XII. Course Descriptions
History
Department of History.
Students wishing to take a 3000 level course must have pass standing in at least 5.00 university credits.
Students wishing to take a 4000 level course must have pass standing in at least 10.00 credits. Access to all 4000 level courses is restricted to students in the B.A. Honours program with a minimum 70% average in all history course attempts.
Students should note the prerequisite requirements for upper level courses in planning their individual programs.
Content of individual courses may vary depending on the instructor; students therefore should check course outlines at the time of course selection.
Courses marked (C) are core courses required of all History program students.
Courses marked (H) are honours courses. Students in a general program wishing to take these must obtain the permission of instructors concerned.
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HIST*1010 Europe in the Age of Expansion F,W (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will deal with the evolution and expansion of European society during the pre-industrial era. Commencing with the upheavals of Renaissance and Reformation it will survey such themes as the voyages of exploration, the impact of western culture on indigenous societies, the development of commercial capitalism, the transformation of science and technology and the conflict between imperial powers in Europe and overseas. (C) |
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HIST*1250 Science and Society Since 1500 F (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course is intended as an introduction to the history of science and its interrelationships with society in the western world since 1500, including its influence on the environment, religion, economics and political developments, warfare, etc. Particular emphasis will be laid upon scientific developments in the 19th or 20th centuries. |
| Restriction(s): |
ASCI*1000
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HIST*2000 The British Isles, 1066-1603 S,F (3-0) [0.50]
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| A comparative survey of the histories of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales during the Medieval and Early Modern eras. Stress will be placed upon common themes such as institutional development, warfare and the often violent interaction between the English and the Celtic peoples. |
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HIST*2020 Film as History F (2-1) [0.50]
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| This course will consider film both as a source and as a comment on the past. Topics will vary depending on instructor expertise, and may include film as propaganda, the city in film, film as myth, women and gender in film, film and war. |
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HIST*2040 War and Society W (3-0) [0.50]
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| Concentrating on developments following the introduction of gunpowder, the course will consider the evolution of military strategy and tactics, the impact of technology on warfare, and the relationship between war and civilian populations. |
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HIST*2070 World Religions in Historical Perspective W (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course introduces students to the comparative study of religion in history and the interaction of religion with general social and cultural traits over time. A focus on the cultural roots of specific traditions and religion as a metaphor will account for the spread of these diverse traditions across social and national boundaries. This course will consider eastern religions, primal religions, 'People of the Book' (Judaism, Christianity and Islam considered together), and the 'New Religious Movements' (a category considering religions and para-religions produced by modernity). (Offered through Distance Education format only). |
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HIST*2110 The Atlantic World 1500-1850 W (3-0) [0.50]
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| A study of the comparative histories of colonial societies of England, France, Spain and Portugal in a transatlantic context. This course will compare the regional interconnections as well as the uniqueness of each society. |
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HIST*2200 The Medieval World W (3-0) [0.50]
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| The major events and developments in Europe, north Africa and Western Asia from the fall of the Roman Empire to 1500 a.d. Emphasis will be placed on the evolution of western Christianity, the rise and expansion of Islam, the emergence of the University, and the growth of literacy and print culture culminating in the humanist movement of the late Middle Ages. |
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HIST*2250 Environment and History S (0-0) [0.50]
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| An introduction to the field of environmental history - its nature and uses. This course provides a historical perspective to environmental issues. It examines the causes and impact of human-induced modification of the natural world in selected areas of the globe, the evolution of attitudes and ideas about the natural world over time and the growth of conservation/environmental issues and movements. (Also offered through distance education format.) |
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HIST*2390 Imperial and Soviet Russia Since 1800 W (3-0) [0.50]
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| An introductory survey of Russian History from the death of Catherine the Great to the onset of World War II. This course will focus on efforts by Russian rulers to modernize the Empire's social and economic institutions in response to Western influence. Attention will be directed to the study of the musical culture of Russia. Previous familiarity with basic music terminology and note reading is recommended. (Offered in odd-numbered years.) (Also listed as MUSC*2390.) |
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HIST*2450 Historical Methods F (3-0) [0.50]
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| A course designed to acquaint students with the development of historical writing, the interpretive problems surrounding the study of history, and the methods employed by historians. (C) (Also offered in Distance Education format.) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
1.00 credits in history at the 1000 or 2000 level |
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HIST*2500 Britain and the World Since 1600 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will survey the history of England and the Celtic Regions of the British Isles from the close of the Tudor period up to the mid-20th century. Emphasis will be placed on social and economic development before and after the Industrial Revolution as well as on those political and military challenges which have characterized Britain's status as a global power in the modern era. |
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HIST*2601/2 Canadian History F-W [1.00]
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| A study of selected events and issues in Canadian history from 1500 to the present to deepen our understanding of Canadian social, economic and political structures and values. This is a two-semester course offered over consecutive semesters. When you select it you must select HIST*2601 in the Fall semester and HIST*2602 in the Winter semester. A grade will not be assigned to HIST*2601 until HIST*2602 has been completed. (C) |
| Restriction(s): |
HIST*2600
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HIST*2650 America Since 1877 W (3-0) [0.50]
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| A survey of the history of the United States since Reconstruction. Political, social and intellectual developments will be covered, as will the rise of America to world power. |
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HIST*2800 The History of the Modern Family W (3-0) [0.50]
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| An examination of the family since 1500 with particular emphasis on the English speaking world, though comparisons will be made with other societies. Topics considered will include: change in the legal structure of marriage; power relations and sex roles within the family; the role of kin in the family; changing attitudes to sexuality; the attitude of state to the family and its functions. |
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HIST*2820 Modern France, 1750-1992: From Louis XV to Mitterand U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course is a survey of French history from the beginning of modernization in the 18th century to the challenges of the late 20th century. Topics will include the Revolution, the Napoleonic period, social and political transformation in the 19th century, the Great War, the defeat of 1940 and Vichy, and the remarkable changes in French life since the Second World War. |
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HIST*2830 The Emergence of Modern Germany 1871-1990 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will be devoted to a study of major themes in modern German history, and to an analysis of Germany's role in post-war Europe. Topics include the unification of Germany, the role of nationalism in modern German history, the significance of the Bismarck era, the rise of Hitler and the development of the two Germanies until their unification in 1990. |
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HIST*2910 History of Modern Asia W (3-0) [0.50]
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| An introduction to the histories and cultures of South, Southeast and East Asia since 1750. The course will consider the evolution of Asian religions, cultural identities, concepts of state and of society in the modern era. |
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HIST*2930 Women and Cultural Change F (3-0) [0.50]
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| Using gender and ethnicity as the main categories of analysis this course examines the history of women in the broad geographical regions of North America. The roles women have played in political, economic and private life will be emphasized. |
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HIST*2960 Topics in the History of Slavery U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course introduces students to slavery and the slave trades of the societies of the Atlantic Rim during the era of the Atlantic slave trade. The African experience of the trade constitutes a major focus, but the course also examines aspects of the Atlantic and the trans-Saharan slave trades as they affected societies on the other side of the Atlantic and in the Islamic Middle East. The course also examiens the disputed links between the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of capitalism on the one hand and underdevelopment on the other. |
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HIST*3020 Sexuality and Gender in History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course provides an introduction to the issues of sexuality and gender within history. The course will enable students to develop an understanding of how issues of masculinity, femininity, and sexuality were developed and defined across cultures. The chronological and geographic focus of the course may vary according to the interests and expertise of the instructor. (Also offered through distance education format.) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
5.00 credits |
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HIST*3030 Celtic Britain and Ireland to 1066 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| The social, political and cultural history of the Celtic peoples of the British Isles from Prehistory to the advent of the Normans. Special consideration will be given to the development of Celtic institutions as well as to comparative study of successive waves of invaders-Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2000
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HIST*3060 American Society U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A study of selected aspects of American society focusing on the 19th and 20th Centuries. Specific topics, which will vary according to the expertise of the instructor, may include such themes as War and American society, the Jacksonian Era, Civil War America, Film and American society. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2110 or HIST*2650
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HIST*3070 Modern South Asia U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course studies the history of modern South Asia from 1757 to the present day. Possible topics include: ideologies of British power in South Asia, Indian reactions to imperialism, socio-religious movements, the birth of nationalism and the nation-state in South Asia, civil society and social issues in a developing nation, regionalism, foreign policy and South Asia's place in the 21st century. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2910 or HIST*3590
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HIST*3090 Nationalism and Internationalism in Europe 1914-1957 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will be concerned with two main themes of 20th-century European history: the impact of nationalism and the gradual emergence of international ideas and institutions. Major topics to be discussed include nationalism during the two world wars, the strengths and weaknesses of the League of Nations, and the creation of the European Economic Community. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2510
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HIST*3130 Popular Culture and Punishment, 1700-1900 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| The course will survey the social, political and intellectual influences upon the leisure activities of Europeans and Americans in the period with special reference to institutions such as the prison, the asylum, the reformatory and the regulation of popular culture and leisure activities. Witchcraft and the witch-hunt will be discussed. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*1010 or SOC*1500
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HIST*3140 Witch-hunts and Popular Culture S (0-0) [0.50]
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| This course will explore the phenomenon of the 'witch-hunts' in early modern Europe through a focus on Scotland in the period 1560-1700. In doing so it will provide students with a background on the history of Scotland during the early modern period and introduce them to the considerable body of historical writing on the subject of the witch-hunts. In addition, students will explore notions of both elite culture and the 'popular culture' of those elements of society frequently neglected by historians. Due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the accused witches were women, the course will include examinations of gender history and its contributions to our understandings of the period. (Offered through distance education format only.) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*1010. Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*3150 History and Culture of Mexico U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will cover the history and culture of Mexico from its Precolumbian civilizations to the present. Topics may include: Aztec and Maya civilizations, European discovery and conquest, inquisition, convents, independence, the Mexican Revolution, indigenismo, NAFTA and Zapatista insurgency in Chiapas. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
4.50 credits (including 1 of HIST*2110, HIST*2920, HIST*2930) |
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HIST*3220 Canadian Cultural Identity U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course uses a case study approach to explore the origins, major themes, and historical development of Canadians' cultural identities. Possible topics include anti-Americanism, loyalism, multiculturalism, official bilingualism, mass culture, tourism, folklore, and state cultural policies. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2601/2
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HIST*3270 Revolution in the Modern World W (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course offers a comparative analysis of revolutionary movements in the modern world. It focuses on the French Revolution, the development of a revolutionary tradition in the 19th century, the Russian Revolution, and the Communist Revolution in China. Comparative themes include the relative importance of ideology and class conflict, the emergence of professional revolutionaries, and the relationship between revolutions and international relations. |
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HIST*3310 Disease and History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This interdisciplinary course provides an introduction to the historical interactions between disease and human society from the Middle Ages to the present. Major themes may include the co-construction of disease and society; disease and urbanization; disease and colonialism; disease and globalization; disease and gender. (Offered in even-numbered years.) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
4.50 credits |
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HIST*3410 The History of Pre-Colonial Africa U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will include studies on the Ibo, Yoruba and Edo societies, and on the Dahomey, Hausa, Western Congo and Angola states; the effect of the Atlantic slave trade on African societies. Emphasis will be given to the householding system, lineage group organization, subsistence agriculture, and the sources of African History. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*1150 or HIST*2960
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HIST*3430 Topics in Environment and Society U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This is a topical course, which builds on themes introduced in HIST*2250, Environment and History. Topics may include global deforestation; the origins of the global environmental movement; agriculture and the environment; the environmental impact of cultural encounters. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
4.50 credits including HIST*2250
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HIST*3470 Independent Reading U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A course of independent study, based on a comprehensive reading list provided by the department. Evaluation will be based on 2 written examinations. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
7.50 credits |
| Restriction(s): |
Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*3480 Workplace Learning U (0-0) [0.50]
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| An independent study course based on either History related voluntary or paid workplace experience. Evaluation will be based on assignments relating to work duties. These will usually be in the form of a weekly journal, and a major project relating to some specific aspect of the work experience. Students interested in this option must have their project approved by the department prior to the semester in which they plan to engage in their work experience. Students will then be assigned to a faculty supervisor who will oversee the project. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
7.50 credits including 1.50 History or equivalent credits |
| Restriction(s): |
Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*3590 Culture and Society in South Asia F (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course examines South Asian history from the beginnings of civilization on the Indian subcontinent to the end of the Great Mughals in the 18th century. It provides an overview and analysis of the cultural, social, religious, political and economic development of South Asian civilization, including development from tribe to state to civil society, political organization, socio-religious movements, cultural contact and exchange, and the development of a composite culture. |
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HIST*3600 Modern Quebec Since 1850 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A course examining the social, economic, and political evolution of Quebec as well as the province's relations with the rest of Canada. Topics discussed include nationalism, the role of the church, the growth of trade unionism, Quebec and federalism, the Quiet Revolution. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2601/2
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HIST*3650 Twentieth-Century America U (3-0) [0.50]
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| Starting at the end of World War II, this course considers the nature, origins, and ending of the Cold War, political and social changes in the post-war period and the conflicts in recent decades over issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and culture. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2650
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HIST*3750 The Reformation U (3-0) [0.50]
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| The changes in religious, social and cultural life in 16th century Europe. this course will examine the impact of humanism, the developments in urban culture known as the Renaissance, the reform movements, in central and western Europe, the Catholic response, and the resulting disintegration of the medieval social order. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*1010
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HIST*3820 Early Modern France U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course surveys French History from the renaissance to the French Revolution. Students will examine the emergence of the powerful monarchy, 16th-century religious conflict and civil war, and the social, political and intellectual developments of the 17th and 18th centuries, which culminated in the 1789 Revolution. |
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HIST*3910 Africa Since 1800 U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will trace the suppression of the slave trade and the opening of Africa to European imperialism. Emphasis will be given to resistance movements and rising nationalism between the two World Wars. An endeavour will be made to relate the national liberation movement to the achievement of independence. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*1150 or HIST*2960
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HIST*3930 Black America in the 20th-Century U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A study in depth of the demographic expansion of the Black population in the United States since the Reconstruction; W.E.B. Du Bois, the Niagara Movement and the NAACP; the "great migrations"; the rise of the ghettos; the impacts of the Great Depression and World War II; Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. |
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HIST*4030 Historical Biography U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This advanced research seminar asks students to consider the role of the individual in history by reading theoretical works and examples drawn from the major schools of thought on this issue. Students will undertake to write a biography that will utilize primary sources and will include a detailed historiographical discussion of the works available on their chosen subject. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
1.50 credits in History at the 3000-level |
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HIST*4040 Topics in Scottish History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A seminar course dealing with selected aspects of Scottish social, economic and political history. The seminars will be based upon an examination of primary sources from the University library's extensive Scottish Collections, as well as secondary literature. Students should consult with the department for specific offerings. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*3530
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4050 Topics in Scottish History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A seminar course dealing with selected aspects of Scottish social, economic and political history. The seminars will be based upon an examination of primary sources from the University library's extensive Scottish Collections, as well as secondary literature. Students should consult with the department for specific offerings. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*3530
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4100 Africa and the Slave Trades U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will discuss the origins, character, and operation of slavery and the export slave trades in Africa. It will examine the interaction between domestic slavery and the export slave trades, on the one hand, and demographic, political, economic, social and cultural impact on African states and societies, on the other. Other themes to be examined include slave resistance in Africa, and abolition and the introduction of legitimate commerce and their impact on Africa. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
1 of HIST*2960, HIST*3410, HIST*3910
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HIST*4120 Topics in Global History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course focuses on issues that emphasize the history of connections between different parts of the world. Topics may include the growth of the world economy; transformations of the global environment; trade and exchange; diasporas and migration. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
1.50 credits in History at the 3000-level |
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HIST*4160 Seminar in Canadian Political History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| Political events, key personalities, the political process, and state instruments and institutions will be analyzed with a view to understanding historical aspects of the political system and culture in Canada. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2601/2
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4190 The American South U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A study of the slave south from colonial times to the Civil War, this course will concentrate on the evolution of the plantation system and slave society, the growth of a distinctive south civilization, and the immediate causes of the Civil War. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2150
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4280 Poverty and Policy in the Victorian Age U (3-0) [0.50]
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| Starting with the debates over the New Poor Law of l834, this course will examine the changing content of the notion of poverty, and changing methods adopted to treat it. It will also look at the lives of the poor, in so far as these can be reconstructed from contemporary sources. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2500
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4450 History with Numbers F (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course surveys the use of quantitative methods, the historical evolution of data generation and recording, and the use of quantitative sources in historical analysis and evidence in historical research. The principal objective is to build numeracy among senior History students. Case studies and example will be drawn from studies of inequality, family structure and migration from a variety of regions in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americans. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2450 and at least 1.00 credits in History at the 3000 level or above. |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4470 Special History Project Seminar I U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course is designed to train honours students in the techniques of research, interpretation and writing of history. The student will choose a topic for intensive study from a list approved by the department. (H) |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts. Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*4560 Topics in Revolution U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A seminar course designed to explore one or more social or political or intellectual revolutions in the early modern or modern era depending on the expertise of the instructor. Students should consult the department for specific offerings. (H) |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts. Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*4570 Topics in Revolution U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A seminar course designed to explore one or more social or political or intellectual revolutions in the early modern or modern era depending on the expertise of the instructor. Students should consult the department for specific offerings. (H) |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts. Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*4580 Topics in Revolution U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A seminar course designed to explore one or more social or political or intellectual revolutions in the early modern or modern era depending on the expertise of the instructor. Students should consult the department for specific offerings. (H) |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts. Instructor consent required. |
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HIST*4640 Canadian Urban History U (3-0) [0.50]
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| A study of the city-building process, with particular emphasis on the growth of the large city and the spread of the urban network. (H) |
| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4670 Seminar in Science and Society W (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will discuss the way science is rooted in society and culture. It will explore the broad field of the history of science, the social role of the scientist, the impact of scientific methods, technology, machines and networks. Students will emerge with the ability to grapple with many of the challenges involved in rethinking the history of science in social and cultural terms. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
10.00 credits including either HIST*1250 or ASCI*1000
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HIST*4680 The U.S. in the Era of Urbanization, 1870-1920 U (1-2) [0.50]
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| This course will examine social and intellectual developments in the United States with emphasis placed on the period between the Civil War and World War I. An important area of study will be the nature and consequences of urban development. Stress is laid on the reading of primary sources. (H) |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2650
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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HIST*4900 Imperialism and Nationalism in South Asia U (3-0) [0.50]
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| This course will examine India's experience of and reaction to colonial rule from the advent of the British Raj in 1757 through to decolonization in 1947. Emphasis will be placed not only on mainstream political movements, but also on the role played by subaltern groups such as women, peasants and workers. |
| Prerequisite(s): |
HIST*2890 or HIST*2910
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| Restriction(s): |
70% average in all History course attempts |
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