HIST 111 - Making Modern Europe

Curious about Brexit? Or the colonial origins of European racism? Ever wondered “why the French don’t like headscarves”? Have you asked yourself what it might have been like to live on a continent divided by an Iron Curtain? Do you want to know more about the origins of Europe’s migrant “crisis”? In this history-of-the-present course, you’ll learn how to do historical detective work to better understand the world we live in today. Instead of a traditional European history survey with exams and lots of dates to memorize, think of this as “un-survey” course where the goal is to challenge and re-think traditional narratives about Europe’s past. We’ll focus on asking questions, delving into historical sources, and making arguments. We will devote ample class time to developing research and writing skills and we will work together to support each other as a community of scholars and fellow humans. This course fulfills the “post-1800” requirement for the history major. It counts towards the “Europe” geographic field and the “Colonization and Empire,” “Gender,” and “Race and Indigeneity” thematic fields. Alternate fall semesters. (4 Credits)