An introduction to the early modern period between c. 1450 and c. 1800. Analysis of long-term characteristics of the period, like social structure, religion, politics and economics, will be combined with exploration of the lives of individuals and their experiences in this era.
In in the past two centuries, our world has been shaped by European industrialization, revolutionary movements, nation-building, empire-building, depression and war, provoking ongoing political, social and cultural challenges and struggles. Europeans’ working lives, gender, class and race relations, cultural practices and expectations have altered repeatedly. Europe’s transformation occurred not only due to impersonal forces beyond human control, but because people took action to shape their world, influencing the course of history. The forces they set in motion continue to mark world events, for good or ill, to this day. In this course we will examine these events and forces in their historical context, ever mindful of their present-day impacts.
Survey of English history from 1603 to present, with emphasis on political and social history.
The course is an enriched exploration of sports, spectacle and theatrical performances in ancient Greece and Rome, incorporating both traditional delivery of content (lectures and discussion based on reading) combined with the opportunity to engage creatively with the material in workshop format. The semester is structured around the ancient festival calendar, moving from private and local dramatic works to Panhellenic athletic competitions to the major performances at the festival of Dionysus in Athens and during the Games in Imperial Rome, culminating with amphitheatrical spectacle under the Emperors. The performative material selected grapples with universal human themes, specifically the formation of cultural identities against the volatile backdrop of war and the tension between the exercise of power and the demands of the populace.
Students will investigate major performance events in their original social and political contexts and then adapt five such events for presentation in a modern setting. These re-enactments will range from an audio-only podcast adaptation of Aristophanes, to staged readings of tragedy and comedy, to a marathon public reading of Homer¿s Iliad, to a re-created Roman arena. Through this kind of active interaction, students will gain a better understanding of foundational texts of the western tradition, texts which were crafted to be heard and seen, as social events, as shared experiences, not in isolation as intellectual exercises. The dynamic quality of hands-on work also allows insights to the body¿s role in communication, opening windows into subtler non-verbal features of these events, opening different perspectives on ancient content and allowing students to develop broader analytical techniques. By engaging with the historical past on a personal level, by re-experiencing key elements of past societies, students will acquire powerful and lasting insights on Mediterranean antiquity and on the human experience.
The exchange of scholarly information and/or secondary research, usually in a small group setting. Instruction often includes lectures by several different persons. Research projects may/may not be required of course registrants.
This course explores the ways in which events and narratives drawn from the ancient Mediterranean have been represented in film, focusing on such issues as the role of the archaeologist in connecting to the ancient past, the depiction of Egypt as a font of mystic (and doomed!) power, and the presentation of Roman spectacle as an emblem of ruthless imperialism.
Political, socio-economic and cultural history of Russia and its expansion into an empire from the 10th century to 1917.
The Reformation in thought and action both from the perspective of its religious origins and of the political and social conditions. Analysis of its impact on 16th century Europe including the spread of Protestant reformation and its companion movement, counter-reformation.
Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries with special emphasis on Italy as the seat of the Renaissance. Topics include the city states, humanism, the Church in an age of Schism and secularization, Renaissance art, the New Monarchies and European exploration and imperialism.
Major institutions and trends in Europe from the breakup of the Roman World to the 14th century.
