357 United States, 1912-1945. (4)

358 United States Since World War II. (4)

361 American Women to 1920. (4)

362 American Women Since 1920. (4)

364 American Religious Culture. (4)

365 Native Americans, 1890-Present. (4)

366 Minnesota Regional History. (4)

368 The United States and the World. (4)

371 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)

375 Supervised Study. (0-4)

376 January Term Topics. (0-4)

377 January Term Core Topics. (0-4)

378 Apprenticeship in Archival Skills for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. (4)

386 Pro-Seminar in Asian History. (4)

387 Pro-Seminar in Latin American History. (4)

388 Pro-Seminar in European History. (4)

389 Pro-Seminar in United States History. (4)

397 Internship. (4-8)

399 Research Seminar. (4)

Department Chair: Carol Berg OSB  [Top]

Faculty: Alexander Andrews OSB, Annette Atkins, David Bennetts, Carol Berg OSB, Richard Bohr, Robert Buffington, Cynthia Curran, Kenneth Jones, Linda Lierheimer, Martha Tomhave Blauvelt, Theresa Vann

History is an encompassing discipline that examines the intersection of individual, social, political, economic, and cultural factors and how they influence human development over time. In both teaching and scholarship, the historical discipline has made major contributions to the liberal arts. It stresses an understanding of the continuities and discontinuities between the past and the present and places contemporary issues, ideas and relationships in historical perspective. History also teaches the complexity of remembering and reconstructing the past and how each generation reinterprets past events. In its sensitivity to different people, cultures and times, the historical discipline fosters a sense of human community. The study of history requires people to hone their skills in reading, listening, analyzing, imagining, questioning, wondering and writing. In preparing students for a more thoughtful and aware life, history supports the college mission to prepare leaders and cultivate the capacity for responsible human freedom. A major or minor provides training for any work that calls for critical reading, analysis of evidence, and ability to construct and critique an argument. Graduates have pursued careers in law, business, government service, journalism, archival or museum work and teaching.

The curriculum offered by the department of history is exceptionally broad, covering East Asia, Latin America, Europe and the United States, and including social, political, intellectual, cultural and economic history. The course offerings are divided into four levels, devised to meet a variety of student needs. The first level of instruction (courses numbered 100-199) consists of broad courses designed to introduce the beginning student to the discipline of history. These courses survey general trends and developments in European, American, Latin American or Asian history. The second level consists of upper-division courses (numbered in the 300s) that focus on particular themes, regions or periods. These courses are generally offered on a rotating basis every third or fourth semester. The pro-seminars (386-389) constitute the third level of instruction. Each of these courses is an intensive study of a particular topic through reading, writing, discussion and other critical skills applied by historians to the materials they work with. The fourth level is the research seminar (399). Required of all majors, it involves the research, organization and writing of a substantial paper. This course is viewed as the capstone of the major’s experience. A limited number of internships is also available for interested students.

Major (40 credits)  [Top]

8 credits at the 100 level; 32 credits at the 300 level, chosen in consultation with an adviser in the department. Included in these credits must be:

a) a minimum of 4 credits (100 or 300) from three of the following four subfields:

1. Europe before 1500

2. Europe after 1500

3. United States

4. Asia/Latin America

b) a minimum of 4 credits in History 380 (Pro-Seminars), a prerequisite for History 399.

c) 4 credits in History 399 (Research Seminar), taken during the spring semester of the junior year or during the senior year. At least a C grade is required in this course for completion of the major.

Special Requirements:

All the pro-seminars and the research seminars can be repeated for credit.

Minor (20 credits)  [Top]

8 credits at the 100 level; 12 credits at the 300 level, chosen in consultation with an adviser in the history department.

114 The East Asian Experience to 1800. (4)  [Top]

East Asia - including China, Japan and Korea as well as Vietnam - from ancient times to the modern era. Examines Confucianism, Buddhism, and other pillars of the great East Asian tradition; analyzes the ideals and institutions underlying the time-honored East Asian world order; and previews the process of modernization which the region’s contact with the West would set in motion after 1800.

115 The East Asian Experience Since 1800. (4)  [Top]

Analyzes internal and external origins and processes of revolutionary change in late Imperial China, Republican China, the People’s Republic of China, Meiji Japan, Imperial Japan and post-war Japan. Examines the role of each country in the other’s transformation, their relationship with Korea and Southeast Asia, and the role of the West. Every year.

120 The Latin American Experience. (4)  [Top]

Provides the historical background necessary to understanding the complex, often contradictory nature of the Latin American Experience. Thorough coverage of over 500 years of Latin American history for more than 20 different countries is impossible, so the course focuses on special topics including popular culture, political repression, and the impact of global economic and cultural links on Latin American politics, economics and society. Every year.

130 The Ancient World. (4)  [Top]

A survey of the origins of Western civilization through an examination of Greek and Roman history and culture from the Bronze Age to the Roman Empire. Possible topics include the nature of Athenian democracy, the role of women in classical society, slavery in the ancient economy, the significance of the fall of the Roman Empire.

135 The Medieval World. (4)  [Top]

A survey of the emergence of Western medieval civilization between the decline of the ancient world and the Renaissance. Possible topics include: men and women in feudal society, monasticism and the shaping of Western culture, the conflict between church and state, the transformation of a feudal into a commercial economy, the rise of Gothic architecture and scholasticism. Alternate years.

140 The European Experience. (4)  [Top]

A thematic survey of topics in European history since the Renaissance. Topics to be considered include the interaction of religion and society, the rise of nation-states, war and peace, political, social, intellectual and economic revolutions. Fall and Spring.

152 The American Experience. (4)  [Top]

A thematic survey of United States History. Topics and period to be emphasized varies, but major developments in political, social, intellectual and economic history are examined. Fall and Spring.

176 January Term Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study at the introductory level of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

177 January Term Core Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study at the introductory level of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Designed to fulfill core disciplinary requirement. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

271 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)   [Top]

Supervised reading or research at the lower-division level. Permission of department chair required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

276 January Term Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

277 January Term Core Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Designed to fulfill core disciplinary requirement. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

302 Sub-Saharan Africa. (4)  [Top]

The history of Sub-Saharan Africa beginning with the era of the slave trade, continuing through the years of European colonization, and ending with the challenges of independence at the end of the 20^th century. Explores patterns of historical change through economic, social and intellectual evidence. Alternate years.

316 Modern China 1800-1949. (4)  [Top]

The role of rebellion, reform, and revolution in China’s modern transformation from imperial age to People’s Republic. Examines China’s century-long search for a new order including dynastic decline and the West’s intrusion into late Manchu China, the causes of traditional China’s collapse, the nation-building efforts of Republicans under Sun-Yatsen and Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists, and the multi-dimensional revolution that brought Mao Tse-tung and the Communists to power in 1949. Alternate years.

317 Contemporary China 1949 to Present. (4)  [Top]

Traces the development of China’s socialist revolution after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Explores how themes in earlier Chinese history -- interplay between tradition and modernity, the domestic and external origins of change, the processes of political, social and economic transformation -- evolve in the PRC. Attention given to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Sino-American relations. Emphasis on the Cultural Revolution and the Democracy Movement. Alternate years.

319 Modern Japan 1868-Present. (4)  [Top]

An examination of change and continuity in Japan from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 to the present. Political, economic and social transformation along modern Western lines as well as religious, cultural, military and diplomatic trends are explored. Alternate years.

321 Colonial Mexico. (4)  [Top]

Colonial Mexico beginning with the Spanish conquest in 1521 and ending with Independence from Spain in 1821. Includes the consequences of the conquest for Native Americans, the peculiarities of colonial high society, and late 18th-century efforts to modernize Mexican society along European lines. Alternate years.

[Top]

The birth, development, and current crisis of the Mexican nation from Independence to the U.S.-Mexican War, from liberal dictatorship to social revolution, from one-party state to the uncertain future. Includes politics and economics, urban and rural Mexico, and the everyday lives of men, women, and children. Every year.

323 The Church in Latin America. (4)  [Top]

The complex historical role of the Catholic Church in Latin American societies: specifically its role in the conquest and colonial society, the great church-state struggles of the 19th century, and contemporary debates over its proper role in promoting social justice. Within this historical context, the course engages the moral quandaries, compromises, successes, failures, and abuses that inevitably result from conquest, evangelization, political involvement, and social action. Alternate years

330 Greece in the Classical Period. (4)  [Top]

The history of the Greek city-states with particular emphasis on Athens and her society in the 5th and 4th centuries. Every third year.

332 The Roman Empire. (4)  [Top]

A study of Roman imperialism from the establishment of the Principate under Augustus to the reforms of Diocletian. Every third year.

333 Gender and Society in Western Europe. (4)  [Top]

The history of women and gender roles in western Europe from Middle Ages to the French Revolution, with particular emphasis on the Renaissance and Reformation period. Topics to be considered include religion, the family, sexuality, work, politics and the discourse on women's nature. Every year.

335: Medieval Institutions and Society. (4)  [Top]

A study of the formation of nation-states in Western Europe, emphasizing the period between 1000 and 1350. Themes include the development of institutions, such as the Church, the university, and the formation of feudal monarchies. Alternate years.

336 The Renaissance. (4)  [Top] 

The historical background of Renaissance culture from its beginnings in Italy in the 14th century to the adoption of Renaissance ideals in the north of Europe in the 16th century. Emphasizes the connection between political, social and economic developments and cultural changes. Alternate years.

337 The Age of Reformation. (4)  [Top]

A study of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations in the 16th and 17th centuries with a particular emphasis on social history, including the causes and characteristics of religious change and its effects on European society and culture. Topics include the reception and implementation of the Protestant Reformation, Catholic responses to this challenge, radical religious movements, the role of women in religious reform, changes in family relations, and popular religion. Alternate years.

338 Imperial Russia. (4)  [Top]

The development of state power in Russia from Vladimir I to Nicholas II. Domestic, economic, political, social and religious policies adopted by the autocracy. Role of Russian peasants in rebellion. Development of a revolutionary intelligence and its unique autocracy. Imperial reform plans and the unique contributions of Tsars to the enhancement of state power. Every third year.

339 Western Civilization and Christian Humanism. (4)  [Top]

Presentation of five historical topics which consider the institutional and cultural contributions of the church to Western civilization: the fall of Rome, the medieval synthesis, the Reformation, the industrial revolution and modern totalitarianism. The course also analyzes the use of culture forms, specifically architecture, music and literature to communicate Christian humanism. Alternate years.

341 The Enlightenment and the French Revolution. (4)  [Top]

The relationship between ideas, culture and politics in the 18th-century Enlightenment and French Revolution explores the cultural world of the common people, as well as the ideas of philosophes like Rousseau and Voltaire, and the role of women and men of all classes in social and political change. The focus is on France, but developments in other countries are included in the quest to understand the world that produced the first great revolution and the impact of that revolution on Europe. Alternate years.

342 Europe 1789-1914. (4)  [Top]

A political, social and economic analysis of attempts by conservative statesmen to restore a measure of stability and legitimacy to aristocratic/monarchical government after the French Revolution and the Napoleonic experiment, and the political evolutions of the great empires of late 19th century Europe through the destruction of WW I. Alternate years.

343 Europe Since World War I. (4)  [Top]

The rise of totalitarian political ideologies and parties as alternatives to political democracy in attempting to solve post-WW I problems. Origin, course and effects of WW II. Cold War politics of the 1950s and 1960s. Communist experiments in Eastern Europe; postwar economic renewal of Western Europe. Contemporary European developments. Alternate years.

344 Challenge and Change in Eastern Europe. (4)  [Top]

A study of the East Central European experience of problems in the rise and fall of governments; the political, social and economic revolutions in this developing area; and problems in relationships between Eastern European and the larger political cultural contexts of Western European movements. Assesses the western ethos of government and religion and its effects on the relationships of individuals in non-Western cultural contexts. Alternate years.

347 Modern Britain. (4)  [Top]

Examines the main social, economic, political, and cultural features of Britain from 1750 until the present, covering Britain's rise as a powerful modern state and subsequent decline on the world stage. Themes include the social consequences of industrialization, changes in crime and the criminal justice system, the welfare state, the rise and decline of the British Empire, the effort to maintain a British identity in the face of the European Union.

349 Soviet Russia. (4)  [Top]

The defeat of the provisional government by the Bolsheviks and the role of the Soviets as revolutionary institutions, the Civil War, allied intervention and the consolidation of Bolshevik power. Topics include the structure and policies of the CPSU under Lenin; the succession struggle and the rise of Stalin; industrialization and collectivization; the purges of the 1930s, WW II and the conquest of Eastern Europe, Stalin's post-war policies and Khrushchev's de-Stalinization, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev's policies. Alternate years.

350 Early America. (4)  [Top]

An analysis of the development of Anglo-American colonial cultures and society. Focus on religious change, the development of free and slave labor systems, pre-industrial social conditions and the rise of republican values. Every third year.

351 The American Revolution. (4)  [Top]

The colonial period from 1763 to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 with emphasis on the social, economic, intellectual and political sources of the independence movement, confederation and nationalism. Every third year.

352 United States in the Early 19th Century. (4)  [Top]

The birth and development of the American Republic. Emphasis on political, economic and social developments. Highlights range from the struggle over the Constitution to westward expansion, industrialization and sectionalism. Every third year.

353 Civil War and Reconstruction. (4)   [Top]

An examination of the issues, personalities and military developments leading to war. The Civil War, the emancipation controversy and Lincoln's role. The terms of peace and reconstruction. Alternate years.

354 United States in the Late 19th Century. (4)  [Top]

A review of America's forgotten era, including such topics as industrialization, urbanization, the birth of the modern labor movement, the beginnings of an empire and the political stalemate. Every third year.

355 United States Social History: The 19th Century. (4)  [Top]

Patterns of social organization and interaction -- families, communities, cities, work places, majorities and minorities, native and foreign born -- in the United States in the 19th century. Every third year.

357 United States, 1912-1945. (4)  [Top]

The U.S. from the end of the Progressive Era through World War I, the 1920s, the Depression and the advent of World War II. Topics include adjustment to urbanization, industrial consolidation, war, changing social values, economic chaos and a new role for the federal government. Alternate years.

358 United States Since World War II. (4)   [Top]

Political, economic and social change in recent America, with emphasis on the domestic impact of World War II, the Cold War and Vietnam. Topics include civil liberties, civil rights, affluence, the baby-boom generation and changing conceptions of the proper role of the federal government. Every year.

361 American Women to 1920. (4)  [Top]

Images and experiences of American women from the colonial period to 1920, concentrating on the 19th-century. Topics include the evolution of feminine images from Eve to nurturing mother, the rise of early feminism and development of the suffrage movement, and female experiences in the family, at work, in politics and in the churches. Alternate years.

362 American Women Since 1920. (4)  [Top]

American women's experiences, roles and images since winning the vote in 1920. Examines women's work, the evolution of new images through film, changes in women's status during the Depression, World War II and the 1950s, challenges to traditional views through the development of feminism, and the role of gender in recent public policy. Alternate years.

364 American Religious Culture. (4)  [Top]

Not a history of churches but an analysis of the changing cultural meaning and experience of religion in America. Considers why American religious experience has been so diverse, how religiosity has shaped our society, and how in turn society's values and structure have shaped religion. Primary focus on the 19th and 20th centuries. Alternate years.

365 Native Americans, 1890-Present. (4)   [Top]

Examines how factors such as treaties, religion, education and economics fostered either cooperation or conflict between the Indian nations and the United States from 1890 to the present. Every year.

366 Minnesota Regional History. (4)  [Top]

Minnesota's past in the context of the Canadian and American Midwest. Analysis of the impact of immigration, urbanization, industrialization, political alignments and changing values on the state and region. Emphasis on how and why Minnesota is like/unlike surrounding states and provinces, and the consequences of those similarities and differences. Alternate years.

368 The United States and the World. (4)   [Top]

An examination of America's role in 20th century world affairs. Topics include Marine Corps progressivism, World War I, dollar diplomacy, isolationism, World War II, the Cold War, Vietnam, Nixon's realignment and subsequent developments. Emphasis on relations with the Third World and major powers. Alternate years.

371 Individual Learning Project. (1-4)  [Top]

Supervised reading or research at the upper-division level. Permission of department chair and completion and/or concurrent registration of 12 credits within the department required. Consult department for applicability towards major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

375 Supervised Study. (0-4)  [Top]

Full-time learning experience during the January Term done under the direction of a faculty moderator, often in conjunction with an off-campus supervisor. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. Not available to first-year students.

376 January Term Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study at the upper-division level of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

377 January Term Core Topics. (0-4)  [Top]

Study at the upper-division level of a special topic not ordinarily offered during the semesters. Designed to fulfill core disciplinary requirement. The January Term class schedule will indicate if an offering of this course fulfills major requirements. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

378 Apprenticeship in Archival Skills for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. (4)  [Top]

A four-week intensive experience in research techniques co-sponsored by The College of William and Mary, Saint John's University and the College of Saint Benedict. The goal is to allow undergraduates from the three schools the opportunity to learn how to conduct research at a major depository of documents or art historical material dealing with the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. (Offered at Hill Monastic Manuscript Library.)

386 Pro-Seminar in Asian History. (4)   [Top]

An examination through reading and discussion of selected topics in Asian history. The pro-seminar will focus on historiography and the uses of primary sources as well as classic and recent texts, and it will concentrate on the analysis and critique of the reading material. Alternate years.

387 Pro-Seminar in Latin American History. (4)  [Top]

An examination through reading and discussion of selected topics in Latin American history. The pro-seminar will focus on historiography and the uses of primary sources as well as classic and recent texts, and it will concentrate on the analysis and critique of the reading material. Alternate years.

388 Pro-Seminar in European History. (4)   [Top]

An examination through reading and discussion of selected topics in European history. The pro-seminar will focus on historiography and the uses of primary sources as well as classic and recent texts, and it will concentrate on the analysis and critique of the reading material. Alternate years.

389 Pro-Seminar in United States History. (4)  [Top]

An examination through reading and discussion of selected topics in U.S. history. The pro-seminar will focus on historiography and the uses of primary sources as well as classic and recent texts, and it will concentrate on the analysis and critique of the reading material. Alternate years.

397 Internship. (4-8)  [Top]

Supervised career exploration which promotes the integration of theory with practice. An opportunity to apply skills under direct supervision in an approved setting. Prerequisites: approval of the department chair and a faculty moderator; completion of the pre-internship seminar.

399 Research Seminar. (4)  [Top]

Intensive research of a topic and preparation of a major paper. Every semester. Required of every history major. Those majors seeking to graduate with "Departmental Distinction in History" and "All-College Honors" must take HONR 396 the spring of their junior year, History 399 fall of their senior year, and complete their Honors research the spring they graduate.

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