HST 104 - The Western Heritage to 1600
3 Credit(s)
The course will focus on the development of political cultures in Western Europe before 1600. It begins with a consideration of Mesopotamian and Hebrew civilizations and culminates in a survey of early modern Europe. The purpose of the course is to acquaint students with the historical roots of the Western heritage and, in particular, to explore the ways in which modern man is indebted to Greco-Roman culture and the Judeo-Christian tradition. Required course for all students in the College, and except in extraordinary circumstances, must be taken in the fall semester of the freshman year.

HST 105 - The American Heritage
3 Credit(s)
This course, a continuation of HST 104, will emphasize the history of “the American experiment of liberty under law.” It covers from the colonial heritage and the founding of the republic to the increasing involvement of the United States in a world of ideologies and war. Such themes as the constitutional tensions between liberty and order, opportunity in an enterprising society, changing ideas about the individual and equality, and the development of the ideal of global democracy will be examined. Attention will also be given to themes of continuity and comparison with the modern Western world, especially the direct Western influences (classical, Christian and English) on the American founding, the extent to which the regime was and is “revolutionary,” and the common Western experience of modernization. Required course for all students in the College, and except in extraordinary circumstances, must be taken in the spring semester of the freshman year. Prerequisite: HST 104.

HST 206 - The Western Heritage Since 1600
3 Credit(s)
Similar in format to HST 104, this course is a document-based, thematic study of Western civilization and culture that focuses on the development of European political culture since 1600. Major topics include the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the Church, revolutionary movements, imperialism, scientific naturalism, social democracy, total war and totalitarianism. As a continuation of HST 104 and 105, the course permits students to place their understanding of the American Heritage into an international context and to comprehend more fully the development of the modern and contemporary world. Prerequisite: HST 104. May be taken as the third Western Civilization requirement.

HST 300 - Colonial America to 1763
3 Credit(s)
British colonial America from the founding to the Treaty of Paris of 1763; emphasis on the religious, political and economic elements of colonial culture.

HST 301 - The Founding of the American Republic
3 Credit(s)
The United States from its emergence in the Revolution to the end of the War of 1812; emphasis on the thought of the Founding Fathers and their Constitution-making.

HST 302 - Jacksonian America
3 Credit(s)
From the Peace of Ghent to the era of “Manifest Destiny” and the deepening of sectional conflict. Special attention is given to the presidency of Andrew Jackson and the broadening of democracy which it brought.

HST 303 - Sectionalism and the American Civil War
3 Credit(s)
The rise of American sectionalism, the conflicting interpretations of the Constitution and state sovereignty, the approach of sectional division, Civil War and Reconstruction.

HST 307 - Reconstruction to WWII
3 Credit(s)
Post-Reconstruction political, cultural and intellectual trends, the rise of modern industrialism, agrarian unrest, social and economic legislation, progressivism, the United States as a world power, the Depression and the New Deal.

HST 308 - U.S. and the World Since WWII
3 Credit(s)
Political and cultural history of the United States since 1945, with emphasis on America’s role as a world power.

HST 310 - The Ancient Worlds
3 Credit(s)
Survey of the ancient polities and cultures from Mesopotamia to the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West.

HST 311 - Early Middle Ages
3 Credit(s)
Beginning with an in-depth analysis of the Roman, Germanic and Christian contributions to the emergence of a distinctive medieval culture by the time of Charlemagne, the class will then examine the development of political, social and economic structures in Western Europe, the revitalization of agriculture and trade, and the issues involved in the Investiture Controversy and the Crusades.

HST 312 - High and Late Middle Ages
3 Credit(s)
The class will begin by examining medieval civilization at its height: the development of limited monarchies and representative institutions in England, France and the Holy Roman Empire; the growth of papal monarchy; the 12th century renaissance; the rise of universities; scholasticism; Gothic architecture; and the chivalric ideal. Students will then explore the disintegration of the medieval order as a result of factors including religious disillusionment brought on by disorder within the Church and social and economic pressures resulting from the Black Death and the Hundred Years’ War.

HST 314 - Europe, 1618-1798
3 Credit(s)
Europe in the 18th century, through the French Revolution to the fall of Napoleon in France; the expansion of education, science and philosophy; the growth of the middle class and the beginnings of industrialism.

HST 315 - Nineteenth-Century Europe
3 Credit(s)
From Waterloo to World War I. Major themes include the persistence of revolution, the reaction of European society to industrialization, the development of new political ideologies and the problems of militarism and international rivalries.

HST 316 - Europe in the Twentieth Century
3 Credit(s)
World War I and the “lost peace,” the birth of totalitarian regimes, World War II and the Cold War, European integration and the problems of the nuclear age.

HST 321 - History of Colonial Latin America
3 Credit(s)
Survey of Latin American history from pre-colonial times through the coming of independence. Indigenous civilizations, the age of European explorations, the settlement phase, the mature period of fully developed Iberian social and political institutions, and the impulses behind the independence movements of the early 19th century will all be examined. While focused primarily on Spanish and Portuguese America, this course also investigates the role of non-Iberian settlement and intervention in the Western hemisphere.

HST 322 - History of Modern Latin America
3 Credit(s)
Continuation of HST 321. Major themes include the impact of independence, the growth of national consciousness, boundary disputes and war in the 19th century, the rise of the caudillo, economic and social development, international relations and the place of Latin America in the contemporary world.

HST 393 - Special Topics
3 Credit(s)
By arrangement with the instructor.

HST 400 - Ancient Near East
3 Credit(s)
Specialized historical survey of the politics and culture of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia and Israel.

HST 401 - Ancient Greece
3 Credit(s)
Emphasis on politics and culture from the Mycenaean Age to the Greeks’ conquest of the Persian Empire under Alexander the Great (about 1400-300 B.C.).

HST 402 - Ancient Rome
3 Credit(s)
Emphasis on politics and culture from the foundations of the city to the reign of the Emperor Constantine (about 750 B.C.-300 A.D.).

HST 403 - The Ancient Greek City
3 Credit(s)
Historical consideration of the ancient Greek polis as a political regime from a variety of angles. The course explores the similarities and differences between ancient and modern republics. Readings include complete works by Aristophanes, Euripides, Plato, Xenophon, Aristotle, Plutarch, Adam Ferguson, Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges, and selected briefer texts illustrating the character of the ancient Greek economy and social life.

HST 406 - Medieval England
3 Credit(s)
English history from the coming of the Romans through the early 16th century, with emphasis on Anglo- Saxon, Norman and Plantagenet England.

HST 407 - The Renaissance
3 Credit(s)
The course will examine the dynamic intellectual and cultural life of late medieval and early modern Europe in its political, social and economic contexts. Through readings from the works of Dante, Petrarch, Salutati, Bruni, Valla, Pico della Mirandola, Machiavelli, Castiglione, Erasmus, More and others, students will consider the emergence of new humanist methods of scholarship and their influence on the literature of political and social comment.

HST 412 - History of Spain
3 Credit(s)
Spanish history and culture from the Islamic invasion of Iberia in 711 to the Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.

HST 414 - The French Revolution and Napoleon
3 Credit(s)
This course offers an intensive investigation of the French Revolution. The ideas and events of each successive phase of the Revolution, including the reign of Napoleon, will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on studying competing political theories, the role of religious belief and practice in Revolutionary France, the impact of local identities on the course of the Revolution, and the effect of events in France throughout Europe.

HST 415 - History of France Since 1815
3 Credit(s)
Seven different regimes from Louis XVIII to Francois Mitterrand: the revolutionary legacy, the acquisition and loss of a colonial empire, the impact of war and defeat, the redefinition of France’s role in the world, and the transition from Gaullism to socialism.

HST 416 - History of England After 1485
3 Credit(s)
The Tudor and Stuart dynasties, constitutional monarchy under the Hanoverians, the Industrial Revolution, characteristics of the Victorian era, British imperialism and the problems stemming from two world wars.

HST 419 - History of Russia to 1917
3 Credit(s)
Russia from earliest times to the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917: Major topics include the Kievan state and its collapse, the Mongol overlordship, Muscovite Russia, the founding of the Romanov dynasty, Imperial Russia through the Revolution of 1917 and the Bolshevik seizure of power. The political, social, economic and intellectual forces which shaped the above developments will be examined.

HST 425 - History of the Middle East
3 Credit(s)
The Middle East from the rise of Islam to the present: the Arab Caliphates; the Ottoman Empire; European imperialism and the Near Eastern question; World War I and its impact; modern Turkish, Iranian, Arab and Israeli nationalism.

HST 430 - History of the Far East
3 Credit(s)
The ancient civilizations of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam and their subsequent changes and relations with the West.

HST 440 - History of the American West
3 Credit(s)
History of the moving frontier from early colonial times to 1890. Emphasis on the meaning of the West in American history. Special attention to the Turner Thesis and Western literature.

HST 442 - Economic History of the United States
3 Credit(s)
The economic development of the United States. The course is designed to encourage the student to develop theories and answers to questions such as these: How and why did there develop in this nation the highest level of material living ever known? Are there any lessons here which can be used to help other developing nations?

HST 450 - Ancient Christianity
3 Credit(s)
The history of the Christian Church from its origins to its rise as the dominant religion in the Roman Empire. Focusing on primary texts, the course will trace the development of Christian thought, community and politics in the first 400 years of Christian history.

HST 451 - Medieval Christianity
3 Credit(s)
Continues HST 450. Church history in Western Europe from late antiquity through the 15th century, with emphasis on trends in spirituality as well as institutional development.

HST 452 - The Reformation
3 Credit(s)
Continues HST 451. Major religious movements of the 16th century in their political, social, economic and cultural contexts, from Christian humanism through the Wars of Religion.

HST 455 - History of American Religion
3 Credit(s)
Survey of the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United States, with special attention to church histories.

HST 465 - Topical Studies in the History of Science
3 Credit(s)
This course considers several topics in the history of science, which may vary from offering to offering. Usually one of the four themes will be the focus for the semester: 1)Survey of Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern Science; or 2)Survey of Science since the 17th century; or 3)Science in American Culture; or 4)Science and Christian Faith. The course may be repeated with different content.

HST 469 - European Military History to 1870
3 Credit(s)
Survey of major military innovations (technological and intellectual), land campaigns in Europe and colonial activity from the medieval period to the Franco-Prussian War. The interaction of war and political, economic and cultural change will be closely examined.

HST 470 - The Two World Wars
3 Credit(s)
A survey of the major military campaigns of both wars, with emphasis upon strategies, tactics and generalship. Extensive use of maps and audio-visual resources is featured.

HST 475 - Case Studies in the Origin of War
3 Credit(s)
Historical consideration of five case studies—four sets of developments that eventuated in war, and one that did not. Study of the origins of the Peloponnesian War in Pericles’ day precedes consideration of the origins of World War One. The origins of the Second Punic War in the time of Hannibal are compared with those of the Second World War. The course concludes with a consideration of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Cold War.

HST 480 - The History of the American Identity
3 Credit(s)
Formation and development of America’s sense of historical mission from the Puritans to the present day.  Analysis of primary documents guides students through a chronological evaluation of America’s “political theology,” including its sense of divine calling, national mission, and redemptive world role.  Readings focus on the religious, political, ideological, and historical roots of America’s understanding of its place in history, exploring how that identity has been shaped both by Americans themselves and by foreign observers.

HST 481 - Modern European Intellectual History
3 Credit(s)
Explores the contested views regarding the nature of man and his place in society beginning with John Locke, Adam Smith, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Continues through exploration of influential nineteenth- and twentieth-century foundations of modern economics, politics, science, psychology, and sociology. Particular attention is given to readings from Rousseau, Smith, Hegel, Marx, Mill, Tocqueville, Darwin, Nietzsche, Freud, and Weber.

HST 482 - Intellectual History of the United States
3 Credit(s)
Studies in American thought and its social consequences from the colonial period to the present. Readings include interpretations of the American mind and selections from important thinkers in social criticism, philosophy, economics, politics and literature.

HST 483 - Constitutional History of the United States to 1865
3 Credit(s)
The origins of American Constitutional concepts, the writing of the Constitution, American federalism in operation, and legal issues caused by sectionalism and the Civil War.

HST 484 - Constitutional History of the United States Since 1865
3 Credit(s)
Constitutional problems of Reconstruction, labor and trust issues, expansions of governmental operations, controversies of the New Deal, civil liberties during the world wars and the Cold War, the struggle of minority groups for legal equality, the Warren court and legal issues of the Nixon administration.

HST 485 - History of the United States Presidency
3 Credit(s)
This course explores the history of the United States Presidency from the administration of George Washington to the present. It studies major presidencies and the increasing centralization of power in the executive branch since the mid twentieth century.

HST 487 - History of American Foreign Policy
3 Credit(s)
United States foreign policy from the American Revolution through the Cold War.

HST 495 - The Christian Humanist Historiographical Vision
3 Credit(s)
Explores some of the most important historians and scholars of the twentieth century: Christopher Dawson, Eric Voegelin, Joseph Schumpeter, John Lukacs, Michael Oakeshott, and Owen Barfield. It considers metahistory, symbol, myth, and theology in the study of history and the philosophy of history.  Explicitly and implicitly, it analyzes alternatives to progressive, Marxian, and Nietzschean visions of history, so predominant in the past century.

HST 500 - The History and Philosophy of History
3 Credit(s)
This course considers the perennial disciplinary questions that historians have confronted since classical times. It takes up significant philosophical and theoretical approaches to history, as well as important analytical and historiographical problems within the major historical fields of study. The course places special emphasis upon the history of historical writing. The History Department faculty strongly recommends the course for all history majors intending to pursue graduate study or wishing to write a thesis for departmental honors in history.

HST 518 - History Travel Study Programs
1-3 Credit(s)
Offers students an opportunity for intensive and focused exploration of a historically significant region under the close guidance of a member of the history faculty. Courses are offered both occasional summers and during January. May be taken more than once. Only three hours may be applied to the major, however.

HST 575 - Thesis for Departmental Honors
3 Credit(s)
By arrangement with the instructor.

HST 597 - Special Research
1-2 Credit(s)
Generally, this is a directed readings course designed to enable students to explore areas not covered in scheduled courses.