History (HIST)
This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.wofford.edu.
The Department of History offers both a major and minor in History. It also participates in a number of interdisciplinary majors, minors, and programs in coordination with other departments.
Honors Courses
The Department of History encourages its students to undertake honors work. For further information, students should review the section on Honors Courses in this Catalog.
Chair
Mark S. Byrnes
Professors
Kenneth J. Banks
Tracy J. Revels
Anne B. Rodrick
Timothy J. Schmitz
Jessica Tomkins
Clayton J. Whisnant
Requirements for the Major in History
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| American History Survey | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| History of the United States, 1607-1865 | ||
| History of the United States Since 1865 | ||
| European History Survey | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| History of Ancient and Medieval Western Civilization to 1350 | ||
| History of Early Modern Western Civilization to 1815 | ||
| History of Modern Western Civilization Since 1815 | ||
| History of Science | ||
| Global History Survey | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Ancient Middle East | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| History of the Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Colonial Latin American History | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Historiography 1 | 3 | |
| Historiography and Research Methods | ||
| American History | 6 | |
| Select two of the following: | ||
| History of the American South to the Civil War | ||
| History of the American South since the Civil War | ||
| Early America and the Atlantic World to 1763 | ||
| Era of the American Revolution, 1763-1800 | ||
| Topics in American Social History | ||
| American Civil War | ||
| American Wests, 1750-1940 | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| American Diplomatic History | ||
| African-American History to 1865 | ||
| African-American History Since 1865 | ||
| America Since 1945 | ||
| World War II: A Global History | ||
| Early European History | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Ancient Warfare | ||
| The Early and High Middle Ages (400-1200) | ||
| The Reformation and Counter Reformation (1400-1688) | ||
| Witchcraft and Magic in Early Modern Europe | ||
| Europe from Louis XIV to the French Revolution (1600-1800) | ||
| Tudor-Stuart Britain | ||
| Modern European History | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Europe in the Age of Revolutions, 1789-1850 | ||
| Europe in the Age of Anxieties, 1850-1914 | ||
| Imperial Russia | ||
| Selected Topics in History | ||
| World War, Fascism, and Modernism: Western Europe, 1914-1945 | ||
| Western Europe in the Age of the Superpowers, 1945-1991 | ||
| Modern Britain | ||
| Women in European History | ||
| Critical and Cultural Theory | ||
| World War II: A Global History | ||
| Upper-Level Electives 2 | 6 | |
Select two additional History (HIST) course at the 300-level or higher | ||
| Visiting Jones Professor | 3 | |
| Visiting Jones Professor: History of the United States | ||
or HIST 465 | Visiting Jones Professor: European and Non-Western History | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
- 1
Students should plan to complete HIST 260 during the spring semester of their sophomore year.
Requirements for the Minor in History
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Survey Requirement | 6 | |
| Select two survey courses, each must be from a different area | ||
American History Survey | ||
| History of the United States, 1607-1865 | ||
| History of the United States Since 1865 | ||
European History Survey | ||
| History of Ancient and Medieval Western Civilization to 1350 | ||
| History of Early Modern Western Civilization to 1815 | ||
| History of Modern Western Civilization Since 1815 | ||
| History of Science | ||
Global History Survey | ||
| The Ancient Middle East | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Modern East Asia | ||
| History of the Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Colonial Latin American History | ||
| Modern Latin American History | ||
| Area Specific Requirements | ||
| American History | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| History of the American South to the Civil War | ||
| History of the American South since the Civil War | ||
| Early America and the Atlantic World to 1763 | ||
| Era of the American Revolution, 1763-1800 | ||
| Topics in American Social History | ||
| American Civil War | ||
| American Wests, 1750-1940 | ||
| American Legal History | ||
| History of American Women | ||
| American Diplomatic History | ||
| African-American History to 1865 | ||
| African-American History Since 1865 | ||
| America Since 1945 | ||
| World War II: A Global History | ||
| Independent Study in United States History | ||
| European History | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| The Early and High Middle Ages (400-1200) | ||
| Ancient Greece | ||
| Ancient Rome | ||
| Ancient Warfare | ||
| The Reformation and Counter Reformation (1400-1688) | ||
| Witchcraft and Magic in Early Modern Europe | ||
| Europe from Louis XIV to the French Revolution (1600-1800) | ||
| Europe in the Age of Revolutions, 1789-1850 | ||
| Europe in the Age of Anxieties, 1850-1914 | ||
| Imperial Russia | ||
| Selected Topics in History | ||
| World War, Fascism, and Modernism: Western Europe, 1914-1945 | ||
| Western Europe in the Age of the Superpowers, 1945-1991 | ||
| Tudor-Stuart Britain | ||
| Modern Britain | ||
| Women in European History | ||
| Critical and Cultural Theory | ||
| World War II: A Global History | ||
| Upper-Level Electives | 6 | |
Select two additional History (HIST) courses at the 300-level or higher or PHIL 358 | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
HIST 100. History of Ancient and Medieval Western Civilization to 1350. 3 Hours.
A basic survey of Western Civilization from Antiquity to the Italian Renaissance.
HIST 101. History of Early Modern Western Civilization to 1815. 3 Hours.
A basic survey of Western Civilization from the Renaissance to 1815.
HIST 102. History of Modern Western Civilization Since 1815. 3 Hours.
A basic survey of Western Civilization since 1815.
HIST 110. History of Science. 3 Hours.
An introductory survey of the intellectual, social, economic, and political contexts in which science as field of study and as a source of authority developed from the ancient Greeks to the present.
HIST 111. History of the United States, 1607-1865. 3 Hours.
A basic survey of American history from the settlement at Jamestown to the surrender at Appomattox.
HIST 112. History of the United States Since 1865. 3 Hours.
A basic survey of American history from Reconstruction to the present.
HIST 190. The Ancient Middle East. 3 Hours.
Survey of the history and culture of the ancient Middle East c. 4000-323 BCE. The course will highlight ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Levant, Anatolia, and Achaemenid Persia from their Prehistoric beginnings to their meteoric rise as great empires and their downfall with the invasion of Alexander the Great. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 191. Modern Middle East. 3 Hours.
A study of the Middle East, with special attention given to the 19th and 20th centuries.Major themes include Islam and traditional Middle Eastern society and culture, the impact of Western imperialism in the Middle East, and the effort to build strong and independent nations out of the remnants of the Ottoman, French, and British empires. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 192. Modern East Asia. 3 Hours.
A survey of the history of East Asia since the beginning of the 19th century with particular attention given to Asia's encounter with the West. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 193. History of the Peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa. 3 Hours.
Survey of African history from pre-history to present. Themes include the role of the environment; interactions of ethno-linguistic groups; African Diaspora; the impact of Islam and European imperialism on African peoples; and decolonization and state formation in the 20th century. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 196. Colonial Latin American History. 3 Hours.
A study of the pre-Columbian and colonial eras of Latin American history examining the economic, political, and social aspects of colonial life, looking in particular at the adaptation of Spanish and Native American institutions to the new colonial reality. Study also includes the formation of ethnic and national identities between the 16th century conquest and the independence movements of the early 19th century. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 197. Modern Latin American History. 3 Hours.
An examination of Latin American history since Independence focusing upon the continuing issues of ethnicity and race relations, as well as the impact of global capitalism on Latin America. Emphasis is also placed on rural and urban social movements, peasant rebellions, political developments, and the relations of Latin American nations with the United States. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 260. Historiography and Research Methods. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the concept of historiography (i.e. the history of history) and
guidance through selected schools of historical thought. The course also provides
instruction in basic research methods, including technology-based research.
HIST 280. Selected Topics in History. 1 to 4 Hours.
Selected topics in history at the introductory or intermediate level.
HIST 307. History of the American South to the Civil War. 3 Hours.
A cultural, economic, and social history of the South from 1820 to the Civil War.
HIST 308. History of the American South since the Civil War. 3 Hours.
A cultural, economic, and social history of the South since the Civil War.
HIST 309. Early America and the Atlantic World to 1763. 3 Hours.
An investigation of early North America from the late 16th century to the massive upheavals of the Seven Years' War ending in 1763. Students will analyze such topics as European-Native exchanges, colonial-era revolts, marginal economies such as smuggling and piracy, and indigenous and African enslavement in North America.
HIST 310. Era of the American Revolution, 1763-1800. 3 Hours.
The course emphasizes the social and intellectual dimensions of the Revolutionary era, from initial economic and political conflicts within the Empire, to the War for Independence and its impact in the Atlantic World, and the creation of a federal Constitution and a viable republic.
HIST 311. Topics in American Social History. 3 Hours.
Explorations in American society, thought, and culture.
HIST 314. American Civil War. 3 Hours.
A study of the Civil War years, 1861-1865.
HIST 317. American Wests, 1750-1940. 3 Hours.
A study of the overlapping and often conflicting diverse societies of western North America from c. 1750 to 1940. The course will explore how physical geography and climate - aridity in particular - influenced the rise and containment of Native empires, Spanish settlement, comparative economic frontiers and military expansionism, and the mythic West of Hollywood.
HIST 318. American Legal History. 3 Hours.
Introduction to landmark cases in American legal history and their social implications. Topics include heritage of English law, free speech, the Constitution and the Supreme Court, slavery and civil rights, gender and identity, the law and scientific enquiry, and terrorism.
HIST 319. History of American Women. 3 Hours.
An exploration of the experience of women in their public and private roles throughout American history.
HIST 320. American Diplomatic History. 3 Hours.
A history of American foreign policy from national independence to the status of
international power, with particular focus on the 20th century.
HIST 321. African-American History to 1865. 3 Hours.
An in-depth exploration of the African-American experience from 1619-1865, with a focus on the institution of American slavery.
HIST 322. African-American History Since 1865. 3 Hours.
An examination of African-American history since 1865. This class places particular emphasis on the competing ideas within the African-American community regarding how best to deal with the continuing legacies of slavery and racism.
HIST 325. America Since 1945. 3 Hours.
An examination of the major trends of recent American history, from the end of
World War II to the present. Among the major areas of attention are the origins and perpetuation of the Cold War competition with the Soviet Union and the subsequent rise of the national security state, the consolidation and expansion of the limited welfare state, the Civil Rights movement and the Women's movement, the Vietnam War and the social upheaval of the 1960s, the crisis of confidence of the 1970s, and the Reagan revolution of the 1980s.
HIST 333. Ancient Greece. 3 Hours.
A survey of the history, society, and culture of ancient Greece. The course begins with the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations (c.3500-c.1100 BCE) and ends with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. Topics include Troy, the rise and fall of Athens and Sparta, the Persian wars, the Peloponnesian wars, the origins of democracy, and the rise of Alexander the Great.
HIST 334. Ancient Rome. 3 Hours.
A survey of the history and culture of ancient Rome. The course covers Rome's mythical foundation, the Roman Republic, the Roman empire, and the eventual fall of the Western Roman empire.
HIST 335. Ancient Warfare. 3 Hours.
An exploration of war in the ancient world and how ancient societies practiced warfare. Emphasis is placed on the critical study of ancient texts, art, and material culture to understand ancient battles, logistics, training, arms and armor, technology, recruitment, and cultural perceptions of war in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
HIST 340. The Early and High Middle Ages (400-1200). 3 Hours.
Beginning with the decline and fall of the Roman empire, an examination of the 'Dark Ages' of the early medieval period and the Christianization of Western Europe after the fall of Rome. The course also looks at the Carolingian empire, Islamic Spain, Viking expansion, the Norman conquest of England, the culture of the High Middle Ages, and the so-called 'twelfth-century renaissance.'.
HIST 350. The Reformation and Counter Reformation (1400-1688). 3 Hours.
An examination of the social, political, and religious causes of the Reformation in the 16th century. The course focuses as well on the changes made to European Christendom during the Reformation era and on the similarities and differences among different sects. Emphasis is placed on the reform of the existing church as both a self-motivated Catholic Reformation and as a response to Protestantism.
HIST 351. Witchcraft and Magic in Early Modern Europe. 3 Hours.
A study of the intellectual and cultural origins of the European Witch Craze of the sixteenth century. The course will focus on changing views of witchcraft and folk belief during the sixteenth century and examine how attitudes toward witchcraft continued to change throughout the early modern period in the context of the Reformation, Catholic Reformation and Enlightenment.
HIST 360. Europe from Louis XIV to the French Revolution (1600-1800). 3 Hours.
Focusing chiefly on France, a study of European society between 1600 and 1799,
with emphasis on social and political developments, in particular the rise of absolute monarchy and the modern state. In addition, study includes the so-called Scientific Revolution and the intellectual culture of the Enlightenment, as well as the economic, social, and political crises that preceded the French Revolution. The end of the course focuses on the French Revolution itself.
HIST 370. Europe in the Age of Revolutions, 1789-1850. 3 Hours.
A survey of the revolutions in Europe, beginning with the French Revolution and
continuing through the revolutionary movements of 1848-50. This course addresses
the political, social, economic, and cultural pressures both leading to and resulting
from revolutions.
HIST 371. Europe in the Age of Anxieties, 1850-1914. 3 Hours.
A survey of the pressing cultural and social issues of Europe after the end of the
revolutionary period covered in History 370. Major themes include the effects of
Darwinian science, the growth of empire, changes in gender roles, and the rise of
mass culture.
HIST 378. Imperial Russia. 3 Hours.
A survey of the growth of modern Russia, both geographically and politically. Beginning with the westernization of Russia under Peter the Great, this course reviews the social and political transformation of the country in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ultimate goal is to examine explanations for the Communist Revolution of 1917.
HIST 379. The End of Europe? The EU in the 21st Century. 3 Hours.
Examines the factors and motives leading to the founding of the EU and charts its development over the years, culminating with the centrifugal forces that could lead to a drastic remodeling of the European Union or even its complete dissolution. Topics include: the importance of merging European countries into ever closer union as a factor in Europe's post WW II development, world financial crisis of 2009, immigration and refugee situations, the rise of nationalism, the Brexit-shock and the Covid-19 pandemic. This course This course is taught as part of the Wofford study abroad program at Freiburg.
HIST 380. Selected Topics in History. 1 to 4 Hours.
Selected problems, periods or trends for intensive study and reading.
HIST 381. World War, Fascism, and Modernism: Western Europe, 1914-1945. 3 Hours.
A survey of the crucial events that defined the 20th century for Europe and the rest of the world. This course examines the origins and effects of World War I, the nature of fascism as it developed in Italy and Germany, and the different meanings of modernism and modernity as it developed in this period. It then turns to the "crisis of democracy" that emerged with the Great Depression that eventually yielded another world war along with the Holocaust.
HIST 382. Western Europe in the Age of the Superpowers, 1945-1991. 3 Hours.
A survey of Western Europe in the half century after World War II, with attention to
the Cold War, the welfare state, decolonization, youth rebellion, and the development of the European Union.
HIST 383. Tudor-Stuart Britain. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major political, social, and religious upheavals in England and Scotland during this period, focusing on the establishment of parliamentary monarchy and the break from the Catholic Church.
HIST 384. Modern Britain. 3 Hours.
A survey of the emergence of Britain as an island empire, covering the period of 1715 to the present. Major themes include the transfer of political power from monarchy to parliament, the growth of class society, the development of imperial identity, and the loss of international power after the two world wars.
HIST 385. Women in European History. 3 Hours.
A survey of the changing models of female and male identity in Europe since approximately 1500, including the development of both 'separate sphere' ideologies and various suffrage movements.
HIST 394. History of Slavery & Slave Societies. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the slave trades, varieties of enslavement, and major slave societies around the globe from the Ancient Mediterranean to the persistence of human trafficking into the 21st century. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 398. Iran: Its History, Culture & Politics. 3 Hours.
Survey of the major eras of Iranian history, beginning with the Achaeminid Empire of Cyrus the Great and the Parthian and Sassanian Empires, those two great rivals of the Roman Empire. Special attention will be given to the Islamic and modern eras, with a goal of understanding the significance of Shi'i Islam for the nation, the challenges of modernization faced by the country in the nineteenth and twentieth century, and the impact of the 1979 Revolution. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 401. Ancient Egyptian History, Prehistory-1550 BC. 3 Hours.
A survey of the first half of the history and culture of ancient Egypt, from its prehistoric beginnings to the end of the Second Intermediate Period when Egypt was divided. Major historical themes include state formation, kingship and power, civil war, and state use of religion. Additional topics include:
pyramid building, the invention of hieroglyphic writing, and the golden age of Egyptian literature. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 402. Ancient Egyptian History, c.1550-30 BCE. 3 Hours.
A survey of the second half of the history and culture of ancient Egypt, from the Second Intermediate Period to the death of Cleopatra, the last pharaoh to reign from Egypt. Topics include: Egypt's transition into a superpower, its decline, and subsequent move into the wider multicultural and multiethnic world of the 1st Millennium BCE. The political role of women and religion (including the world?s first monotheistic religion), and the famed reigns of Tutankhamun, Cleopatra, Ramesses the Great, and the female king Hatshepsut will be covered. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.
HIST 440. Critical and Cultural Theory. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the theoretical frameworks that have been used in cultural history and more widely in the humanities, including Marxist theories of ideology, psychoanalysis, phenomenology, structuralism, and poststructuralism. Special attention is paid to feminist thought, gender analysis, and sexuality.
HIST 460. Visiting Jones Professor: History of the United States. 3 Hours.
HIST 465. Visiting Jones Professor: European and Non-Western History. 3 Hours.
HIST 469. World War II: A Global History. 3 Hours.
An examination of the Second World War as a global phenomenon, with special attention paid to its impact on Europe, the United States, and Japan.
HIST 470. Independent Study in United States History. 3 Hours.
Creation and research of a project of special interest focused on US history. Such projects need to be approved by the instructor at least six weeks prior to registration. After approval of the topic, the student is will engage in general bibliographical study, to participate in conferences with the instructor, to report on reading, and to produce papers as directed by the instructor.
HIST 475. Independent Study in European or Non-Western History. 3 Hours.
Creation and research of a project of special interest focused on European or non-Western history. Such projects to be approved by the instructor at least six weeks prior to registration. After approval of the topic, the student is will engage in general bibliographical study, to participate in conferences with the instructor, to report on reading, and to produce papers as directed by the instructor.
HIST 480. Advanced Seminar in United States History. 1 to 4 Hours.
Selected problems, periods, or trends for intensive study and extensive reading.
HIST 490. Advanced Seminar in European and non-Western History. 3 Hours.
A seminar on selected problems, periods or trends for extensive reading, discussion, and writing in a seminar format.
HIST 500. Honors Course. 3 Hours.
At the discretion of the faculty, students may undertake a six-hour independent course of study in the senior year in order to broaden their educational experience within their major area of study. Students must meet specific GPA standards and arrange a faculty sponsor. The honors course criteria are outlined in the Academic Honors portion of the catalog.