Faculty of Arts & Science 2013-2014 Calendar

Calendar Home | Course Timetables

History

Faculty

Historians study the past to understand it on its own terms, to gain insight into how our world has developed, and in order to influence the present. The study of history covers a wide and diverse range of topics, from the history of aboriginal societies, conquistadors, ethnicity, fascism, labour, psychiatry, patterns of settlement and migration, politics, the Renaissance, revolution, to the automobile, slavery, international relations, trade unions, women's studies, and more.

The study of history is at the core of any liberal arts education.  In order to make sense of political, social, economic, and cultural development, it is essential to understand historical change and continuities. History is also integral to most area studies (East Asian Studies, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, Canadian or American Studies, etc.) and is a crucial part of the study of political science, economics, sociology, international relations, religion, art history, English—nearly every discipline in the humanities and social sciences.  History as a discipline partakes of both the humanities and social sciences: it is a social science because it studies societies and the processes of change, but the method and analytical approach are those of the humanities.  Close analysis of problems, critical examination of evidence, and persuasive oral and written communication are all hallmarks of historical inquiry.

History graduates will gain both a broad overview of the contours of history and in-depth knowledge of one or more specific regions, time periods, or thematic specializations.  They will understand how social processes, political ideologies, economic trends, and environmental changes have intersected with individual and collective human actions to shape historical change and, ultimately, the world we live in today. History graduates will comprehend how history is written, including the skills and methods of historical research, the use and interpretation of textual and other evidence, and the choices involved in various theoretical and analytical frameworks.  They will be able to critically read and assimilate large amounts of information, weigh evidence, draw well-informed conclusions, and present cogent, analytical arguments.

The analytical and communication skills one develops by studying history are critical to a great variety of careers. History graduates put their training directly to use in such fields as law, politics, business, government service, museums, libraries and archives, documentary filmmaking, journalism, international relations, urban planning, teaching, and many other areas. With emphasis on how to analyze issues, read critically, do productive research, delineate a case, and present evidence in support of that case, studying history equips one with both the skills and knowledge for an ever-changing workplace and society.

Curriculum

The History curriculum is designed to give students a solid grounding in a variety of interpretive and methodological approaches, while allowing them a great deal of flexibility to follow their own particular interests. Breadth requirements (detailed below) ensure that students achieve chronological depth and geographic range.  There are courses at most levels in American, Asian, African, Latin American and Caribbean, British, Canadian, European, Russian and East European history. Thematic clusters such as medieval history, gender, international relations, and colonialism/post-colonialism help students pursue areas of particular interest.

The 100-series courses are thematically-based and introduce students to the craft and tools of historical research and writing.  The 200-series courses are broad chronological surveys of countries, regions, or time periods. They are open to first-year students and have no prerequisites. The 300-series courses enable students to pursue topics in greater depth and methodological sophistication. They are not open to first-year students and frequently have prerequisites. The 400-series courses represent the culmination of an undergraduate’s study of history. They are taught as small-group seminars in which students draw upon the skills they have developed through the course of their History program in research, analysis, and oral and written presentation.

More detailed information concerning the department, history programs and particular courses can be found on our website: www.history.utoronto.ca. There is a History Students’ Association in the Department and there is student participation in the Department meetings and major standing committees.

Undergraduate Administrator:
Ms. Vicki Norton, Room 2074, Sidney Smith Hall (416-978-3362)
email: hisugsec@chass.utoronto.ca

General enquiries:

Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street, Room 2074 (416-978-3363)

History Programs

Students may also use certain history courses offered by CLA, EAS, and NMC to fulfill Department of History program requirements (see History website).

This is a limited enrolment POSt that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Eligibility will be based on a student’s marks in the required courses.  The precise mark thresholds outlined below are an estimate of what will be required in the coming POSt admission cycle.   Achieving those marks does not necessarily guarantee admission to the POSt in any given year.

Required courses: 2.0 HIS FCE, one of which must be at the 100-level, with a final mark of at least 73% in each.

(10 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year: 1.0 HIS FCE at the 100-level; in addition, students may take 1.0 HIS FCE at the 200-level.
Higher Years: Additional HIS courses to a total of 10 FCEs overall, meeting the following requirements:
 1. At least 5 FCEs at the 300-level or above, including 1.5 FCEs at the 400-level
 2. 1 FCE from each of the following Divisions*:
         I. Asia/Africa/Middle East
        II. Canada/United States/Latin America/Caribbean
       III. Europe
3. 1 FCE in pre-modern (before 1800) history*.

* Courses that satisfy the Pre-modern and Divisional requirements are listed on the History website. 

Courses in other departments:
   a) Equivalent Courses: the History Department website lists a number of history courses offered by other departments, such as East Asian Studies, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, and Classics, which can be taken for program credit.  Typically these courses are taught by faculty members who are trained as historians but whose primary appointment is in another department; they may include subjects not covered by HIS offerings. These are considered equivalent to HIS courses for the purpose of all program requirements except the 100-level requirement, and there is no limit on the number of these courses that can be included in a student's program.
   b) Related Courses: the History Department website also lists a number of courses in other departments that may be substantially historical in content but that differ in methodology or approach from an HIS course.  Specialists may draw up to 2.0 FCEs to fulfill items 1 through 3 of the Specialist program.  Note: A 100-level related course may be applied toward the Divisional or Pre-modern requirements but does not take the place of  the required 100-series HIS course.

This is a limited enrolment POSt that can only accommodate a limited number of students.  Eligibility will be based on a student’s mark(s) in the required course(s).  The precise mark thresholds outlined below are an estimate of what will be required in the coming POSt admission cycle.   Achieving those mark(s) does not necessarily guarantee admission to the POSt in any given year.

Required courses: 1.0 HIS FCE at the 100-level; students must achieve a final mark of at least 65% in this or another 1.0 HIS FCE.

(7 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year: 1.0 HIS FCE at the 100-level; in addition, students may take 1.0 HIS FCE at the 200-level.

Higher Years:
Additional HIS courses to a total of seven, meeting the following requirements:
1. At least 2.0 FCEs at the 300-level or above, including 0.5 FCE at the 400-level
2. 1 FCE from each of the following divisions*:
       I. Asia/Africa/Middle East
      II. Canada/United States/Latin America/Caribbean
     III. Europe.
3. 1 FCE in pre-modern (pre-1800) history*.

* Courses that satisfy the Pre-modern and Divisional requirements are listed on the History website. 

Courses in other departments:
   a) Equivalent Courses: the History Department website lists a number of history courses offered by other departments, such as East Asian Studies, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, and Classics which can be taken for program credit.  Typically these courses are taught by faculty members who are trained as historians but whose primary appointment is in another department; they may include subjects not covered by HIS offerings. These are considered equivalent to HIS courses for the purpose of all program requirements except the 100-level requirement, and there is no limit on the number of these courses that can be included in a student's program.
   b) Related Courses: the History Department website also lists a number of courses in other departments that may be substantially historical in content but that differ in methodology or approach from an HIS course.  History Majors may draw up to 1.0 FCE to fulfill items 1 through 3 of the Major program. Note: A 100-level related course may be applied toward the Divisional or Pre-modern requirements but does not take the place of  the required 100-series HIS course.

This program has unlimited enrolment and no specific admission requirements. All students who have completed at least 4.0 courses are eligible to enrol.

(4 full courses or their equivalent)

First Year:
1.0 HIS FCE at the 100-level is required. It is recommended that students complete this requirement prior to enrolling in the minor program.

Higher Years:
Additional HIS courses to a total of 4.0 FCEs, including at least 1.0 FCE at the 300- or 400-level.

Courses in other departments:

   a) Equivalent Courses: the History Department website lists a number of history courses offered by other departments, such as East Asian Studies, Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, and Classics which can be taken for program credit.  Typically these courses are taught by faculty members who are trained as historians but whose primary appointment is in another department; they may include subjects not covered by HIS offerings. These are considered equivalent to HIS courses for the purpose of all program requirements except the 100-level requirement, and there is no limit on the number of these courses that can be included in a student's program.
   b) Related Courses: the History Department website also lists a number of courses in other departments that may be substantially historical in content but that differ in methodology or approach from an HIS course.  History Minors may draw up to 1.0 FCE as part of their History program. Note: A 100-level related course may not be used to fulfill the required 100-series HIS course.

History Courses

Note:  Not all of these courses are taught every year. Please check the Arts & Science timetable or the HIS Department website for the list of courses offered in 2013-14.

The 199Y1 and 199H1 seminars are designed to provide the opportunity to work closely with an instructor in a class of no more than twenty-four students. These interactive seminars are intended to stimulate the students’ curiosity and provide an opportunity to get to know a member of the professorial staff in a seminar environment during the first year of study. Details can be found at www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/.

All 100-series HIS courses are mutually exclusive. Students may enrol in only one 100-series History course.  Students enrolled in more than one of these courses (or who have completed one of these courses or a previous HIS 100-series course with a mark of 50% or greater) will be removed at any time.  First-Year students may take 200-series courses.

Ranging widely chronologically and geographically, this course explores the phenomenon of violence in history.  It examines the role and meanings of violence in particular societies (such as ancient Greece and samurai Japan), the ideological foundations and use of violence in the clash of cultures (as in slavery, holy wars, colonization, and genocide), and the effects and memorialization of violence. 

Interactions among peoples, empires, and cultures, with particular attention to the non-European world.  Can we speak of “international relations” before the modern concept of nation-states was established?  What forms did globalization take in the pre-modern era?  Covering a broad chronological sweep from before the Silk Road to the present day, we will look at exchanges of goods and technologies; dissemination of ideas and religions; voyages of migration and exploration; and episodes of conquest and colonization. 

An analysis of the development of the international system, from 1648 to 1945, which highlights the role of war as an instrument of national policy, as a determinant of the system of states and as a threat to international society.

The events since 1600, the consequences of which continue to resonate through primary documents, historical additional reconstructions, students are exposed to the processes by which the past is given meaning. Students are encouraged to be aware of the impact of events and be sensitive to the inter-connectedness of the past.

North and South America and the Caribbean from Columbus to the American Revolution: aboriginal cultures, European exploration, conquest and settlement, the enslavement of Africans, the ecological impact of colonization.

This course draws on the history of China, Korea and Japan between 1600 to 1950 to explore historical issues of gender, nationalism, war and relations with the West.

The shape of traditional society; the forces at work on the social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual structures of Western Europe since the high Middle Ages: the Structure of Traditional Society; the First Period of Challenges, 1350-1650; the Second Period of Challenges, 1650-1815; Confidence, Stability and Progress, 1815-1914; the Collapse of the Old Order and the Condition of Modern Europe, 1914-1945.

This course examines scientific ideas about human difference from the 18th-century to the present. It explores how scientists and their critics portrayed the nature of race, sex difference, and masculinity/femininity in light of debates over nation, citizenship, colonialism, emancipation, knowledge and equality. The course will also introduce students to the uses of gender and race as analytic categories within the practice of history. While the course draws much of its subject matter from the history of the United States, it also explores selective issues in European and colonial contexts.

This course introduces students to the diverse experiences of women from a comparative perspective.  Content in any given year depends on instructor. 

This course introduces students to the diverse experiences of women from a comparative perspective. Students will study how women’s strategies have shaped the major cultural, economic, political and social processes in the world and how these processes have affected women’s experiences in their particular societies.  By studying women’s history from both local and global perspectives, students will engage critically with claims that women’s history is universal.  The local focus of the course will rotate between Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America, depending on the expertise of the instructors.

An introduction to the history of the Jews throughout the world over the past two thousand years.

Economic, political, religious, and educational ideas and institutions of the Middle Ages, from the late Roman period to the fifteenth century.

An introduction to modern European history from Napoleon to the outbreak of World War I. Important political, economic, social, and intellectual changes in France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and other countries are discussed: revolution of 1848, Italian and German unification, racism and imperialism, the evolution of science, art, and culture, labour protest, and the coming of war.

The evolution of European politics, culture, and society from 1914: the two world wars, Fascism and Nazism, the post-1945 reconstruction and the movement towards European integration.

The political, social, economic, and intellectual history of continental Europe. The Renaissance, the Reformation, Counter-reformation, growth of the territorial monarchies, the religious wars.

The political, social, economic, and intellectual history of continental Europe. Development of royal absolutism, social change and the crisis of the ancient regime, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era.

This course is an introductory survey that examines the political, social, and cultural developments that shaped the Russian empire from the settlement of Kiev in the 9th century to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Polish, Czech, and Hungarian background; the Balkans in the late medieval and early modern periods. Renaissance, Reformation and Counter-reformation, decline and national awakening to the beginning of the 19th century. Partitioned Poland, nationalism in the 19th century; World War I, Peace Settlement, interwar years and the Communist period.

An introductory survey to the major events and trends that have shaped the political, social and economic history of Canada, including the challenges of indigenous-newcomer and French-English relations over more than four centuries of interactions.

A survey of the economic, social, cultural, and political history of the United States from the colonial era to present times.

A broad overview of the history of China from earliest times to the present. The emphasis is on how the meaning of China and the Chinese people has changed through history.

Political, military, social, economic, and intellectual history of Japan from beginning of Tokugawa period (1603) to the present. Emphasis on the long term modernization and democratization of Japan, and passage through imperialism and militarism to peace.

An introductory survey addressing major themes in the history of South Asia, examining South Asian political economy, social history, colonial power relations and the production of culture. Emphasis is on the period after 1750, particularly the study of colonialism, nationalism, and postcolonial citizenship and modernity.

This course surveys the historical experiences of the states that constitute present-day Southeast Asia and examines how long term socio-economic trends affected the daily lives of Southeast Asians. Lectures introduce the major themes while weekly readings explore the major themes of the course: state structure; cultural commonalities; ethnic, class and gender relations; religious practice and trade.

Examines the history of Viet Nam from its mythical origins to the contemporary period,exploring the countrys long experience with Chinese and South Asian cultural influence. Themes include Sinicization and Indianization; constructions of gender; state formation; the introduction and impact of the world religions; colonization and nationalism; and the impact of globalization.

The evolution of Spanish and Portuguese America from pre-Columbian civilizations to the wars of independence.

A survey of Latin American history from the wars of independence to the present day.

An exploration of changes in the structure of Caribbean society beginning in 1492, including European contact, the conquest of native peoples, the emergence of large plantations, the impact of slavery, patterns of resistance and revolt and the changes brought about by emancipation.

An introduction to African history and the methodology of history more broadly, this course sets out to question how historians do history, examine differences in theories of knowledge, and explore the relationship between academic and cultural representations of the past.  The course also draws on anthropology and related disciplines.

This survey of African history is analytical rather than narrative in its approach. It rethinks the way that African history has hitherto been conceptualized and taught by placing the question of gender at the center of the story of Africa.

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. Details at http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/rop.

Note:

First-year students are not permitted to enrol in 300-series HIS courses.

This course examines the history of energy in North America from the perspective of political economy, environment and social-cultural history. Particular attention is paid to twentieth-century developments and to the relationship between energy and social power. Examples are drawn from both Canada and the United States.

History and Literature were always interconnected in Russia. Writers not only sought to reflect the society around them, but were themselves often social critics and political figures. The course examines key texts in Russian literary tradition both as works of art and as primary sources for the historian. All readings in English.

This course treats the political, social, and religious history of Spain and its empire ca.1450-1714, including the history of colonial Latin America.

An examination of the products of the first and second industrial revolutions in Victorian England. This course focuses on the cultural history of commercialization and consumerism.

The course treats contact and conflict between Christians, Muslims, and Jews in the premodern Mediterranean world. Within the framework of broad political and economic developments, the course explores a range of topics, including holy war, slavery, religious polemics, colonialism, the commerce in goods and ideas, and ethnic relations.

An in-depth examination of Middle East historical issues. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History Website for more details.

The history of Ukraine from earliest times to the present. Economic, political, and cultural movements; Kievan Rus’, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Cossack state, national revival, twentieth century statehood, and unification. As this course is designed as an introductory course, the professor welcomes first- and second-year students to enroll, as well as upper-level students. (Given by the Departments of History and Political Science)

This course examines the connections between popular culture and politics in the modern Caribbean. Aspects of popular culture such as sport, religion, and social constructions of gender will be discussed. The impact of post-war migration, race and racial nationalism and the upheavals of the 1960s on popular culture in the Caribbean will also be themes.

Some of the main themes in English political, social, religious and intellectual history in the 17th century: the origins, character, and consequences of the English Civil War, the nature and effects of social change, and the changing role of religious forces in society.

Ten key issues in Canadian politics from the 1850s to the 1990s:  background, partisan divisions, debates, mobilization of support and opposition, outcomes.

This course continues with the themes treated in HIS303H1, specifically in the context of relations between the Ottoman empire and European states and the growing impact of the Atlantic world on the Mediterranean.

What happens when a culture changes its religious organization and beliefs? Social and intellectual upheavals beginning in fifteenth century Europe created the split between Catholic and protestant Christians and reshaped the spiritual and political landscape of sixteenth century Europe. Issues covered include religion and politics, toleration, gender, popular piety, class.

 This course examines the emergence of a modern ‘consumer society’ in North America from about 1850 to recent times. The aim is to combine political, social, economic and cultural history to chart changing relationships between North Americans, consumer commodities, and identities.

Canadian international affairs in a broader context. Anglo-American as well as Canadian-American relations; the European background to questions such as the League of Nations, appeasement and rearmament, which directly affected Canada without this country being consulted.

The peopling of Canada by immigrant groups from the 1660s to the 1970s. Immigration and multiculturalism policies; migration and settlement; ethnic communities; relations with the host society.

Canadian labour history from political action to collective bargaining in the period from Confederation to the present.

A general survey tracing the political, social, and cultural development of a distinct society in Quebec and the rise of self-conscious French-speaking communities elsewhere in Canada.

This course introduces students to the multiple ways in which the diverse populations inhabiting the geographic space of Viet Nam construct their histories. Perspectives from Chinese, Charn, ethnic minority and Vietnamese majority populations will be explored.

The rise of advertising as an economic, moral, and cultural force in the 19th and 20th centuries. Attention to advertising as a form of communication, the role of the mass media, stereotyping and the culture of consumption. Majority of course material deals with the experiences of the United States and Canada, focusing on the period after 1945.

A survey of modern German history in the twentieth century. Topics include World War I and the postwar settlement, the Weimar Republic, the National Socialist dictatorship, the Holocaust, the division of Germany, the Cold War, German reunification, Germany and the European Union, nationalism, political culture, war and revolution, religious and ethnic minorities and questions of history and memory.

Focused study of the western Canadian provinces from the 1850s to the present. Topics include the idea of the west as a site of colonial expansion, colonial and territorial beginnings, indigenous-newcomer relations, entering Confederation, the provinces in Confederation, western politics and western alienation.

Considers the expansion of the French state at the close of the 100 Years War, cultural and social change during the Renaissance, religious change and the Protestant Reformation, the emergence of religious conflict and the Wars of Religion. A range of primary sources and historiographical perspectives will be considered.

Covers major events and themes for the period 300-600, including decline of Greco-Roman paganism, conversion to Christianity, individual barbarian groups (Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Huns, Burgundians, Vandals, Franks, Lombards), their culture and impact on empire, Justinians reconquests.

Surveys major events and figures for the period c. 600-1000, including: Pope Gregory the Great, the Morovingian Franks, Lombard Italy, Byzantine civilization, the rise of Islam, Charlemagne, the Carolingian Renaissance, the Vikings, Anglo-Saxon England to King Alfred, the Ottonians.

Chronological survey of the history of medieval Europe from 1100 to approximately 1450. The three main topics are: the formation of the modern states, the impact of urban development, and the evolution of spirituality.

Reflecting on the life cycle and rites of passage in the medieval period gives the opportunity to study the daily lives of peasants, nobles, monks, nuns, and burghers, and to observe from an interesting angle the differences between female and male life experiences.

Explores the legacies of the pre-Columbian era, as well as the post-1492 experiences of people of pre-Columbian Caribbean ancestry.  Examines the origins and consequences of the Caribbean's narrative of 'indigenous absence", as well as the relationship between indigeneity, globalization and diaspora.

This course focuses on the history of imperial Russia, tracing the development of its political institutions, social and economic structures and cultural values. Examining the reign of Peter I, the age of Empresses, and Catherine the Great, we see not only internal changes within the Russian Empire itself, but also its emergence as a European power.

Selected topics on a specific period in Chinese history. Topics in any given year depend on the instructor.

An examination of political, social and economic developments in modern Chinese history to the present day. Main topics may include the decline of the Imperial order and the challenge of Western imperialism; the Republican period; the rise of the Communist movement; the Peoples Republic of China.

Topics include German reactions to the French Revolution, Napoleonic occupation, the Wars of Topics Liberation, industrial expansion, the Revolutions of 1848, unification in 1871, Bismarck and Kaiser Wilhelm II, everyday life, gender relations, local and regional identities, workers culture, avant-garde culture, nationalism, anti-Semitism, colonialism, and the Great War of 1914-18.

The history of the Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 1900 to the present day, with emphasis on the emergence of independent Baltic states, World War II, communist era, the Baltic Revolution, the restoration of independence and European integration.

The changing nature of crime and criminal justice in early-modern England; the emergence of modern forms of policing, trial and punishment.

The diplomatic, economic and military activities of Russia, Germany, Austria, France, Great Britain and the U.S. vis a vis Central Europe. Russian and German expansion, partitions of Poland, disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, the Napoleonic and World Wars, political systems created in Vienna, Versailles and Yalta, the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet outer empire.

This course explores Russian culture - art, architecture, film and literature - from 1917 to the post-Soviet present. Readings and screenings trace the relation between culture, history, and revolution from the Russian Avant-Garde and proletarian culture to socialist realism, and from Krushchevs thaw to examples of Soviet postmodernism.

This course emphasizes the interaction of Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and the cultural and political distinctiveness of Castile and Aragon in the development of state, society, and culture in medieval Spain.

Major themes in late seventeenth and eighteenth century British history with a thematic focus on intellectual, cultural and social developments. Topics include the English urban renaissance, the birth of a consumer society, the Scottish Enlightenment and the early stages of the British industrialisation.

German state policy towards the Jews in the context of racist ideology, bureaucratic structures, and varying conditions in German-occupied Europe. Second Term considers responses of Jews, European populations and governments, the Allies, churches, and political movements.

Major aspects of English history from the end of the 18th century to the death of Queen Victoria: the Industrial Revolution, the rise of parliamentary democracy, the role of social class, the development of modern cities, the emergence of the modern state, Victorian religion, the Victorian family, the role of aristocracy in an industrialized society.

This course introduces students to some of the principal themes in the history of Australia since well before the British occupation in 1788. Topics covered include the dispossession and recent partial re-possession of land by the indigenous population, the consequences of its creation as a convict colony, the creation of the Labour Party and later political and social developments.

This course places German history in a transnational and global context, exploring Germany's place among the global empires starting in the mid- nineteenth century. The central events of its political, social and cultural development are analyzed through a framework focused on the development of the world economy after 1850. Particular attention is paid to the interplay between strategies for global expansion and transformations in national culture.

This course examines modern Russias political predecessors, their contacts with Byzantium, Western Europe, and the Mongol Empire, and resulting cultural, religious, and social changes.

An introduction to the historical origins and evolution of modern intelligence services. Topics to be studied include: intelligence in wartime; technological change; intelligence failures; covert operations; counter-espionage; the future of spying. The impact of the popular culture, both in fiction and film is also examined.

An examination of the conduct and consequences of international politics in an atomic/nuclear age when the stakes of the Great Game were not just the fates of states and nations, but the survival of humanity itself. The diplomatic, strategic and economic aspects of international relations will all receive appropriate elucidation.

This course is designed to further students knowledge of films relationship to the events they depict and their undeniable power as representational systems to render history effectively. This will necessarily entail both close examination of the formal systems film rely upon and an understanding of the distinction between fictional and non-fictional forms in film.

This course examines the importance of food products in the livelihoods of the inhabitants of Southeast and in the world economy.  It traces the circulation of these products within the Southeast Asian region in the pre-modern period, into the spice trade of the early modern era, and the establishment of coffee and sugar plantations in the late colonial period, and the role of these exports in the contemporary global economy. 

An in-depth examination of issues in gender history. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History website for more details.

An introduction to the history of modern England with emphasis on the search for identity with reference to the nation, the crown, class, gender, age, political parties, race and ethnicity.

A survey of the history of Twentieth-Century Russia. The social, economic, and political development of Twentieth-Century Russia, with an emphasis on the Russian Revolution and Stalinism. Stress is placed on modern historiographical issues.

A survey of the relationship between Jewish identity, politics and culture in the modern age.

Social and political history of Poland from the 10th to the 20th century. Analysis of the political history in a broader, central European context; consequences of Christianization of medieval Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian union; Sarmatian culture, Antemurale, Polish Messianism and Cordon sanitaire.

An investigation of how ideas of masculinity and gender roles shaped the exercise of private and public power in early modern Europe.

A survey of the history of Jewish nationalism, the Zionist movement, and the state of Israel from the 1880s to the present, with particular focus on continuity and rupture between Palestines pre-1948 Jewish community and the Israeli state.

A social history of the 15th and 16th centuries set against the cultural and political background. Emphasis on changes in customs and living conditions resulting from economic, legal, intellectual, and religious developments of the period.

Deals with negotiations of authority in political arenas from c. 1500 to 1750. Topics to be covered include court culture, legal ceremony, diplomatic etiquette, urban ritual and riot. Some background in medieval or early modern history recommended.

The role of nationalism, race and ethnicity, class conflict and ideologies in the recent development of Caribbean societies; Europes replacement by the United States as the dominant imperial power in the Caribbean; how this mixture of regional and international pressures has led to widely differing political systems and traditions.

This course traces the earliest known arrival of people of African descent in Canada from the early seventeenth century to the time of their more recent postwar immigration trends. Using socio-historical and multidisciplinary approaches, setttlement, community and institutional building and survival will be examined within the framework of other Canadian historical developments.

Follows on HIS338H1. Themes include: resistance by Jews and non-Jews; local collaboration; the roles of European governments, the Allies, the churches, and other international organizations; the varieties of Jewish responses. We will also focus on postwar repercussions of the Holocaust in areas such as justice, memory and memorialization, popular culture and politics.

The history of the Hanseatic League in medieval Europe from the late 12th to the late 16th century, with emphasis on the organization of the German Hansa, maritime activities, Hanseatic trade, and daily life of the Hanseatic merchants in Western and Eastern Europe.

A lecture course which deals thematically with gender issues in Canadian history (including familial roles, changing patterns of work and employment, and participation in the public sphere).

A survey of the Great Lakes Region as a trans-national space from fur trade to free trade. Attention is given to the political, social, economic, environmental, and cultural histories that affected the development of the region.

Explores the history of Aboriginal peoples (Indigenous and Metis) living in the Great Lakes Region after the Great Lakes were effectively split between British North America (later Canada) to the north and the united States to the south, when a rapidly increasing newcomer population on both sides of the border marginalized Indigenous peoples and settled on their land. Topics include a comparative examination of Indigenous experiences of colonialism, including treaties and land surrenders as well as the development of government policies aimed at removing and/or assimilating Great Lakes peoples. This course will also study resistance by First National and Tribal Councils to those programs over nearly two centuries and assess local strategies used for economic and cultural survival.

An introduction to the history of early modern England with reference to politics, religion and social structure.

Explores the history of Aboriginal peoples (Indigenous and Mtis) living in the Great Lakes Region from the 16th century to the aftermath of the war of 1812. Weaving together interdisciplinary sources, this course examines central events in Great Lakes history including the formation of the Wendat and Haudenosaunee Confederacies and key Anishinaabek alliances, the arrival of European newcomers into an Indigenous landscape, the social-political impact of new diseases, reactions to European missionaries, the fur trade, major conflicts and peace processes including the Great Peace of Montreal, the Treaty of Niagara and the 60 Years War for the Great Lakes; and ending with the period of significant encroachment of new settlers on Indigenous lands. Tutorials, primary source analysis, essay, exam.

A survey of the economic, social, political, and cultural history of black America from Reconstruction until recent times. Among the central issues dealt with are: segregation and disfranchisement; the Great Migration; the rise of the ghetto; the Civil Rights Movement; emergence of an underclass.

This course focuses on the political, social, intellectual and cultural history of nineteenth and early twentieth century Russia. Major topics include the rise of a Russian intelligentsia, reform and counter-reform, the nationality question, modernization, the woman question, and revolutionary movements.

U.S. experiences during the global economic crisis of THE 1930s – set against the broader historical context within which the crisis unfolded. What factors caused the Great Depression? What social, political, and cultural impact did it have on the U.S.? How did the domestic crisis intertwine with the escalating international problems that led to World War II?

This course looks at the early origins of American consumerism. It begins with 17th-century England and the economic imperatives within the Atlantic World, then traces the changing attitudes of 18th-century Americans towards consumer goods, fashion and style that led to the mass consumption of the 19th century.

This course will explore the background, experience, and legacy of protest movements in North America during the post-1945 era.  The course will draw on cutting edge historical literature, and will compare and contrast the American and Canadian contexts.  Topics will include the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, feminism, nationalism, environmentalism, labour, and the New Left.

An exploration of some of the historical roots of issues that are of particular importance to understanding the United States of the early 21st century: e.g., the war in Iraq and U.S. global leadership (or hegemony); the impact of globalization on the domestic economy; cultural innovation vs. neo-conservatism.

A survey of the history of American foreign relations from 1898 to the present. Themes include imperial expansion and the uses of power; the relationship of business and government in U.S. foreign policy; and the role of culture and ideas in Americas relations with the world.

A survey of one of the most turbulent decades in American history. Examines the political, social, economic and cultural revolutions that transformed the face of America.

The political, social, and economic history of China from the period of political and economic reorganization in the Song dynasty to the final glory of the imperial order down to the end of the 18th century and its decay in the 19th.

Rather than a survey of African History, this course examines popular representations of the past in Africa, looking at the philosophical and methodological challenges that these multiple histories raise for academic historians. It asks students to think critically about the basis of historical knowledge and the ownership of history

Rather than a survey of African history, this courses examines the ways in which concepts of time and space have been used to create a false sense of a separate and distinct historical field. The courses critiques ideas of tradition and modernity and challenges concepts of physical remoteness and historical isolation.

Major themes in the history of African women. Themes include: sources and methodologies of studying African women, cultural construction of gender, changing modes of production, women and state formation, ideology and social control, education, law, race, class and gender, female resistance to colonial rule and African womanisms versus Western feminisms.

Early Canadian history (ca. 1500-1800), emphasizing colonization, Native peoples of Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes; establishment of French and British colonies; interaction of natives and European colonizers.

This course examines Japan within the context of world history from the mid-16th to the mid-20th century.  Rather than seek comprehensive coverage of Japan's national history along a linear timeline, we will use Japan as a lens through which to consider key moments in the history of the modern world.

A study of political, economic, and social change in the British colony of Hong Kong from 1842 until the present day.

A study of political, economic, and social change in the British colony of Hong Kong from 1842 until the present day.

Social and political history of Muslims of South Asia since A.D. 712. The growth of Muslim community, conversion, social stratification, and social structure; mediaeval Muslim legacy in administration, art, literature, and religion. Muslim identity, nationalism, and Islamic modernism as reflected in the writings of intellectuals such as Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Iqbal, Jinnah, Abul-Kalam Azad, Mawdudi, and Parwiz.

This course considers the history of France, from the rise of absolutist monarchy under the seventeenth-century, Bourbon monarchs, through the Enlightenment, the Revolution and Napoleonic Empire, and the Restoration, to the fall of the constitutional monarchy in 1848.

A study of French society, politics and culture from the Paris Commune to the 1990s. Special attention is paid to watersheds like the Dreyfus Affair and the Vichy regime, to issues of regionalism/nationalism, cultural pluralism, womens rights, intellectual and cultural trends, and decolonization.

In-depth examination of historical issues. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See Undergraduate Handbook or History website for more details.

In-depth examination of historical issues.  Content in any given year depends on instructor.  See Undergraduate Handbook or History website for more details.

This course examines how Latin America and Latin Americans responded to the American, French, Haitian, Latin American, and industrial revolutions of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Black writers and historical actors were at the vanguard of re-conceiving, implementing, and realizing much of the Enlightenment project of freedom.  Africans and people of African descent significantly affected its meaning in the Atlantic world.  The course sets out to explore this history as well as the contemporary practice of freedom.

An examination of the role of slavery in the development of the American South from the early colonial period through the Civil War. Topics include: the origins of slavery, the emergence of a plantation economy, the rise of a slaveholding elite, the structure of the slave community, and the origins of the war.

This course examines the Second World War in the Asia Pacific region and highlights: (1) how imperialism and colonialism of both the Euro-American and Japanese varieties were central to the War's outbreak, conduct, and “resolution”;  (2) various “local” rather than simply national experiences and memories of the War, including those of marginalized groups in Japan and its colonies, “comfort women,” victims of war atrocities, Asian North Americans, African Americans, and Pacific Islanders.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details at http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/399.

An instructor-supervised group project in an off-campus setting. Details at http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/course/399.

Note

Enrolment in 400-level HIS courses is limited, and demand for these courses is high. The Department of History reserves the right to REMOVE STUDENTS who enrol in more than the required number for program completion (Specialists: 1.5, Majors: .5).

Students in 400-level seminars MUST ATTEND THE FIRST CLASS or contact the professor to explain their absence. Failure to do so may result in the Department withdrawing the student from the seminar in order to free up space for other interested students.

This course examines the French and American Wars (1945-75) in Vietnam and its effects on the population of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.  It begins with a brief overview of pre-colonial Vietnamese history and moves into a study of  the impact and legacies of colonial rule and centres on the impact of the Wars on the cultures, economies, and societies of Southeast Asia.

This course covers international relations from World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Topics include the breakdown of the wartime alliance, Soviet predominance in eastern Europe, the Western response, NATO, atomic weaponry.

This course will explore the multi-faceted ways in which Canada was shaped by and was an active participant in global decolonization following the Second World War.  An emphasis will be placed on the larger global context in which post-war Canadian history unfolded.  Topics will include Aboriginal politics, changing migration patterns, Quebec nationalism, diasporic politics, anti-colonial thought and oppositional social movements.

The course focuses on aspects of Jewish-Christian relations ca.300-1600, such as royal and ecclesiastical Jewish policies; religious polemics; intellectual collaboration; social and economic interaction; anti-Judaism and religious violence. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

Selected topics in U.S. history. Topics in any given year depend on the instructor. Please see History website for details.

A course on Canadian external relations since 1945. Topics include Canada and the Cold War, the Korean War, the Suez crisis and the war in Vietnam, membership in international organizations, and bilateral relations with other countries. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

An in-depth examination of issues in gender history. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History website for more details.

Historiographical controversies and the latest empirical findings concerning social conflict and political mobilization under Bismarck and Wilhelm II. Problems raised by competing schools of interpretation include definitions of the authoritarian state, bourgeois hegemony, localism and regionalism, radical nationalism, workers 'culture, and gender relations. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

Relations between blacks and whites in the United States from the colonial period to recent times with emphasis on slavery.

This course examines the religious traditions of Viet Nam through a meeting between the ruling Trinh Lord in Northern Viet Nam and a Buddhist monk, a Taoist Priest, a Confucian scholar, and a Catholic Missionary. Students will read the English translation of the meeting along with scholarly readings and primary documents.

Social and cultural approaches to understanding spectacles, crowd behaviour, and parades in the Canadian past, 1660s - 1980s.

This seminar course will study a handful of great trials in close detail. Using materials from the modern period in Europe and North America, we will look at the clash of ideas represented in these high-profile cases, the historical setting in which they were embedded, the human drama, legal and sometimes constitutional issues, and their impact both on their societies and our own.

Explores the impact of crusades, religious conversion and colonialization on medieval Baltic history through analysis of two medieval chronicles in English translation. Topics include culture clash, medieval colonialism, Europeanization as well as German expansion eastwards, the role of the Teutonic Knights and the strategies of survival of the native Baltic people after conquest and Christianization.

Examines the process and consequences of slave emancipation in the Atlantic World, beginning with the French and Haitian Revolutions and concluding with slavery and abolition in West Africa in the early 20th century.Students are introduced to the major literature and historiographical debates surrounding emancipation.

Explores the life conditions of individuals on the lower echelons of medieval society (the poor, servants and apprentices, the exiled, prisoners, slaves, foreigners and lepers).  In parallel, we will discuss the various conceptions of poverty that prevailed in the Middle Ages.  These objectives will allow us to glimpse the European Middle Ages from an unusual angle as well as reflect on important socio-economic and religious changes.

Investigates the modern concept of the nation and its connections to the idea of collective memory in twentieth-century Europe. Through reading and discussing seminal works on nationalism and national memory, we will discuss the connections between modern notions of nation and practices of remembering.

In 1771, with the translation of the Zend-Avesta by the French Scholar Anquetil-Duperron, a new era opened in German national culture. From the philosophy of Johann Gottfried von Herder to the novels of Thomas Mann, this course analyzes the ways in which German writers defined the substance and place of national culture in their writings about India, Central Asia and the East.

Focus is on the history of women and systems of gender in Russia and the Soviet Union. Themes include gender and authority during the age of empresses; pre-revolutionary radical movements; the impact 1917 Revolution and its impact on womens lives; the resurrection of conservative gender conventions during Stalins regime; the experience of women during perestroika.

A detailed study of the treaty process between indigenous peoples and newcomers in Canadian history, with examination of the shift between alliance treaties to land surrender agreements from the colonial period through to the signing of recent treaties including the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Nisga’a Final Agreement.

The course examines Russia’s wars with Napoleon and Hitler, both as military campaigns and as important nation-building events, largely through memoir literature.

Introduces students to some of the main issues in the new field of the social history of medicine. Readings from the secondary historical literature are distributed and discussed in class, covering such topics as the history of the doctor-patient relationship, changes in physicians social status, changing attitudes towards the body, and the history of obstetrics and gynaecology. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

This seminar explores the social function and meaning of violence in medieval society, and the development of rituals and institutions to control violence. Among the topics treated: Germanic blood feud, aristocratic violence and chivalry, criminal justice systems, violence against minorities, and violence and gender. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

A look at some basic problems of historical study, approached by means of an analysis of the work of a number of historians and philosophers of history, representing different schools of thought and time periods from ancient times to the present.

This course surveys the major developments and figures of Italian history by focusing on key primary texts (in translation) with a particular view to urban and legal history which will form the backdrop to understanding artistic and literary achievements in context.

The Golden Legend or Readings on the Saints, compiled by Jacobus de Voragine C. 1260, serves as the basis for a seminar on the relation of history and legend as understood in the High Middle Ages. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

The first goal of this seminar is to help students read the sources with a more critical eye, especially narrative sources (Lives of Saints) and normative sources (rules and customaries). The second goal is to study the evolution of the monastic ideal from its origin to the 12th century. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

 This course explores the ways in which twentieth century Canada was shaped by its complex relationship to empire. Course readings place Canadian historiography into dialogue with new theoretical and methodological approaches drawn from postcolonial studies, new imperial history, feminist and critical race theory. Topics include the meaning of empire in everyday life, migration, the impact of global decolonization, and Aboriginal politics.

Topics in the political, social, cultural, and military history of Canadians during the First and Second World Wars. Emphasis on the home front.

An examination of the Holocaust and the ways it has been studied and represented through the lens of gender. In what ways did being male or female make a difference for the people who were part of the Holocaust; what did Nazi ideology preach about ideas of masculinity and femininity and how did German authorities implement those notions; what roles did sex, sexuality, and sexual violence play in the Nazi assault on Jews and other groups; how have assumptions about gender shaped memories and representations of the Holocaust?

The students define together with the professor eight different topics (e.g. relics, masculinity, leprosy, clothes, recluses, peasants houses, gynecology and the peace of God). Each topic is approached through a class discussion, on the basis of a common corpus of secondary sources, plus presentations by the students.

To explore the history of Polish Jews from the Partitions of Poland to the present time, concentrating on the 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries: situation of Polish Jews in Galicia; Congress Kingdom of Poland; Prussian-occupied Poland before 1914; during World War II; and post-war Poland. Focus on an analysis of primary sources. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

The origin of Rus, international trade, the impact of nomadic peoples, the introduction of Christianity, the economic system an the problem of feudalism, the political structure and the dilemma of princely succession; literature and architecture; the displacement of political power centres and depopulation, the preservation of the Kievan heritage. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

The impact of the Cold War on life in the West through a study of selected popular culture themes and modes of production that helped shape the era. Four themes include Living with the Bomb, Living with the National Security State, Living with Spies, and Women Living with the Cold War.

Examines historiographical controversies and their public reception. Topics include the forged Hitler diaries, the David Irving trial, monarchical scandals before 1914, German responsibility for 1914, Daniel Goldhagen’s “eliminationist” thesis, Auschwitz as an “Asiatic deed,” Wehrmacht complicity in the Holocaust, retrospective films about East Germany, and Germany’s “special path to modernity.”

Examines historiographical controversies and their public reception. Topics include the forged Hitler diaries, the David Irving trial, monarchical scandals before 1914, German responsibility for 1914, Daniel Goldhagens eliminationist thesis, Auschwitz as an Asiatic deed, Wehrmacht complicity in the Holocaust, retrospective films about East Germany, and Germanys special path to modernity. Focusing on the institution of the inquisition, this seminar explores the response of ecclesiastical and secular authorities to religious heterodoxy. Among the groups prosecuted by the inquisition discussed: Cathar heretics in France, crypto-Jews and crypto-Muslims in Spain, and witches in Italy.

This course examines ways in which the Russian Empire and Soviet Union expanded their territories, the ways they controlled those colonies, and the ways in which they dealt with rising nationalism both at home and abroad.

Examines the use of maps through the ages to depict spatial relationships and political, social, or cultural authority. Explores the visual display of quantitative information, the evolution of historical atlases, and cartographic crime. Such topics as Lebensraum and gerrymandering illustrate how maps can distort historical processes and communal relationships.

Investigates religious conversion and cultural change in the Spanish world ca. 1450-1750. Principal settings include the late medieval Spanish kingdoms, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, and the Philippines archipelago.

Developments in popular/lay/local religion as expressed in a variety of cultural, political, and social forms from 1400-1600; the relation of these forms to both Catholic and Protestant institutional churches. Impact of Renaissance humanism on notions of kinship, order, community, perfection.

Selected topics on a specific period or theme in Jewish history. Topic in any given year will depend on the instructor. Please see History website for details.

What is a nation? Are nations ancient or modern, unchanging or malleable? Do nations create states, or does the state create the nation? This course seeks to answer these questions through an examination of nationalism, primarily in Europe, from the 1700s through the present.

The course examines the relationship between gender and the experience of slavery and emancipating several Atlantic world societies from the 17th-19th centuries. Areas to be covered are the Caribbean, Brazil, the U.S. South, West and South Africa and Western Europe.

This seminar considers two bodies of scholarship: American empire and its relationship to global capital, militarism, and technoscience; and empire, sex, race, and intimacy.In doing so, the seminar questions how imperial formations shaped life within the United States, as much as it altered distant and not so distant territories, peoples, and diasporas.

This course explores the history of gender in East and Southeast Asia from a comparative perspective. It will examine how models of Southeast Asian women have been constructed against their East Asian counterparts.

The role of the intelligentsia in East European national revivals; the ethnographic and literary revival; the language question; the press and cultural organizations; education; religion; and political movements. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

The development of Jewish historical inquiry over the past two centuries is examined against the background of the general phenomenon of modern historicism and the particular religious, cultural and political interests of Jewish communities and institutions in Europe, North America and Israel.

The fall of the Versailles system, German and Soviet diplomatic and military activities and their occupational policies in East Central Europe during World War II, economic exploitation, collaboration, resistance, and genocide in the discussed region, its liberation and sovietization in 1944-1945. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

This course traces from earliest times to the present the evolution of a people called Carpatho-Rusyns and their historic homeland Carpathian Rus’, located in the heart of Europe.  The historic survey will deal with political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments, all the while testing the hypothesis that nationalities are imagined communities.  (Given by the Departments of History and Political Science)

Interrogates the supposed British landmarks of the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment in their intellectual, religious, cultural and social contexts.  Addresses canonical "achievements" in astronomy, physics and chemistry but deals equally with popular "pseudo" sciences like astrology and mesmerism.  Deconstructs progress narratives and paradigms of knowledge acquisition in Britain and its wider imperial world.  Investigates connections (or lack of them) between elite and popular culture.  Do not register for this seminar without at least one of the pre-requisites because this course deals primarily with mentalités of the pre-modern world.

How the peoples of Eastern Europe tried to organize their domestic affairs, and in what international context they sought to operate, in order to survive as national entities and later to preserve their newly-won independence and territorial integrity. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

World War I and the Russian Revolution: the Ukrainian independence movement; the Soviet Ukraine and west Ukrainian lands during the interwar period; World War II and the German occupation; the Soviet Ukraine before and after the death of Stalin. Socio-economic, cultural, and political developments. (Given by the Departments of History and Political Science) (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

An examination of black slavery in Latin America, with emphasis on the lives of the slaves, from the conquest of America to abolition in the 19th century.

Explores the central themes in the history of France during the Revolution and the First Empire. We will consider the periods principal political, social and cultural aspects: the causes of the French Revolution; the shift from constitutional monarchy to Republic; the relationship between politics and religion; the invention of a new republican political culture; counterrevolution and Terror; the Directory; Bonapartes rise to power; the Napoleonic Empire; the nature of war during the Empire; the Restoration; and the Revolutions legacy in France and beyond today.

Tsarist and Soviet foreign relations from the Crimean War to the present with emphasis on continuity and change. The seminar examines major themes in Russian and Soviet foreign policy behaviour on the basis of assigned readings.

The history of Soviet cinema and the importance of film as a historical source. Documentary and fiction film; editing, narration, and sound; film distribution and exhibition; the Soviet school of montage and socialist realism; nationality and gender; the Soviet musical comedy of the Stalin era; resistance and dissidence.

Soviet film as a historical source and the institutional and ideological history of Soviet film production, distribution, and exhibition. Fiction and documentary film during World War II; the cinema of the Cold War and the Thaw; Soviet new realism and the return of the village; avant-garde cinema of the 1960s-80s; memory and historical revision in late Soviet film. Screenings include never-before-seen archival footage, as well as films and film clips subtitled by the instructor.

The 20th century has been an age of experiments for Poland. Universal, general problems of democracy, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, communism, socialism, free market and centrally planned economies, are examined, as are the ongoing adjustments made by the Polish people. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

An exploration of Canadian intelligence from the end of World War Two to the present, with an emphasis on understanding policies, institutions and practices in the context of changing perceptions of threats to national security. The Cold War era will provide essential context for understanding the new security environment created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Cloth was a major commodity in the early modern world.  Positioning early America within a global context and employing a material culture framework, textiles and clothing provide the lens through which to view the social, cultural, economic and industrial development of the United States from pre-European contact until the 1860s.

Examines varying roles of religion in cases of genocide and extreme violence. Seminar proceeds from recent cases (Darfur, Rwanda, wars associated with break-up of Yugoslavia) backward through the 20th century (Cambodia, Indonesia, the Holocaust, Armenians, Herero) and the 19th century (Belgian Congo, Caucasus, native peoples in the Americas).

This seminar explores the use of gender as a category of analysis in the study of international relations. Topics include gendered imagery and language in foreign policymaking; beliefs about women’s relationship to war and peace; issues of gender, sexuality, and the military; gender and global governance; gender and the global economy; sexual violence; and contributions of feminist theory to international relations theory.

Selected topics in a specific period of Canadian history. Content in any given year depends on instructor. Please see the History Department website for complete description.

Examines French colonial Indochina through several different lenses. Themes include the cross-cultural contact zones between colonial and colonized societies, imperial culture, expressions of colonial power, and forms of opposition. Colonial novels, translated resistance literature, documentaries, and films are utilized as primary sources to be examined critically.

This course explores a series of themes relating to Madagascar and the Mascareigne Islands between the eighteenth and the twentieth century. Topics include slavery and its memories, miscegenation, trade, the environment, space and mapping, cultural contact, colonialism, and imperial networks.

Addressing South Asian history after 1750, this course examines ideas of rights, contract, and the rule of law in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Attention is paid to the intellectual history of rights and the central place of colonial and postcolonial questions within that history. Topics include rights and questions concerning indigenous culture, caste and customary practice, gender and capitalist development.

The trajectory of Canadian history has been (and continues to be) shaped ssignificantly by the changing relationships between indigenous peoples and newcomers to what is now Canada. Through discussion of readings on various seminar topics, we will explore the multi-faceted contours of these relationships, from cultural encounters, treaties & alliances, and missionization to colonization , assimilation, residential schools and contemporary issues.

This seminar examines strategic, economic, ideological, and cultural factors in U.S. relations with East and Southeast Asia. Major themes include the role of cultural and informal diplomacy and the effect of perceptions and misperceptions on both sides of U.S.-Asian interactions.

This course is a critical intellectual history of Caribbean decolonisation. It begins with the Haitian Revolution, exploring and comparing how history was mobilized to structure anti-colonial theories about the making of postcolonial Caribbean societies. Key conceptual frameworks to be examined include indegenism, noirism, creolization, metissage; Caribbean interpretations of Marxism, Negritude and Pan-Aricanism.

The history of Black Americas seen through the eyes of some of the men and women who experienced it. Attention is given to slavery but emphasis is on the twentieth century. Students examine autobiographical works, novels, and film.

Examination of the impact of industrialism on Victorian society and values. Concentration on Victorian social critics including Engels, Owen, Maynew, Dickens and Morris.

This course examines black life and culture in the cotton South through the medium of recorded blues music. It seeks to restore a voice and a sense of agency to black southerners in the age of Jim Crow. Topics include the plantation economy, agricultural life, mobility, migration, and urban subcultures.

An in-depth study of U.S. behaviour in the global arena since World War II. Particular attention will be paid to the origins and evolution of the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the initiatives of the Nixon-Kissinger years, the end of the Cold War, and the relevance of globalization.

Engaging with influential perspectives in postcolonial historiography, this seminar tracks three major themes in the history of the idea of modernity from the late 18th through the 20th centuries: political freedom, citizenship and the nation-state; capitalism and its critique; and the relationship of history, memory, and identity. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

The role of elite women in twentieth-century Africa has been overshadowed by studies of non-elite women so much so as to suggest that all women lacked power. This course aims to show how a very limited but important group of women negotiated power in a century of increasing patriarchy. It combines gender with class analysis.

This course will explore the cultural history of the body from ancient Greece to Renaissance Italy. From an examination of both bodily practices and discourses about the body we will attempt to gain an understanding of premodern experiences of and attitudes towards the human body.

This seminar examines the history of the car in North America from the perspective of technology, business, landscape and popular culture. Particular attention is paid to issues of production, consumption, geography, and daily life, and to the importance of class race, gender, region, and age in shaping the meaning and experience of car culture.

A seminar on selected aspects of Chinese history from 1368 to the present. Please see History website for detailed description of topic in any given year.

Introduces African cultural and intellectual history via a series of important primary texts.  These texts provide important insights into the gendered nature of African intellectual movements for liberation as well as wider political discourses.  It examines how these authors developed and deployed concepts such as authenticity, modernity, nation, and personhood.

Examines the parallel discourses of animal and human rights in Anglo-American culture from the eighteenth century to the present. The courses explores issues of subjectivity and consciousness as well as cruelty and pain. Topics include slavery and abolition, animal welfare and antivivisection, anti-colonial liberation movements, and animal rights campaigns.

The development of intelligence techniques and operations in wartime conditions; the role of espionage, cryptanalysis and deception in deciding the battles and campaigns of the Second World War.

Introduces students to some of the main issues in the history of psychiatry. Readings from the secondary historical literature are distributed and discussed in class, covering such topics as changes in the nature of psychotic illness, the psychoneuroses, disorders of the mind/body relationship, and the psychiatric diagnosis and the presentation of illness. (Joint undergraduate-graduate)

This seminar explores issues of everyday life in Soviet Russia during the Stalin era. What was the Soviet normal? Topics will include belief systems, dreams and myths, terror, fear, repression, and resistance. Texts include a range of different sources, memoirs, diaries, official state documents, and secondary sources.

The first French empire (1604-1791) is typically considered a failed empire.  Beginning with the first French exploratory expeditions in the South Atlantic in the mid-16th century, this course examines the social, economic and political history of French imperial expansion during the Ancien régime in order to consider the meaning of success, as applied to empire during this period.  The focus is on the development of the two colonial centres of the French New World:  New France and the French Caribbean.

Primary source analysis of global circuits of ethico-political thought via work and life of Gandhi.  Charts transnational environment of Gandhian thought (eg. Ruskin and Tolstoy), its critics (advocates of minority rights, also revolutionary violence) and global afterlife (eg. King, Mandela).  Teaches methods in intellectual and political history of the global.

An in-depth examination of historical issues. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History website for more details.

An in-depth examination of historical issues. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History website for more details.

An in-depth examination of historical issues. Content in any given year depends on instructor. See History website for more details.

These courses assume the form of an undergraduate thesis. Students must find an appropriate supervisor from the Department, receive approval for the project, and submit an Independent Studies ballot. Students must be enroled in either a History Specialist or Major program, with a B+ average in no less than 4 HIS courses, or with special permission of the instructor. Applications must be received in September for first session courses; in December for second session courses.

These courses assume the form of an undergraduate thesis. Students must find an appropriate supervisor from the Department, receive approval for the project, and submit an Independent Studies ballot. Students must be enroled in either a History Specialist or Major program, with a B+ average in no less than 4 HIS courses, or with special permission of the instructor. Applications must be received in September for first session courses; in December for second session courses.