. Our own world-view is, to a great extent, a product of earlier revolutionary thinkers. Ideas are born of political, social, and economic history, and history is often born of ideas. This is a course in the history of ideas.

 In History 323 we will examine the vibrant development of Western thought from 1750 – 1950 in its historical context. Although this is a history course, it is inherently interdisciplinary and should be of interest to any students interested in examining the creation of the foundational ideas of modern civilization.

 We will be readings authors ranging from Kant to Camus. In general, 20 - 50 pages of readings will be assigned each week, and, in addition to a midterm and a final, students will be asked to write informal papers

HIST 325   Islam in Europe-  Mo Healy    TTH 11:30-1:00

This course examines the history of Islam in Europe from the medieval period to the present. The course will move chronologically, focusing on various encounters between European Christians and Muslims. These include the crusades, Christian and Muslim presence in Iberia, Ottoman conquest in southeastern Europe, European colonial conquest, the role of Islam in post-1945 decolonization, and questions about Muslim immigration and European identity.

HIST 398   History of Senegal-   Ousmane Traoré       TTH 1:50-3:20

We will explore the case of “Ethnic-nation” building and “Senegalese” identity from the African Middle Ages through the 21st century. The main aim of this course is to understand the rise of the first Senegalese nation, called the Jolof Empire, and how it succeed in ruling a vast territory and diverse ethnic groups that coexist for centuries before the fall of the empire under the control of French colonialism.

HIST 398 History of Medicine in Latin America- Marianne Samayoa  TTH 1:50-3:20

The history of medicine in Latin America is economic, social, and scientific.  From the earliest years of conquest, European medicine interacted with native medical traditions—with or without sanction of the Spanish crown.  This course will introduce the student to the medical systems of colonial and post-colonial Latin America.  Starting with the official systems of sixteenth-century Spain, the readings will present the medical problems of America, the formal medical system imposed by Spain in the early colonial period, medical education, and medical treatments available.  The course will examine the medical world that developed in Latin America with contrasts between the licensed medical professionals who tried to impose the latest medical practices and the curanderos (informal healers), midwives, and druggists who ignored the official policies.  Students will gain an appreciation for the impact of patients' preferences in medical care and how this influenced the development of competing and complementary medical systems.