Course Catalog

History

HUMANITIES 101. Western Traditions.
An interdisciplinary introduction to enduring ideas of the classical and Judeo-Christian traditions at the root of Western civilization. Through study of selected works of literature by Greek, Roman, Hebrew, early Christian, and Renaissance authors, students will explore issues surrounding citizenship, leadership, justice, honor, war, death, and friendship. This course may be substituted for Hist 101, Eng 116, or Rel 103. Cornerstone 1A. Three hours. Offered every fall.

101-102. History of Western Civilization.
A brief examination of the cultural contributions of the ancient Middle East, followed by a survey of the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome and an investigation of the rise of Christianity. A survey of the Middle Ages serves as a background for the development of European life culminating in the era of the Renaissance and Reformation. Beginning with the early modern era, the survey of Western civilization continues during the second semester with a consideration of the changes wrought by the Intellectual and Scientific Revolution, English ferment, the French Revolution, and the growth of modern industry and nationalism. The course concludes with an examination of the great world upheavals of the twentieth century.  Cornerstone 1A-1B. Three hours each semester. Offered every fall and spring.

180. Independent Study in History.

190. Special Topics in History.

198. Independent Research in History.

201. U.S. History to 1877.
An examination of the forces which have shaped American history from the earliest colonial settlements to the Civil War. Emphasis upon the American Revolution, the establishment of the government under the Constitution, and the succeeding political, social, and economic movements which culminated in the Civil War. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every fall.

202. U.S. History since 1877.
An introductory analysis of the factors which have defined our history from the Reconstruction after the Civil War to America's position in the twentieth century. Emphasis on industrialization, urbanization, and the emergence of the United States as a world power in the twentieth century. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every spring.

211. African-American History.
The history of the Black Americans is traced from the time of their appearance as slaves in the New World to the struggle for equality in the twentieth century. Cornerstone 6. Three hours. Offered every fall.

222. American Women’s History.
This course treats women’s history as both an integral element of American history and as a unique subject of historical investigation. Students will learn to think critically about how the category of gender interacts with class, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. Cornerstone 6. Three hours. Offered every spring.

231. History of England to 1688.
A survey of English political, social, economic, and intellectual development from the beginnings to 1688. After a brief consideration of Roman and Saxon Britain, the course focuses on English medieval institutions and constitutional developments. Tudor and Stuart times are given extended treatment, with special attention to religious and political changes. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other fall.

232. History of England since 1688.
A survey of English history from 1688 to present. An examination of the Hanoverian monarchy, the growth of cabinet government, the development of political parties, the industrial revolution, the age of reform, and the expansion of Britain abroad. The course concludes with a consideration of Britain's significance in the twentieth century. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other spring.

270. The Crusades.
This course explores the nature and idea of the Crusades by examining their religious, political and cultural motivations and their effect they had on the people of Europe, Byzantium and the Islamic world. The course culminates in an examination of the legacy of the Crusades and how later generations invoke their image and memory as inspiration. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

275. History of India.
A survey of the history of the Indian subcontinent, with emphasis on the period from the Mughal Empire to independence and partition. Topics include Hindu and Muslim traditions, caste, imperialism, Indian nationalism, the life and ideas of Gandhi, and decolonization and its aftermath. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other fall.

276. History of China.
An introduction to Chinese history and culture, with emphasis on the period from 1600-present. Topics covered include major religious and philosophical traditions, imperial dynasties, “opening” to the West, early 20th century political conflicts, civil war, Communist rule, and China’s place in the 21st century global economy. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other fall.

280. Independent Study in History.

290. Special Topics in History.

298. Independent Research in History.

305. Renaissance and Reformation 1300-1648.
The period of transition from medieval to modern times. Emphasis will be placed upon the origins of humanism, capitalism, and the nation state; the beginnings of modern science; the Protestant and Catholic Reformations; and the political and religious settlement at the end of the Thirty Years' War. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

308. Nineteenth Century Europe 1789-1914.
A survey of major events and developments in European history from the French Revolution to the outbreak of World War I. The course will be particularly concerned with how nationalism and imperialism affected Europe internally and influenced its relations with the rest of the world. We will also cover such standard subjects as the Industrial Revolution, Napoleon, and the revolutions of 1848, the rise of Germany, the emergence of mass society and the transformation of culture by technology and science. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

309. Contemporary Europe.
An examination of the events, developments and ideas that have influenced Europe during the twentieth century, including the impact of global wars, the effects of increasing economic interdependency, the appeal of extremist ideologies such as fascism and communism, the growth of the “great state” and the transformation of society and culture by rapid technological advances. There will be particular emphasis on the changing place of Europe in relation to Russia, the United States and the former colonial world. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

322. Women and Gender in European History.
This course focuses on the actions, roles, and perceptions of women in European history, with attention to the interaction of gender expectations in regard to women’s economic, political, social, and cultural experiences. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

333. Crime and Punishment in European History.
Criminal behavior is historically relative, determined by the values and concerns of society at a particular moment in time. What and how a society chooses to prosecute and punish crime reveals a great deal about the values of that society. This course explores how European societies, particularly in Britain, have thought about, defined and dealt with crime throughout history. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

334. History of France since 1789.
This course will survey the history of France from the French Revolution until the present. It will focus on political ideals and institutions as a way of understanding the legacy of the Revolution for France. It will also consider the role France has played in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries, from the time of the Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, through the revolutions of 1830 and 1848, the Paris Commune, the two world wars of the 20th century and the evolution of the European Union. The modernization of France’s economy, society and culture in the context of European developments will also be discussed. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

344. Readings in European History.
This seminar provides an extensive background in European or British history through a close reading of the significant secondary literature of a particular topic or time period. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to deal critically with historical writing. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

355. History of Iowa.
A survey of Iowa and its people from prehistoric times to the present. Emphasis will be placed on key personalities and the social, cultural, economic, and political developments that have impacted the lives of Iowans. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. . Offered every spring.

358. Constitutional History of the United States.
A history of the development and interpretation of American law and politics from the earliest colonial settlements to the present time. Same as Political Science 358. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other spring.

359. Colonial and Revolutionary America.
This study of 17th and 18th century North America examines issues like religious toleration, race relations, identity politics, class conflict, immigration, environmental degradation, and property rights through the perspective of Indian, African, and European servants, slaves, artisans, farmers, soldiers, and merchants. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

360. Jefferson and Jackson.
While both Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson came to embody the highest ideals of American political thought, their actions often contradicted their espoused ideals of republican virtue and egalitarian democracy. This course will consider their rich and paradoxical legacies. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

361. American Environmental History.
This course deals with the interaction between people and the natural world in North America from colonial times to the present. Various ideas of nature, the environmental consequences of European settlement, the spread of market agriculture, and the impact of industrialization are among the topics that will be examined. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

363. American Civil War.
A survey of the major issues, events, and personalities of the American Civil War from the origins of the sectional conflict throughout the ultimate failure of Reconstruction. This course investigates how the war changed the lives of all Americans, including those who never set foot on the battlefield. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours. Offered every other year.

364. Readings in United States History.
This seminar provides an in-depth understanding of American history through an intensive study of the secondary literature of a particular topic or period. Emphasis is placed on developing the ability to deal critically with historical writing. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

365. Foundations of American Foreign Policy 1776-1941.
This course traces the historical evolution of American foreign policy from the nation's founding down to its entrance into World War II. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the political processes by which foreign policy decisions are made. Same as Political Science 365. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

367. Modern America 1877-1929.
This course concentrates on decades which saw the emergence of modern American society. Focus is on the social forces which transformed American life in this period—industrialization, immigration, and urbanization—and how Americans understood and adapted to the changes going on around them. Particular attention is paid to the rise of big business and big government and to changes in the nature of everyday life, including work, family, school, and leisure. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

368. Recent America.
This course surveys the major personalities, ideas, events, and developments in the United States since 1929. The period is examined through the eyes of conventional as well as unconventional people, and various schools of historical interpretation will be considered. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

375. History of the Muslim World.
This course introduces students to the history of those parts of the world in which the religion of Islam has been influential. Students study the development of the religion of Islam, the conquest of the first Arab empire and the creation of an Islamic civilization, the establishment of the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires and the struggle to meet the multiple challenges posed by the West since from the eighteenth century to the present. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

376. History of Latin America.
This course will analyze the forces that have shaped Latin American society from the Mayan, Aztec and Incan civilizations to the present, focusing on the importance of race, religion and class in the development of political and social institutions as well as the armed conflicts that continue to plague many parts of Latin America today. Cornerstone 4B. Three hours.

380. Independent Study in History.

385. Interpretations of History and Historiography.
A senior seminar which seeks to explore the methodological problems in historical research, followed by a survey of the important theories of history. Against this background in historical interpretation, the course considers selected topics in European and American historiography. Open only to seniors (or juniors with permission) whose major field of concentration is history. Three hours. Offered every fall.

386. Senior Research Seminar.
This course allows majors to apply their understanding of the discipline by preparing an original piece of historical work. Students will select a topic, examine the appropriate primary and secondary sources, and prepare an interpretative research paper based on their study. Prerequisite: History 385. Three hours.

390. Special Topics in History.

391-392. Honors in History.

398. Independent Research in History.

Last Updated: 4/13/10