Course Offerings Spring 2018 50 YEARS AGO MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ASSASSINATED APRIL 4, 1968 ROBERT F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATED JUNE 6, 1968 BENTLEY UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents... 2 History Major/Minor... 3 Fall 2018 History Course Offerings and the LSM... 4 HI 200 The Making of Our Contemporary World... 5 HI 236 History of Ireland: From St. Patrick to "The Troubles"... 6 HI 264 History of China... 7 HI 266 Middle East: Islamic & Contemporary... 8 HI 267 Past and Present in Africa... 9 HI 299 History on the Road: Exploring Massachusetts in Five Field Trips... 10 HI 305 Arts and Society... 11 HI 310 Historical Approach to Modern Terrorism... 12 HI 316 Women and Gender in South Asia (Honors)... 13 HI 317 South Asian Religions... 14 HI 334 The Soviet Union and After... 15 HI 343 Modern U.S. History (1920-Present)... 16 HI 358 U.S. Women's History... 17 HI 371 Baseball as American History... 18 HI 372 History of Boston... 19 HI 383 World War II... 20 HI 385 The Vietnam War... 21 HI 3900 Dominican Republic: Past, Present and Future... 22 HI 392 Nazi Germany... 23 2
HISTORY MAJOR The history major consists of 8 courses beyond those required for the General Education Core. These include: four 3-credit courses in your major field of concentration (American, European, Asian or Latin American history, or a thematic concentration) at least one 3-credit course outside your major field of concentration at least one 3-credit course in non-western history the 400-level Seminar in History course Contact: Bridie Andrews Chair, History Dept. Adamian Academic Center Office G127 bandrews@bentley.edu 781-891-2424 HISTORY MINOR The History minor offers students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the past and to broaden and sharpen their focus on the present. Students can apply skills they learn in History to a variety of disciplines such as law, economics, government work indeed any occupation that calls for independent judgment, clear reasoning, and an appreciation for the way the world works. A History minor can be a significant addition to any major program. REQUIREMENTS: To obtain a minor, you must take 5 courses from the list of courses offered by the History Department before graduation. One of these courses would count towards the General Education Core requirement. You may also include one AP course in History if confirmed by the university as one of the five courses. Contact: Sung Choi History Dept. Adamian Academic Center Office G123 schoi@bentley.edu 781-891-2918 3
Spring 2018 History Course Offerings and the LSM American Studies HI 343 Modern U.S. History 1920 - Present HI 358 U. S. Women s History HI 383 World War II HI 385 The Vietnam War Diversity and Society HI 200 The Making of Our Contemporary World HI 236 Irish History: St. Patrick to The Troubles HI 264 History of China HI 266 Middle East: Islamic & Contemporary HI 267 Past and Present in Africa HI 317 South Asian Religions HI 334 The Soviet Union and After HI 343 Modern U.S. History 1920-Present HI 358 U. S. Women s History Global Perspectives HI 200 The Making of Our Contemporary World HI 236 Irish History: St. Patrick to The Troubles HI 264 History of China HI 266 Middle East: Islamic & Contemporary HI 267 Past and Present in Africa HI 310 Historical Approach to Modern Terrorism HI 316 Women and Gender in South Asia HI 317 South Asian Religions HI 334 The Soviet Union and After HI 383 World War II HI 385 The Vietnam War HI 392 Nazi Germany Media Arts and Society HI 305 Arts and Society Earth, Environment, and Global Sustainability HI 267 Past and Present in Africa 4
THE MAKING OF OUR CONTEMPORARY WORLD HI 200 Coca Cola International Apollo 17 Walk on the Moon Landing on the shores of Normandy Construction of the Berlin Wall The Fall of the Berlin Wall This course is designed to provide a broad conceptual grasp of the modern world by examining the major developments and events of the past century. Two world wars, a cold war, decolonization and ethnic conflicts have made the 20 th century one of the most tumultuous in world history. The growth of the global economy has produced fundamental changes in lifestyles and in the types of issues that confront us. Rapid urbanization, the changing roles of women, the communications revolution and the spread of consumer societies have created conditions unknown to earlier generations. But not all cultures have created conditions unknown to earlier generations. Not all have benefited equally, and this has created tensions between the haves and the have nots. The world s different societies share the globe uneasily, but know they must coexist. The challenge is to make that happen. To Be Offered: The History Faculty See the Full Spring 2018 Schedule for Specific Time 5
HISTORY OF IRELAND: FROM ST. PATRICK TO THE TROUBLES HI 236 This course traces the history of Ireland from its pre-history to today s troubles. We will consider the experience of the Irish people, their lives, religion and politics. We will also explore the rich and lively culture the Irish have created over the centuries and their impact on the larger world community. Douglas Kierdorf To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 12 M/W 3:30 P.M. 4:50 P.M. 6
HISTORY OF CHINA HI 264 Chinese culture seems very different when viewed from the West. In this course we examine the sources of this difference in the patterns of Chinese civilization established in the Qin and Han Dynasties (3 rd Century BCE to around 200 CE). The focus of the course then moves to more recent history and China s relationships with the rest of the world since the 19 th Century. These led to profound changes in the lives of ordinary people, with the establishment of new trading relationships and the creation of an enormous network of migrant workers and entrepreneurs. The military power of western imperial powers in Asia also led many Chinese to question their own culture and its ability to adapt to the modern world. As a result, modern Chinese history has been one of tumultuous change. We end the course by looking at the history of the Chinese Communist Party and its efforts to create a stable, wealthy society with Chinese characteristics. Bridie Andrews To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 4 M/W 9:30 A.M. 10:50 A.M. Section 002 Block 7 TF 11:00 A.M. 12:20 P.M. 7
MIDDLE EAST: ISLAMIC & CONTEMPORARY HI 266 Studies geography and peoples of the Middle East today. Examines Muhammad s teachings, Arab conquests, formation of Islamic civilization, dominations of the Turks and Mongols, Latin Crusades, Ottoman Empire and Safavid Iran. World War I and European mandates, emergence of modern Turkey and Egypt, Israel s birth and struggle for existence, plight of the Palestinian refugees, Arab conservatism vs. socialism, and other issues are explored. Mark Rosenberg To Be Offered: Section E01 Block E2 T 6:30 P.M. 9:10 P.M. 8
PAST AND PRESENT IN AFRICA HI 267 Explores major developments in Africa s past along with present and future challenges. Emphasizes African initiative and innovation, and encounters with external influences. Topics include the origins and growth of indigenous societies and states; political, economic and religious change; women s lives and gender relations; European colonial impact; decolonization and post-independence struggles. Special attention is given to African cultural production and work with primary sources. Thomas Johnson To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 6 M/R 11:00 A.M. 12:20 P.M. 9
HISTORY ON THE ROAD: EXPLORING MASSACHUSETTS IN FIVE FIELD TRIPS HI 299 Bentley University is located in a small New England region that has historically exerted a disproportional influence across the entire United States. Since the first English arrival and settlement upon these shores in 1620, important aspects of American history have played out just a few short miles from this campus. This experiential history course transports students beyond lecture room limits to those places for five Saturdays in February and March. You will visit important historic locations here in Waltham, and at nearby Concord, Salem, Boston and Plymouth. It was in these towns that talented and energetic men and women established and developed the political, cultural, industrial, educational, scientific and maritime innovations that ultimately shaped our entire nation. Come and join us and get to better know and understand these talented individuals, where they lived and worked, and how, in many ways they invented America. Tom Beardsley Classes will meet on these dates: First meeting / Pre-session: Saturday, February 3, Field trips: February 10, 17, 24 and March 17, 24 9:00 A.M. 11:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M. 10
ARTS AND SOCIETY HI 305 Discus Thrower by Myron ca. 450 BC Arts and Society examines the interaction of art, politics, economics and culture in the Western world. After an introduction to classical civilization, particular attention will be paid to three different countries in three very different centuries: Holland in the 17 th century, the Age of Rembrandt and of the Dutch East India Company; France in the 19 th century, the Age of Impressionism and the Industrial Revolution; America in the second half of the 20 th century, the Age of Abstract Impressionism and American Empire. This course will provide an introduction to the history of Western art and the art of Western history for the beginner. (Course requires students to meet at Boston museums at least 3 times, which count as classes.) John Hermanson To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 13 T/R 3:30 P.M. 4:50 P.M. 11
HISTORICAL APPROACH TO MODERN TERRORISM HI 310 In the post-9/11 world, terrorism is at the front and center of international politics, national security, and military intervention, but terrorism is neither new nor unique to our era. The Terror was an important phase in the French Revolution, for example. This course will explore the historical evolution of terrorism in the modern western world. We will study the modern definitions of terror, terrorist, and terrorism in a variety of historical contexts. Who was defined as a terrorist? How has terrorism been defined over time? Were there self-designated terrorists? Finally, we will gain an understanding of how our current views of terror and terrorism differ from those of the past. Sung Choi To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 13 T/F 3:30 P.M. 4:50 P.M. 12
WOMEN AND GENDER IN SOUTH ASIA (HONORS) HI 316 Portrait of woman Women in colonial India (c. 1786) from an Indian miniature painting Poster of Bollywood film, Jodhaa Akbar (2008) This course is an interdisciplinary investigation into the meaning of gender in South Asia. We will look into the way women s lives and gender constructions have been influenced by the major historical events of colonialism, imperialism and post-colonialism. We will study feminist, orientalist, post-colonial, psychoanalytic and nationalist critiques through specific historical and ethno-historical works on South Asia. It is an interdisciplinary investigation into how gender, race, and class have affected colonial and postcolonial South Asian consciousness. On a broader level, our readings will examine some of the historical precedents for colonialism and imperialism, the nature of the colonial encounter, the relationship between colonial peoples and the metropole, and gender identities in postcolonial South Asia and diasporic South Asian communities. Angma Jhala To Be Offered: Section H01 Block 6 M/R 11:00 A.M. 12:20 P.M. 13
SOUTH ASIAN RELIGIONS HI 317 South Asia has a rich cultural legacy, which has spread around the world through its diasporic communities. Not only did it birth several world religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, but it has also been home to ancient communities of Muslims, Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians. In an interdisciplinary manner, students will be introduced to a broad history of the region through a discussion on the origins, cultural practices and political influences of different religious traditions within the subcontinent, from the Vedic age until the late 20 th century. Angma Jhala To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 11 M/R 2:00 P.M. 3:20 P.M. 14
THE SOVIET UNION AND AFTER HI 334 Bolshevik Revolution Lenin Did You Volunteer to Glory to the Soviet State! Thank You Dear Stalin Join the Red Army? For Our Happy Childhood! This course will examine Russia and the Soviet experiment one of the most audacious efforts in history to create a perfect society and a new world. We will focus on key Soviet achievements and failures, looking not only at policies, but also at the people involved, from Joseph Stalin to ordinary peasants. We will also examine the impact the Soviet Union had on the world, including its involvement in World War II and the clash of the two superpowers in the Cold War. We will then discuss the reasons for the rapid Soviet collapse and the emergence of new states in Europe and Asia. We will be formulating and discussing historical questions, but we will also try to feel and experience Soviet and Russian history through a variety of primary sources and multimedia tools. Leonid Trofimov To Be Offered: Section 001 Block E3 W 6:30 P.M. 9:10 P.M. 15
MODERN U.S. HISTORY (1920 PRESENT) HI 343 Raising the flag at Iwo Jima - 1945 Teens at a Soda Shop 1950s The I Have a Dream Speech by President Nixon s Resignation Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 August 1974 This course provides an overview of U. S. history from the aftermath of World War I to the present. Some of the topics covered include Prohibition, the Depression, the New Deal, World War II, the Korean War, the McCarthy Era, campaigns for civil rights (including rights for African-Americans, gays and women), the Vietnam War, the countercultural Sixties, the Watergate Scandal, the Reagan Revolution, and 9/11. Clifford Putney To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 9 T/F 12:30 P.M. 1:50 P.M. 16
U. S. WOMEN S HISTORY HI 358 Miss Annie Oakley, The Peerless Lady Wingshot College day in the picket line (1917) This course will examine US women s history from English settlement in the 17 th century until the late twentieth century. Major themes in women s history will be discussed as part of the larger narrative of American history; topics will include women as political actors, shifts in women s roles and status, and the meaning of gender as it changes over time. Using both primary and secondary sources, students will be expected to analyze key moments and arguments in history. Emphasis will be placed on the diversity of women s experiences as they varied across race, class and cultures, and reading will be tailored accordingly. Jennifer Alpert To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 8 M/R 12:30 P.M. 1:50 P.M. 17
BASEBALL AS AMERICAN HISTORY HI 371 In this class, we will use professional baseball as a lens to explore American history from the mid-19 th century to the present. The analysis will be two-way as we look at how American culture and society have shaped baseball, as well as how baseball has shaped culture and society. The course will begin with an exploration of baseball s mythical and actual origins before considering its evolution as a game and profession. After that, we will consider key developments in baseball-related business and media history, while raising poignant questions about race, gender, community and the way Americans evaluate the talents of workers and the prerogatives of managers. Chris Beneke To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 2 T/F 8:00 A.M. 9:20 A.M. 18
HISTORY OF BOSTON HI 372 Boston Massacre Paul Revere s Ride The Boston Tea Party This course will focus on the history of Boston, one of America s oldest and most influential cities (as well as the birthplace of Bentley). The course will chart the transformation of Boston from a small Native American settlement into a major metropolis, and it will introduce students to the people, ideas, inventions, and events that shaped the city. Clifford Putney To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 5 T/F 9:30 A.M. 10:50 A.M. 19
WORLD WAR II HI 383 Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin 1945 Our world today is what it is in large part because of World War II. In our course, we will examine the key battles and war figures, strategies of mass mobilization and resistance, but equally important, we will seek to understand why the war occurred in the first place, as well as analyze its lasting consequences for Europe and for the world. We will make ample use of first-hand accounts of the war, audio and visual recordings, which should enhance our understanding of one of the most devastating conflicts of all times. Leonid Trofimov To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 11 M/R 2:00 P.M. 3:20 P.M. Section 002 Block 3 R 8:00 A.M. 10:50 A.M. 20
THE VIETNAM WAR HI 385 This course examines the origins, events, and consequences of the wars in Vietnam from 1945 to 1979. Special emphasis will be given to the causes of American involvement and the reasons for the failures of U.S. policy. The events of the wars are placed in a different context demonstrating how ideological, diplomatic, social, cultural, and economic considerations influenced the conduct, duration, and end of the war. Topics include: French colonialism and in Vietnam, the outbreak of the Cold War and America's road to Indochina, how the wars were fought, the battlefield experience of American troops, the media and the war, the American antiwar movement, the impact of war on Vietnamese society, Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese nationalism, the roles of the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union, the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia, the Sino-Vietnamese war, cinematic representations of the American War, and the Vietnam War's legacies in South East Asia and in the U.S. Michael Holm To Be Offered: Section E01 Block E4 R 6:30 P.M. 9:10 P.M. 21
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE HI 3900 (Embedded 4-credit service learning/history elective) Estimated cost per student: $2900 Seize the opportunity to study the Caribbean intensively and then visit the Dominican Republic over spring break! The Caribbean has a harsh but fascinating past: it is where Columbus built the first European settlements in New World, but also where the first genocide of indigenous people happened and where slavery and sugar plantations first grew. After independence, the Dominican Republic received significant U.S. investment but also lived under a fearsome dictatorship for 30 years and was invaded by the United States not once but twice. This course will go beyond history: all students will do service-learning at the Patronato Benefico Oriental, a non-profit that operates the Hogar del Nino, a K-12 school and a health clinic in La Romana. To understand the predicament of a tropical nation in the world economy, we will study the tourism industry and also see the country as tourists do by staying at an all-inclusive beach hotel. We will learn from Dominican musicians, writers, and scholars about aspects of Dominican culture that tourists usually ignore. Cyrus Veeser To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 14 M/W 5:00 P.M. 6:20 P.M. 22
NAZI GERMANY HI 392 Nazi Germany remains one of 20 th century s most horrific experiences. This class probes deep into its formation and function. It explores the final years of the Austro- Hungarian empire as they shaped Adolf Hitler s personal and political thinking, the pervasive anti-semitism in Germany and eastern Europe; the Nazi occupation of Europe, its racial policies, and the Holocaust. The course emphasizes the importance of ordinary Germans and their role in the life of Nazi Germany. Sung Choi To Be Offered: Section 001 Block 7 T/F 11:00 A.M. 12:20 P.M. 23