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Course Descriptions—History (HIST)

HIST 104 Introduction to Archaeology (3)

(Formerly HUMN 105.) An introduction to the methods used by archaeologists to evacuate and date material and to the ancient cultures of the Near East, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Students may receive credit for only of the following courses: ARCH 100, HIST 104, or HUMN 105.

HIST 107 Classical Foundations (3)

(Formerly HUMN 102.) A study of aspects of the ancient Greco-Roman world (such as myth and religion, war and conquest, government and politics, social organization, and leisure activities) through examination of the words and actions of the protagonists. Original sources of history, philosophy, poetry, and drama are consulted. Focus is on individuals who contributed to the shaping of classical civilization. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: CLAS 100, HIST 107, or HUMN 102.

HIST 115 World History I (3)

A survey of Western and non-Western civilizations and cultures from earliest times to 1500. Emphasis is on the political, social, and cultural developments of the major civilizations and on the interactions between those civilizations.

HIST 116 World History II (3)

A survey of Western and non-Western civilizations and cultures from 1500 to the present. Emphasis is on the political, social, and cultural developments of the major civilizations; the interactions between those civilizations; and the development of a global community since 1500.

HIST 141 Western Civilization I (3)

A survey of the history of Western civilization from antiquity through the Reformation. The political, social, and intellectual developments that formed the values and institutions of the Western world are examined.

HIST 142 Western Civilization II (3)

A survey of the history of Western civilization from the Reformation to modern times.

HIST 156 History of the United States to 1865 (3)

A survey of the United States from colonial times to the end of the Civil War. The establishment and development of national institutions are traced. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 156 or HUMN 119.

HIST 157 History of the United States Since 1865 (3)

A survey of economic, intellectual, political, and social developments since the Civil War. The rise of industry and the emergence of the United States as a world power are emphasized. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 157 or HUMN 120.

HIST 218Q Gettysburg (1)

A study of the major elements of warfare during the American Civil War, focusing on the Gettysburg campaign and its impact. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 218Q or HIST 318Q.

HIST 218R Antietam (1)

A study of the Maryland campaign of the American Civil War. Focus is on the 1862 Battle of Antietam and its impact within the context of the war. Students my receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 218R or HIST 318R.

HIST 284 East Asian Civilization I (3)

An interdisciplinary survey of the development of East Asian cultures. All facets of East Asian traditional life are examined from a historical perspective.

HIST 285 East Asian Civilization II (3)

A survey of the historical development of modern Asia since 1700. The efforts of East Asians to preserve traditional cultures while facing Western expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries are presented; the efforts of those cultures to survive as nations in the 20th century are assessed.

HIST 303B Social History of Baltimore (3)

(Formerly HUMN 376B.) A study of the artistic, architectural, cultural, social, political, and economic history of Baltimore. The fifth largest U.S. port, Baltimore is examined as an urban center historically connected by its harbor to Europe and the world and by canal and railroad to the interior. Topics include the creation of culturally distinct neighborhoods of rural and immigrant groups, early industrial operations in milling and canning, and the effects of fire and the Depression. The complex forces of urban revitalization are studied. Archaeological and preservation sites are toured. Student may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HUMN 376B or HIST 303B.

HIST 309 Introduction to Historical Writing (3)

Recommended: 12 credits in history. A study of the methods and problems of historical research and presentation. Assignments include a major research paper.

HIST 314D The Darfur Crisis (1)

An examination of the impact of the crisis in Darfur on world peace and the course of international politics. Topics include the inception and the evolution of the problem and the reaction of the Sudanese government to the demands of the local population for autonomy in western Sudan. The definition of genocide and whether it may be applied to the situation in Darfur is debated. Resolutions of the United Nations and other international and regional organizations resolutions regarding Darfur are introduced. American foreign policy is examined as it relates to Darfur.

HIST 316U Contemporary Political History of Afghanistan: 1919 to Present (1)

An introduction to Afghani history from the end of the “Great Game” (the struggle between Great Britain and Russia for supremacy in Central America) in 1919 to the present. Emphasis is on the political and economic history of the independent Afghan state. Topics include the closing period of the “Great Game” and the fragile relations between Afghanistan and Great Britain, the period of stability engendered by the rule of King Zahir Shah, the coup d’état of Sardar Mohammed Daoud, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the downfall of the Communist government of President Mohammed Najibullah, the rise of the Taliban, the American-led invasion, and the reconstruction government of President Hamid Karzai. Assignments include intensive reading, writing, and research.

HIST 319A History of Terrorism (3)

A survey of terrorism in the modern world, investigating the ideology of political violence since 1789. Topics include the organization, aims, arms, financing, and composition of terrorist groups, from the 1880s in Russia to the present day worldwide. Various interpretations of the terrorist phenomenon are discussed. Assignments include advanced reading and research.

HIST 319B History of Violence in America (3)

A survey of violence in the United States, with an emphasis on the late 19th century and the 20th century. Theories of conflict and its causes provide a framework for discussing political violence, both past and present. Racial violence in the 20th century is examined. Topics also include violence and organized crime, domestic terrorism, violent crimes, student protest, and labor violence. Assignments include advanced reading and research.

HIST 319H Civil Rights: Martin Luther King Jr. (1)

A survey of the civil-rights movement from 1954 to 1968 as viewed though the career of Dr. King, its principal leader and spokesman. Assignments include advanced reading and research.

HIST 319L History of Drug Use in America (3)

A survey of the long-standing problem of drugs. Practices of drug use from pre-Columbian times to the present are considered. Emphasis is on the role of the alcoholic in American history and the origins of modern attitudes toward drugs.

HIST 319X Jews Under the Nazis (1)

A study of the fate of European Jews under Hitler. How and why the Holocaust occurred are considered. Topics include the history of anti-Semitism in Europe to 1933, the German Jewish community and Nazi persecution (1933–39), and the Holocaust (1939–45).

HIST 319Y Nuremberg War Trials (1)

A study of the Nuremberg War Trials. Topics include the charges, personalities, verdicts, and issues of this juridical milestone. The long-range implications of the precedents established at Nuremberg, not only for Germany, but for America and the world, are also examined.

HIST 319Z Nazism and the Third Reich (1)

An examination of Germany in the 1920s and 1930s focusing on the emergence and establishment of Nazism. A number of relevant questions are considered: Why did national socialism arise in Germany when it did? Was national socialism specifically German or representative of a more general European phenomenon? Are the origins time-bound or could they occur again?

HIST 324 Classical Greece (3)

A study of the ancient Greeks from Homer to Socrates, from 800 to 400 b.c. Discussion covers the society and religion of the citystate, the Peloponnesian War, the art and literature of Periclean Athens, and the intellectual circle of Socrates.

HIST 325 Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age (3)

A study of the history of the Greeks from 400 to 30 b.c. Topics include Alexander and the changes he wrought in the Mediterranean world; the rise of monarchies and leagues; new directions in religion, art, literature, and science; and the Hellenization of the Near East, including the Jews.

HIST 326 The Roman Republic (3)

A study of ancient Rome during the period 753 to 44 b.c., from its founding to the assassination of Julius Caesar. Focus is on Rome’s conquest of the Mediterranean world, the social and political pressures that led to that conquest, and the consequent transformation and decline of the republic. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 326 or HIST 421.

HIST 327 The Roman Empire (3)

A study of Roman history from Augustus to Heraclius, from 44 b.c. to a.d. 641. Topics include the imperial court and government, the diversity of culture in the provinces and cities and the progress of Romanization, Roman religion and its transformation in late antiquity, and the Roman army and defense of the frontiers. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 327 or HIST 421.

HIST 333 Europe During the Renaissance and Reformation (3)

A study of the transformation of continental Europe from 1400 to 1648. Topics include changes in modes of Christian piety and the spread of humanistic ideas, the social and intellectual foundations of reformation theology, the 16th-century reform movements, and the causes and impact of the Thirty Years War.

HIST 336 Europe in the 19th Century: 1815 to 1919 (3)

A study of the political, economic, social, and cultural development of Europe from the Congress of Vienna to World War I.

HIST 337 Europe’s Bloodiest Century (3)

An investigation of the political, economic, and cultural development of Europe since 1914, with special emphasis on the factors involved in the two world wars and their worldwide effects and significance.

HIST 353 Latin America: From Moctezuma to Bolivar (3)

A survey of Latin America from late pre-Columbian civilizations through European incursion and the wars of independence. Topics include cultural collisions, political formation, and the end of Iberian domination.

HIST 354 Latin America: Revolutions, Caudillos, and Democracy (3)

An overview of the political culture of the republics of Latin America. Topics include nation building, modernization, race relations, economic development, gender, reform and revaluation, and relations between the United States and Latin America. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 251 or HIST 354.

HIST 357 Military History: 1494 to 1815 (3)

A survey of the military history of modern Europe from the dynastic wars of the Valois and Habsburgs to the national wars of the French Revolution and Empire. The economic, financial, strategic, tactical, and technological aspects of the development of military institutions and warfare are examined. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 224 or HIST 357.

HIST 358 Modern Military History: 1815 to the Present (3)

A survey of the military history of modern Europe from the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to the present. The economic, financial, strategic, tactical, and technological aspects of the development of military institutions and warfare are examined. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 225 or HIST 358.

HIST 360 America in the Colonial Era: 1600 to 1763 (3)

An investigation of the founding of the English colonies in America. Topics include the European backgrounds of the colonies, the reasons for the instability of colonial society, the emergence of stable societies after 1689, and the development of colonial regionalism. Discussion also covers political institutions, social divisions, the economy, religion, education, and urban and frontier problems in the 18th century.

HIST 361 America in the Revolutionary Era: 1763 to 1815 (3)

A consideration of the background and direction of the American Revolution and the early development of the nation through the War of 1812. Emphasis is on how the Revolution shaped American political and social development, including the creation of a new government under the Constitution and the challenges facing the new nation.

HIST 362 Ante-Bellum America: 1815 to 1861 (3)

An examination of the strong sense of nationalism in the United States after the War of 1812 and its transformation into the sectionalism that led to the Civil War. Issues contributing to North/South antagonism, particularly slavery, are discussed. Topics include Jacksonian democracy; capitalism; racism; immigration; Manifest Destiny; and religious, social, and intellectual movements.

HIST 363 The Civil War and the New Industrial Society in the United States: 1860 to 1900 (3)

A survey of sectional and class conflicts and their effects on American life and institutions from the Civil War through the Gilded Age. The social, economic, and political reconstruction of the Union is analyzed as it affected and was affected by industrialization, urbanization, and technological changes.

HIST 364 Emergence of Modern America: 1900 to 1945 (3)

A study of the emergence of modern American institutions and identities in the years 1900–45. Topics include the presidencies of McKinley, Roosevelt, Taft, and Wilson; the world wars; the Great Depression; and the period of the New Deal. Special consideration is also given to emerging issues such as the role of women and African Americans, corporate enterprises, and the welfare state.

HIST 365 Recent America: 1945 to the Present (3)

A survey of U.S. history from the presidencies of Truman and Eisenhower to the present. Topics include 1960s’ radicalism, the Cold War, Vietnam, Watergate, and changes in American society.

HIST 372 Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement (3)

An examination of the civil rights movement in the United States from World War II to the present. Focus is on the era of protest and reform through the 1980s, with analysis of its influence into the present decade. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BEHS 372 or HIST 372.

HIST 375 Modern European Women’s History (3)

A social and cultural study of the economic, family, and political roles of European women since the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. Emphasis is on contemporary discussions on the role of women, the effects of industrialization on women’s work and status, the demographic parameters of women’s lives, and women’s participation in political events from market riots to suffrage struggles. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 212 or HIST 375.

HIST 376 Women and the Family in America to 1870 (3)

An examination of the diverse experiences of different groups of women from the colonial era through 1870. Three main themes are developed: the impact of race and class on women’s lives, changes and continuity in the division of labor on the basis of gender, and the shifting definition of the family. Emphasis is on the relationship between ideals and realities in women’s lives and alterations in their status within the family and society at large. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 376 or HUMN 366.

HIST 377 Women in America Since 1870 (3)

An examination of the changing role of women in working-class and middle-class families. Topics include the effects of industrialization on women’s economic activities and status and women’s involvement in political and social struggles, including those for women’s rights, birth control, and civil rights. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 211, HIST 367, or HIST 377.

HIST 381 America in Vietnam (3)

A multidisciplinary interpretation of the complex involvement of the United States in Vietnam. Key themes include foreign policies after World War II that led to the Vietnam War, the political and military objectives of the United States, domestic responses in the United States to military involvement, and the lessons and legacies of the war. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: BEHS 337 or HIST 381.

HIST 390 The Rise of Islam to 1300 (3)

A survey of the origins, development, and rapid expansion of Islam into Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Topics include the diversity of early Islamic beliefs; the evolution of social and political institutions and their expansion into Europe, the Arab East, and North Africa; and the importance of Islamic scholarship in the birth of the modern world. Focus is on the period before 1300.

HIST 391 History of the Ottoman Empire (3)

A survey of the Ottoman Turkish Empire from 1300 a.d. to its collapse during World War I. Emphasis is on the empire’s social and political institutions and its expansion into Europe, the Arab East, and North Africa.

HIST 392 History of the Contemporary Middle East (3)

An exploration of the causes underlying the rise of sovereign nation-states in the Middle East. Topics include modernization, Westernization, and secularization in a traditional society and shifting political and economic power groupings in a regional and worldwide context.

HIST 393 Archival Administration (3)

An examination of the function and administration of archives. Topics include methods of preserving archival material, cataloguing, special problems of oral history archives, and related issues.

HIST 393S History and Archaeology of Sicily: A Field Study (3)

A field study experience that provides a perspective on Western civilization focusing on Sicily and examining how its extraordinary history has played out in the broader context of the ancient world. Online study and discussion serve as preparation for the intensive two-week field experience in Sicily, visiting the island’s museums and archaeological sites. Further research follows the field experience, culminating in a research paper. Interested students should contact history@umuc.edu for more information.

HIST 394 Museum Administration (3)

A study of museum administration from a curator’s perspective. Topics include acquisition, facility management, and resource development. An overview of governing laws is provided. Both private and public museums in the Washington, D.C., metro area serve as models.

HIST 396A Cultural Heritage Protection: Afghanistan (3)

A study of basic strategies for protecting heritage sites, focusing on those in Afghanistan. Discussion covers both theory and application. Topics include cultural, political, legal, and historical considerations.

HIST 396I Cultural Heritage Protection: Iraq (3)

A study of basic strategies for protecting heritage sites, focusing on those in Iraq. Discussion covers both theory and application. Topics include cultural, political, legal, and historical considerations.

HIST 460 African American Life: 1500 to 1865 (3)

An examination of African American communities in the Western Hemisphere from 1500 to 1865. Topics include the origins of African American communities in the Western Hemisphere and the resulting diversity of experiences and cultures. Emphasis is on African American communities in North America, especially the evolution of those communities and their cultures.

HIST 461 African American Life Since 1865 (3)

An examination of African Americans in the United States since the abolition of slavery. Emphasis is on 20th-century developments, including the migration from farm to city, the growth of the civil rights movement, and the race question as a national problem.

HIST 462 The U.S. Civil War (3)

A study of the U.S. Civil War. Topics include causes of the war; sectional politics and secession; resources and strategies of the Confederacy and the Union; the changing character of the war; emancipation and its consequences; the economic, social, and political conditions of the home front; and the wartime origins of Reconstruction.

HIST 463 U.S. Military History Since 1865 (3)

An examination of the evolution of the U.S. armed forces since the Civil War. Topics include the role of the armed forces in U.S. diplomatic relations, the social and economic impact of war and peace, and the changing image of the military in American culture. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 419N or HIST 463.

HIST 465 World War II

An examination of the Second World War. Topics include the origins and causes of the war; the political, military, economic, and social circumstances and events; and its catastrophic impact and legacy.

HIST 466 The Cold War (3)

An introduction to the history of the Cold War, which divided the world along ideological, economic, political, and military lines for more than 40 years. Focus is on the chronology of the struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union, with the former leading the NATO nations and the latter leading the Warsaw Pact nations. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: HIST 320, HIST 419I, or HIST 466.

HIST 476 Historic Preservation (3)

A study of the theory and techniques of historic preservation. Topics include the principles of acquisition, stabilization, restoration, and conversion of structures or sites into interpretive or public facilities. Assignments include field trips and reports.

HIST 477 Editing Historical Documents (3)

Prerequisites: HIST 309 and an upper-level advanced writing course (WRTG 391, WRTG 393, WRTG 394, ENGL 391, COMM 393, or COMM 394). A study of theory and practice in handling manuscripts and documentary artifacts. Topics include how to establish taxonomic criteria, analyze, transcribe, annotate, proof, index, edit, and publish manuscripts. Discussion also covers techniques for establishing databases and catalogs.

HIST 480 History of Traditional China (3)

A study of the history of China from earliest times to 1644. Emphasis is on the development of Chinese institutions that have molded the life of the nation and its people.

HIST 481 History of Modern China (3)

A study of the history of modern China from 1644 to the present. Focus is on the process of change, as China moved from its perceived position of the center of the civilized world to that of a nation-state in a complex international environment.

HIST 482 History of Japan to 1800 (3)

An examination of traditional Japanese civilization from the age of Shinto mythology and the introduction of continental learning to the rule of military families. Topics include transition to a money economy and the creation of a town-based culture. Political, economic, religious, and cultural history is also covered.

HIST 483 History of Japan Since 1800 (3)

A survey of Japan’s renewed contact with the Western world and its emergence between 1800 and 1931 as a modern state, an industrial society, and world power. Japan’s road to war, the period of occupation, and the era of recovery are covered, from 1931 to the present.

HIST 486A Internship in History Through Co-op (3)

Prerequisite: Formal admission to the Co-op program (program requirements are listed on p. 247). An opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in history. At least 12 hours per week must be devoted to new tasks for a minimum of 180 hours during the Co-op session; four new tasks must be delineated in the Learning Proposal; and the course requirements must be completed. May be repeated upon approval of a new Learning Proposal that demonstrates new tasks and objectives related to history and that continues to advance application of academic theory in the workplace. Students may earn up to 15 credits in all internship coursework through Co-op toward a first bachelor’s degree and up to 9 credits toward a second bachelor’s degree. Co-op credits may not be used for general education requirements and, unless otherwise specified, no more than 6 Co-op credits may be used in the academic major and minor (combined).

HIST 486B Internship in History Through Co-op (6)

Prerequisite: Formal admission to the Co-op program (program requirements are listed on p. 247). An opportunity to combine academic theory with new, career-related experience in history. At least 20 hours per week must be devoted to new tasks for a total of 300 hours during the Co-op session; five to eight new tasks must be delineated in the Learning Proposal; and the course requirements must be completed. May be repeated upon approval of a new Learning Proposal that demonstrates new tasks and objectives related to history and that continues to advance application of academic theory in the workplace. Students may earn up to 15 credits in all internship coursework through Co-op toward a first bachelor’s degree and up to 9 credits toward a second bachelor’s degree. Co-op credits may not be used for general education requirements and, unless otherwise specified, no more than 6 Co-op credits may be used in the academic major and minor (combined).