History

This course is a cultural and social survey of the Western World from its origins to the end of the 15th Century. It emphasizes social, intellectual and cultural trends rather than political chronology. Topics include the status of women, scientific progress and the development of religion, morals and manners, entertainment and the arts. Lecture three hours per week. This course applies to the IAI General Education Core Curriculum Fine Arts and Humanities package.

A continuation of HIS 103, this course surveys the cultural and social life of the Western World from the end of the 15th Century to the present. Topics cover the expansion of Western influence and a critical analysis of cultural trends and social institutions. Also analyzed are the status of women, scientific progress, technological advances, witchcraft, the arts and entertainment, communism, fascism and naziism. Lecture three hours per week.This course applies to the IAI General Education Core Curriculum Fine Arts and Humanities package.

Students gain an understanding of the origins and growth of America’s cultural and political systems. Topics include the European background to colonization, colonial society, American Revolution, formation of a constitutional government, Jacksonian Democracy, our religious heritage, the diverging socio-economic paths of the American North and South, slavery and the Civil War. This course applies to the IAI General Education Core Curriculum Social/Behavior Science package.

The course emphasis is on the creation of an industrial society emerging into a world power. Students explore the problems of becoming a world power. Topics include Reconstruction, growth of business and labor, immigration and ethnic culture, politics and foreign policy, the World Wars, the Great Depression and civil rights (with special attention to the drive for the rights of women and Blacks). This course applies to the IAI General Education Core Curriculum Social/Behavior Science package.

This course defines popular culture as it is differentiated from folk and elite culture. It identifies the conditions allowing for the growth of popular culture (such as technology and urbanization) and follows the emergence and transformation of examples of popular culture such as literature, music, theatre, movies and television. Popular culture from the colonial era through the end of the 19th Century are briefly covered. More time is allocated for 20th Century developments. Lecture three hours per week.

Students explore the relationship between war and Western Society from the Greeks to the present. This relationship will be addressed by constructing a narrative and an analysis focusing on the evolving relationship among Western Society, armies and technology. Thus, the more traditional aspects of military history such as strategy, tactics, logistics and leadership will be placed in a broad framework. The course also will examine how the experience of warfare has been portrayed by historians, novelists and film makers. Prerequisite: ENG 101.