The World in the 20th Century

HIST-H101 with Instructor Christopher Jillson

The history of the 20^th century is the story of the 21^st. The forces that we see in the news everyday have their roots in the changes of the last century. We understand terrorism, environmental change, mass migration, the reappearance of fascism, and the falterings of democracies with a global lens: we consider the powerful, the powerless, and those that seized power. Instead of reducing history to a contest of power between nations in North America and Europe, we instead explore how the breakdown of systems created new opportunities for people across the global south. The cataclysms of the First and Second World War ruptured colonial relationships, allowing billions to seek freedom and self-determination in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Along with the emergence of a world of nation-states, we examine how leaders used the forces of nationalism, socialism, democracy, fascism, and communism to create power, liberty, and repression.

• Summer Session II
• 100% Online, Synchronous (MTWR, 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM)
• Fulfills GenEd S&H, CASE S&H, GenEd World Culture, CASE Global Civ & Culture

Ancient Civilization

HIST-H205 with Instructor Jon Manley

What comes to your mind when you think of ancient civilizations? Extraordinary monuments, such as the pyramids of Egypt, the Parthenon in Athens, or Rome’s Colosseum? Or maybe the expansive empires of the Assyrians, Persians, and Romans? How about indomitable rulers and conquerors like Hammurabi, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar? In this wide-ranging survey, we will explore the diverse civilizations that built these monuments, the dramatic rise and fall of these empires, and the impact of such rulers and conquerors on their societies.

From the origins of civilization in Mesopotamia to the end of the western Roman Empire, this class will introduce students to the political, social, and cultural history of the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern world. Emphasis will be placed on state formation, societal collapse, war and imperialism, the development of religious institutions, and cross-cultural interactions. In addition, students will become familiar with the types of sources historians use to interpret and reconstruct the ancient world and will also gain an understanding of the relevance of ancient history for the modern world.

• Summer Session I
• 100% Online, Synchronous (MTWR, 4:20 PM - 6:10 PM)
• Fulfills GenEd S&H, CASE S&H, GenEd World Culture, CASE Global Civ & Culture

Elvis, Dylan & Postwar America

HIST-A225 with Instructor Kelly Bosworth

“God Bless America,” “Hound Dog,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’” – what can the popular music of an era tell us about its people? Major changes took place in American culture and politics from the end of World War II through the decade of the 1960s. In World War II and the Cold War, there were efforts to foster unity, patriotism, and consensus in American society by celebrating ideals of loyalty, military power, traditional family values, consumer happiness, and even white supremacy. During the 1950s and 1960s, however, strong currents of dissent arose in opposition to these prevailing ideals. We will explore these many tensions through music and other mass cultural forms. Through lectures, discussions, readings, curated playlists, and films, we will investigate postwar cultural heroes like Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan – among others – to see the role they played in reflecting and shaping the contours of major political and social developments. No prior musical knowledge necessary!

• Summer Session II
• 100% Online, Synchronous (MTWR, 4:20 PM - 6:10 PM)
• Fulfills GenEd S&H, CASE S&H

History of Women in the United States

HIST-H260 with Instructor Hannah Alms

Throughout American history, women have changed their communities, shared new ideas, and protected themselves and their families. Women’s lives were shaped by their gender, race, and class, by government policy and by social norms, and by their own individual choices. Women, their lives, and their choices created the United States that we live in today. In this course, we will examine and discuss letters, speeches, and newspaper articles by and about women from a wide variety of backgrounds in order to better understand American history and contemporary society.

We will cover four main themes, and move chronologically from the 1800s to the present day. Starting with slavery and the Civil War, we will also discuss social movements; women at work; and women, gender, and sexuality since 2000. In small assignments and in course activities, we will develop professional historical thinking through concrete skills of perspective taking, analyzing primary and secondary sources, and interpreting and creating citations.

• Summer Session I
• 100% Online, Synchronous (MTWR, 1:30 PM - 3:20 PM)
• Fulfills GenEd S&H, CASE S&H, CASE Diversity in US

World War II: The Peoples

HIST-W325 with Instructor Meghan Riley

The Second World War was the most devastating conflict in human history: it involved almost every country on the globe, inspired unimaginable violence, and killed 75 million people. This course will trace the diplomatic, military, social, and cultural history of the war and will emphasize the experiences of the regular men, women, and children who lived through, fought in, and died in the conflict. We will learn about the war through a variety of texts, including primary sources, oral histories, memes, YouTube videos, and a graphic novel.

• Summer Session I
• 100% Online, Synchronous (MTWR, 4:20 PM - 6:10 PM)
• Fulfills CASE S&H, CASE Global Civ & Culture