War is a reflection of the society and cultures that wage it. War fundamentally transforms the economy and structure of the societies and cultures that wage it. This introductory level History course explores the relationship between warfare and societies from the fifteenth century to the War on Terror. Examining primarily war-making in Europe and the Americas, the course will focus especially on the role of war in the creation of the modern state and the transformation from war as a limited aspect of early modern societies to the total warfare of the World Wars of the twentieth century to the drone and unmanned killings of the twenty-first century. Throughout, emphasis is placed on the relationship of war on class and gender, and especially on the contact between European and non-European peoples.

Course Requirements:

Exams, papers, discussion

Intended Audience:

This is a "gateway" class intended for first-year students, but students of all levels are welcome.

Class Format:

Lecture and discussion