HIST 353 - Oceans in World History

Between 1450 and 1850, people started to venture farther outward into oceans that had previously been understood as dangerous and hostile environments. This course takes the Age of Sail as a starting point to track changes in human approaches to boundless waters. We will consider two questions in particular: How have oceans functioned as a means of global integration rather than division? How are historians using oceans to further the study of world (versus regional) history? Readings will cover and compare the Atlantic, pacific, and Indian Oceans, and address themes of diaspora, port cities, banditry, trade, and imperial encounters. Every other year. This course fulfills the global/comparative requirement for the history major. Meets the global and/or comparative history requirements, and can count towards “Colonization and Empire,” or “Environment,” or “Global/Comparative” fields. Prerequisite(s): One 100- or 200- level history course or consent of instructor. Every other year. (4 Credits)