History

The current uncertain times are marked by political upheavals, rapid technological change, and ecological loss and crisis. Yet, this perception of uncertainty is not unique to the present. How have people made sense of the unknown in the past? How have they tried to predict, control, or survive uncertain futures? This seminar explores how individuals, communities, and institutions have historically responded to uncertainty, in North America and beyond. Seminar topics therefore include religious beliefs and prophecies, narratives of destiny and utopia, science and statistics, social planning, bureaucracy and record-keeping, violence and exclusion, art, sports, as well as turns to history itself. Furthermore, the class discusses how historians themselves deal with uncertainty in their work: from gaps in the archives and collective memory, to epistemological questions, biases in historical research, and contested interpretations of the past. Through these themes, students are introduced to the foundational skills of studying history: how to ask critical questions, develop an argument, read primary and secondary sources, and how to write (about) history. A field trip to a local archive offers practical insights into what it means to work as a historian, and the uncertainties that come with it.

In the high and late middle ages, monarchs and urban governments across Europe enacted laws dictating what people could wear, what hairstyles they could have, what they could eat, what types of hawks they could hunt with, as well as creating a range of other restrictions on visual display. This course examines why. What was the purpose of these ‘sumptuary’ laws (as historians have named them)? What conditions led to their enactment? How did they differ across time and space? What types of people were regulated and who was allowed to dress as they pleased? Through weekly seminars, students interrogate these questions of the original sources and select a subset of sumptuary law to examine in their essay.

This course presents a broad picture of political and cultural situation, including the Russo-Chinese contacts in the 17th-19th centuries. It covers the Kievan Rus, the period of division, culture of the period of Mongol dependency, culture of independent Moscow state; the beginning of secular culture in the 17th century; reforms of Peter I, Westernization of Russian culture in the 18th century; the golden age of aristocratic culture at the end of the 18th century; new trends and schools in Russian culture at the beginning of the 20th century.

This course takes Chinese history as its main axis and introduces the development and characteristics of Chinese culture within the broader context of world and East Asian history. The lectures provide an overview of key historical events and major concepts across different dynasties, helping build a comprehensive understanding of China’s historical framework. In addition, the course examines topics such as social organization, political institutions, religious customs, philosophical thought, and artistic and literary achievements. It provides a well-rounded understanding of China’s historical transformations and its significant cultural accomplishments in context.

What is Zionism and in what context did it emerge as an ideology? Who promoted and who opposed it within Jewish communities before the creation of the State of Israel? What are the political, diplomatic, religious and cultural dimensions of Zionism? Is a study of the plurality of Zionism and its internal conflicts possible? Do Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism have anything in common? What happened to Zionism after the creation of Israel? What does it mean to label oneself a Zionist or Anti-Zionist in 1917, 1948 or 1967? What approaches and strategies did Palestinians adopt regarding Zionism? This course is at the intersection of history and political science. It addresses these impassioned and complex questions by reading and discussing primary documents (manifestos, leaflets, diaries, international declarations) and secondary sources each week.

This survey course focuses on the political dynamics of populism in contemporary European countries. The course begins by examining how social science researchers define and conceptualize populism, with a focus on identifying its boundaries - what is and is not considered populist.  Despite the widespread use of the term populism, disagreements over its definition and usage, as well as a general lack of clarity surrounding its meaning, hinder our understanding of populist politics and their causes and consequences. The course assesses competing academic definitions, explores subtypes of populism, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of existing categorizations. The course addresses a number of key political dynamics and how they relate to populism, including attitudinal change, organizational formation, voting patterns, electoral performance, and protest and riot behavior.  We explore theorized causes such as economic downturns, political competition, migration, inter-cultural group tensions, global trends, and international relations.  In addition to examining its causes, the course studies the effects of populism, including its impact on democratic institutions, inter-group relations, and international relations. 

This survey course covers the ever-changing historical characteristics of Western civilization by examining various cities from ancient Athens to modern New York. Students critically analyze the urban spaces we live in from a historical perspective. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilizations were born in cities. The history of cities vividly portrays how broad historical transformations were experienced in the daily lives of ordinary people. Closely paralleling social, economic, cultural, and political changes in Western civilization, cities have taken a wide variety of forms, emerging and disappearing over time. By looking at the historical dynamics involved in the development and decline of the major cities of each era, we can discern the driving forces of civilization and history.  

The aim of this course is to introduce students to modern British history, focusing on the continuously improvisational nature of the UK state, the interconnectedness of the UK and the British Empire, and its rise and decline through war. A secondary objective is to introduce students to major historiographical debates about modern British history.