You might think you know what history is: it’s what happened in the past — the names, dates, and events that fill textbooks. But think again. History is not about memorizing facts. It’s about asking questions about the past, finding clues, and using our imaginations to piece those clues together into stories — stories that shape our present and future.
- Does this mean history is fiction?
- Who gets to do history — whose stories should we accept as true?
- How is history different in different parts of the world?
- How do political struggles, in the U.S. and around the globe, shape the way people see the past and use it in their everyday lives?
- Can history predict or improve the future, and if not, what is history for?
- Must histories only be written in books? Or are there other sites that "produce" history? Put another way, where can we "find" history?
This course will introduce you to various approaches to history, drawing examples from across the globe and throughout the centuries. But above all, it will teach you new ways of thinking critically and internationally about the world you live in — its past, present, and future. And it will help you prepare for any future courses or endeavors that require you to assess different kinds of evidence, grapple with conflicting interpretations about a topic, engage in critical inquiry and analysis, to craft an argument, and to develop empathy through historical or cultural understanding. Book Cost: One paperback book (used copies of the book are generally available).
Course Requirements:
Assignments for this course consist of one essay (3-4 pages), two take-home exams, and four short reading quizzes, along with weekly reading assignments and participation in discussion sections and in lectures.
Intended Audience:
All students/ years/ backgrounds, no prior knowledge of history needed.
Class Format:
The course format is two lectures per week plus one GSI-led discussion section per week.