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Fall, 2009 Courses
History 114. China: Origins to 1600This class offers an interdisciplinary approach to Chinese history up through the Ming Dynasty and fulfills general education requirements in history (HS) and global diversity (G). Topics will include archaelogical and mythical origin stories, ancient philosophy, literature, gender, political and economic change, material culture, and historical methodology. Assignments will provide opportunities to learn and demonstrate empirical knowledge, analytical thought, writing skills, creativity, cultural awareness, and historical empathy. No prior exposure to Chinese history is assumed. My goals in teaching this class are for you: 1) to be inspired to see the world a bit differently after exposure to Chinese history and philosophy; 2) to recognize the perils of romanticizing or demonizing other cultures (in this case, premodern China); 3) to question how we think about "China" by realizing the diverse cultures that comprise it and the way it has changed over time; 4) to gain an understanding of the different ways historical knowledge is produced and the different purposes to which it is put; and 5) to experience the joy of engaging your creative and analytical abilities in the study of history. I am currently revising the syllabus for this class. Here is the syllabus from the last time I taught the class.
History 593W. Whimsical Subjects, Serious History (Junior-Year Writing Seminar)
Historians often produce their most engaging work when they use little subjects that tickle their fancy as windows onto larger historical themes. What does the search for Bigfoot tell us about environmental consciousness in the late twentieth century? How can a study of basketball fans illuminate the rise of individualism in 1990s China? What can we learn about working-class values from a sympathetic exploration of drinking establishments in nineteenth-century Worcester? We will spend the beginning of the semester reading scholarly articles on such subjects and discussing their effectiveness in conveying new understandings about history. Students will then choose a subject of personal interest to them and use it as a window onto the history of a specific time and place. Draft syllabus -- I reserve the right to make changes.