History

Academics at Hanover:

If you love watching movies set in the past, reading historical fiction or re-enacting history at military encampments, you understand history is alive. As a Hanover history major, you’ll study much more than just names and dates.

DEPARTMENT WEBSITE

history.hanover.edu

You may delve into the causes of the Holocaust, the sources of Lincoln’s greatness, the role of technology in war, our roles as members of a family, the triumph of Enlightenment rationalism, the meaning of our Constitution and much more. In other words, you learn to search for an interpretation of the past. At Hanover, as you learn to understand the past, you build the perspective and critical-thinking skills that enable you to succeed in a fast-changing world.

LEARNING IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

A typical history class involves discussing big ideas and doing close analysis of texts, especially primary sources. Outside the classroom, you’ll enjoy:

The History Club, a student organization that sponsors a variety of fun academic and social activities to bring history enthusiasts together, such as film screenings and discussions
The Hanover Historical Review, which publishes original historical research by students
Summer internships with historical groups and societies
Independent research projects under faculty guidance

WHAT DO HISTORY MAJORS STUDY?

History majors work with their advisors to develop a well-balanced program from different areas of the history curriculum. You can choose from a wide array of topics such as:

American military history
Tsarist Russia
Early modern Europe
Greek history
Roman history
The Renaissance
French Revolution and Napoleon
And many more

A sampling of the graduate schools recent history students have entered:

Indiana University (law)
New England Culinary Institute
Morehead State University (history)
Purdue University (sports management)
University of Cincinnati (art history)
University of Sydney, Australia (museum studies)
University of Texas at Austin (history)
Wake Forest University (law)

A sampling of the careers recent history students have entered:

Americorps volunteer
Author
College admissions counselor
Computer technician
Insurance agent
Restaurant manager
Teacher (high school)
Teacher (elementary school)

COURSES

Number

Name

Units

Description

HIS 161 The Modern West 1.00 An examination of the history of modern society, emphasizing that of Western Europe and North America, but also attending to the West’s relationship with the rest of the world. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 162 Modern Politics: East Asia 1.00 Examines the shaping of modern politics and society in East Asia under the influence of Western ideology and as a response to Western imperialism. Topics include the Opium War, the Meiji Restoration and colonialism in both Korea and Vietnam. Also explores the rise of nationalist movements and the search for civil society in modern East Asia. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 167 Speaking of American History 1.00 An introduction to the ways historians understand and interpret the past, focusing on selected topics in American history. Students will examine American oratory and oral history as they develop their own oral communication skills. Partially satisfies the HS CCR. Satisfies the S ACE.

HIS 171 World Civilizations to 1500 1.00 An introductory comparative and thematic global study of non-Western and Western cultures beginning with the birth of civilization in various locations around the globe following the agricultural revolution of the Neolithic Age (ca. 10,000 B.C.E.) and extending to the beginning of the early modern era (ca. 1500 C.E.). Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies W1 ACE.

HIS 172 World Civilizations since 1500 1.00 An examination of the history of the rise of modern societies across the globe as these societies functioned in isolation and in association with one another. Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies W1 ACE.

HIS 173 Africa in World History 1.00 This course offers basic insight into the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the continent of Africa from Antiquity to the present, with particular emphases upon human origins, the Agricultural Revolution, the slave trade, mineral revolution, colonization by European powers, and Africa’s emergence upon the world stage in the 20th and 21st centuries. Partially satisfies the HS CCR. Satisfies the W1 ACE. Satisfies the CP ACE. No prerequisites.

HIS 215 The West: Ancient to Medieval 1.00 By studying European and American history in a global context and encouraging innovative comparative approaches, the three-course “core” sequence is designed to provide students with a broad geographical, cultural and historical context for evaluating and interpreting historical problems and to give a solid foundation for more advanced work not only in history, but also in other disciplines. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 216 The West: Renaissance to 1800 1.00 By studying European and American history in a global context and encouraging innovative comparative approaches, the three-course “core” sequence is designed to provide students with a broad geographical, cultural and historical context for evaluating and interpreting historical problems and to give a solid foundation for more advanced work not only in history, but also in other disciplines. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 217 The West: 1800 to the Present 1.00 By studying European and American history in a global context and encouraging innovative comparative approaches, the three-course “core” sequence is designed to provide students with a broad geographical, cultural and historical context for evaluating and interpreting historical problems and to give a solid foundation for more advanced work not only in history, but also in other disciplines. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 218 Genres of History 1.00 This class examines history as a genre of writing. Students will select, examine and critique examples of written history to ascertain what constitutes good style in historical writing and will write historical essays with an eye towards developing a sense of style. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 219 The History of Human Rights 1.00 This course will survey the theoretical bases and historical and cultural contexts that have accompanied the evolution of thinking about human rights from the sixteenth century to the present day. Partially satisfies HS CCR. No prerequisites.

HIS 223 American Immigration History 1.00 A study of immigration and internal migration (from prehistory to the present) within what is now the United States, examining how different waves of newcomers have interacted with the existing population and how immigration and ethnicity have shaped the American Identity. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 224 Photography and American Life 1.00 A study of the photographs that are a part of ordinary Americans’ everyday lives (from daguerreotypes to selfies), putting those photos in the context of changing technology and national history. Offered alternate Spring Terms. Partially satisfies HS CCR.

HIS 225 The History of the American Midwest 1.00 A survey of America’s heartland from the time of European contact to the present, examining the history of European exploration of the region, European and Native American relations, immigration and settlement, territorial organization and statehood, economic development, and the creation and meaning of Midwestern regional identity. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 226 Abraham Lincoln and American Dream 1.00 A course that uses biography, Abraham Lincoln’s own words, and popular culture to examine the 16th president in historical context – as a product of the cultural and intellectual currents of 19th century American – and in America’s collective memory, as an image and continuing symbol of national values and ideals. Offered alternate Spring Terms. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 229 American Women's History 1.00 A survey of American women’s experiences from the colonial era to the present, giving special attention to the “public sphere” (including politics, the workplace, and the law). Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 230 American Military History 1600-1903 1.00 A survey of the American military history through the conclusion of the Philippines conquest, studying the military campaigns conducted by the Americans during this period. In addition to studying strategy, tactics, and weapons, issues such as the social composition of the armed forces, the influence of new technologies on warfare, the tension between “professional” and “citizen” soldiers, popular attitudes toward war and the military, and the effects of war on American society will be explored. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 231 American Military Hist:1903-Present 1.00 A survey of the American military from 1903 to the present, studying the military campaigns conducted by the Americans during this period. In addition to studying strategy, tactics, and weapons, issues such as the social composition of the armed forces, the influence of new technologies on warfare, the tension between “professional” and “citizen” soldiers, popular attitudes toward war and the military, and the effects of war on American society will be explored. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 232 Studies in American Indian History 1.00 An examination of selected topics in American Indian history, exploring the experience of American Indian peoples in various parts of North American, such as the eastern woodlands or western plains. Issues addressed will include the culture of selected American Indian peoples before contact with Europeans, and their subsequent interactions with European and American settlers. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with the permission of the instructor. Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies W2 and CP ACE.

HIS 234 Studies in American Cult. Hist 1.00 An examination of selected topics in the cultural history of the United States, exploring the ways popular culture, material culture, and everyday life have both reflected and influenced American society. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 236 The Horror Story, 1818-1940 1.00 This course is an exercise in cultural history that examines the early development of the Anglo-American horror story. It will explore how these horror stories reflected the cultural transitions from Romanticism, to Victorianism, to Modernism. The course will also look at the evolution of the horror film in the 1920s and 1930s, tracing the influence of German expressionistic masterpieces on the classic Universal “monster” movies of Depression-era America. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 241 Tsarist Russia 1.00 A survey of Russian history from the earliest times to the emancipation of the serfs in 1861. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 242 The Soviet Union 1.00 A study of the events, developments, and personalities that led to the disintegration of tsarist Russia and the beginnings of a new society which has produced tremendous upheaval, millenarianism, intense hostility, and incredible brutality. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 243 Tudor & Stuart England 1.00 An examination of the economic, social, political, and intellectual history of England during the reigns of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 244 Studies in Early Modern Europe 1.00 An examination of selected problems in the history of early modern Europe. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Offered alternate years during Spring Term. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 248 Britain in the 18th Century 1.00 This course examines the economic, social, political, and cultural history of Great Britain in the “Long 18th Century” – the period following the culmination of the Glorious Revolution (1688) and the end of the end of the Napoleonic Wars (c. 1815). Emphasis will be on the interpretation of primary source documents and will be guided by recent secondary source readings. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 249 Victorian Britain 1.00 This course examines the economic, social, political, and cultural history of Great Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria, roughly 1837 to 1901. Some attention will, of course, be paid the decades immediately before, and to the long-lasting effects of, the history of this period. Emphasis will be on the interpretation of primary source documents and will be guided by recent secondary source readings. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 251 Greek History 1.00 A survey of Greek history from the Aegean Bronze Age to the age of Alexander. Identical to Classics 251. Offered every third year. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 252 Roman History 1.00 A survey of Roman history from the founding of the city to the fall of the Roman Empire. Identical to Classics 252. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 253 Roman Games 1.00 Mass-entertainment by means of blood-sports, in the arena and the circus, was a prominent feature of Roman culture. This course will examine the social, religious, economic and political significance of the Roman games from a historical standpoint, including archaeological remains, artistic renderings and literary sources both pagan and Christian. Discussion will also touch on modern parallels and big-budget Hollywood films. All sources in English translation. Identical to Cla 253. Offered alternate years during Spring Term. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 254 The Crusades 1.00 Students will examine not only the goals and justifications behind the papacy’s and the Crusaders’ attempt to retake Palestine between 1095 and 1291 and the Byzantine, Jewish, and Muslim responses to these efforts, but will also consider later crusades from the 14th through the 16th centuries. Offered in alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies W2 ACE.

HIS 255 History of Modern Gender 1.00 An examination of the creation and historical development of modern gender identities in a Trans-Atlantic context (Europe and America). Course objectives include: familiarization with terms and concepts used by historians of gender; development of an understanding of the nature of gender identities; and discussion of the implications of the historical development of gender for modern Trans-Atlantic culture.

HIS 256 The Vikings 1.00 This course will explore the Vikings and their culture from historical and archaeological, as well as literary, perspectives. Partially satisfies the HS CCR. Satisfies the W2 ACE. No prerequisites.

HIS 264 The World Since 1945 1.00 A survey of events and developments throughout the world from the end of the Second World War to the present. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 265 Studies in World History: 1.00 An examination of selected topics and themes in world history. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 266 History of China 1.00 An introduction to the history of China from ancient times through the modern era. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 267 History of Japan 1.00 An introduction to the history of Japan from the beginning of Japanese civilization through the modern era. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 268 History of Modern Science 1.00 This course examines the major developments in the formation of modern science from the 17th century to the present. It focuses on science as human creative endeavor and examines episodes of scientific discovery, debate, and controversy to generate consideration and discussion of such issues as the nature of scientific discovery and the relationship of scientific theories to their social and cultural contexts. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 269 History of Medicine 1.00 An examination of the evolution and development of medical practices from ancient times through the modern era. The course will focus on medicine as a social and cultural response to disease by comparing and contrasting the medical systems of different cultures at different times. The course will include units on ancient, medieval, early modern, modern, and modern-American medicine.

HIS 312 Doing Genealogy as a Historian 1.00 An exploration of the disciplines of history and genealogy through in-depth research. Students work together to prepare a client’s genealogy, and they do individual research on an American family of their own choosing. Following genealogical sources backward in time, we consider the arguments historians have made about the eras our families experienced. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR.

HIS 325 The Holocaust 1.00 An in-depth examination of the ideological underpinnings, implementation and legacy of the Nazi effort to exterminate every Jew in Europe. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 326 High and Later Middle Ages 1.00 A discussion-oriented seminar exploring the history of Western Europe from the eleventh to the sixteenth centuries through the lenses of political, military, economic, social, legal, religious, and intellectual history. Offered in alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR.

HIS 327 Renaissance and Reformation 1.00 The first half of the semester is devoted to an examination of the complex period of early modern history beginning in the 14th century when Europe was emerging from the Middle Ages as Renaissance humanists, focusing upon an educational agenda focused upon the liberal arts, looked back to the glory of Classical Greece and Rome for their intellectual inspiration. The scrutiny of the northern humanists, in turn, had an important consequence when the unity of the Catholic faith and the political-ecclesiastical domination of the Catholic Church throughout western Europe were first challenged and then shattered, and a multitude of new “Protestant” religious sects, led first by Martin Luther, arose and developed into formal, confessionalized religious sects. Offered in alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR.

HIS 330 History of American Thought 1.00 An examination of selected topics in the intellectual history of the United States, exploring the ways ideas have helped shape the meaning of the American experience. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 333 American Colonial History 1.00 The chronological survey of the European settlement of North America and the development of English colonies with special emphasis on the political, social, economic, and cultural developments. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 334 New American Nation 1750-1815 1.00 The chronological survey of the American Revolution, the War of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, the establishment of the new government, and the presidencies of Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 335 Form a More Perfect Union,1815-1877 1.00 The chronological survey of a critical period in U.S. history that witnessed national expansion and economic development, the rise of mass political parties and a celebration of democratic culture, movements for social reform, dispossession of Native Americans, slavery, sectional crises, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 336 The Search for Order 1877-1945 1.00 The chronological survey of the period when the United States simultaneously became an urban industrial nation and a world power. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 337 Modern America 1945-Present 1.00 The chronological survey of the history of the United States from the onset of the Cold War through its termination, and the profound social changes which marked the nation during those years. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 338 Jazz Age:America in the 1920's 1.00 An examination of an eventful decade that saw the United States emerge from the First World War as the most powerful, prosperous, and culturally influential nation in the world. Attention will be paid to the political, economic, social, and cultural forces that shaped the emergence of modern America during the 1920s. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 348 French Revolution & Napoleon 1.00 An in-depth examination of the turbulent 25-year period that dramatically reshaped concepts of politics, power, and social relations, polarized contemporary European society, and served as a model of change ever since. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 349 Nazi Germany 1.00 A study of the forces and conditions which made it possible for the Hitler movement to seize power in Germany; of the policies pursued on behalf of and in opposition to National Socialism; of the war; and of the movement’s legacies. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 351 Alexander & the Hellenistic World 1.00 Alexander the Great remains one of the most compelling figures in all of history, and after his death the Mediterranean world was never the same again. His successors carved up his vast empire between them, and the new hybrid civilization they created (known as Hellenistic or “Greek-ish”) was still in place more than a century later when the Romans came along. This course is taught as a seminar and will cover a wide range of topics, including warfare, politics, society, culture and always the problem of evidence. No prerequisite, but students are encouraged to contact the instructor in advance. Offered every three years. Identical to Cla 351. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 353 Advanced Topics in Ancient History 1.00 This course offers a thorough and detailed examination of an important topic or problem rom Greco-Roman history. The specific focus of the course may vary, but the goal in each case will be to sift through the ancient evidence for the problem at hand, knowing that this is often highly fragmentary and/or biased in some way, and also to analyze and assess a range of divergent scholarly arguments based on that evidence, so as to arrive at a deeper understanding of the ancient historian’s craft, as well as an understanding of its inherent limitations. This course may be repeated for credit with the permission of the instructor.

HIS 354 The World War 1914-1918 1.00 A survey of the events, ideologies, policies, and legacies of the World War, 1914-1918. Partially satisfies the HS CCR. Satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 355 The Second World War 1.00 A survey of the events, ideologies, policies, and legacies of the Second World War, 1931-1945. Partially satisfies the HS CCR. Satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 358 The British Empire 1.00 An examination of the development, maintenance, and dismantling of the British Empire from the late 18th century to the late 20th century. In addition to learning the narrative of the history of the British Empire, students will examine the reciprocal effects of imperialism on the social, intellectual and political experience of each of the cultures involved, with special emphasis on Britain, India, and the African continent. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 359 Medieval and Renaissance Florence 1.00 An off-campus history course in Florence, Italy, during spring term. Partially satisfies HS CCR.

HIS 361 Genocide 1.00 A survey of historical examples of mass killing through the centuries and an examination of academic, moral, and legal issues in general and in particular. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies the W2 ACE.

HIS 362 Modern China 1.00 An examination of current scholarship on modern and contemporary China, focusing on topics such as the 1911 Revolution, the Communist Revolution, and the Cultural Revolution. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 364 Traditional China 1.00 An examination of social and intellectual changes in ancient China by studying Chinese texts (in translation). Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 365 History of the Middle East 1.00 An introduction and examination of the history of the Middle East from pre-Islamic times to the modern era. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies HS CCR and satisfies CP and W2 ACE.

HIS 366 Studies in Historiography 1.00 An examination of selected topics in the ancient world, emphasizing the history, philosophy, and methods of historical investigation. Content may vary. May be repeated for credit with the permission of the instructor. Offered alternate years. Identical to Cla 366. Partially satisfies the HS CCR.

HIS 367 China and Christianity 1.00 Explores the historical encounter between China and Christianity against the backdrop of the broader contacts between China and the West. Explores the role of Christianity in the political and social changes as well as cultural transformations of late imperial and modern China and looks at how China’s turmoil since the Opium War helped shape an emerging popular Christianity that is becoming a permanent part of the religious and cultural landscape of the country. Offered alternate years. Partially satisfies the HS CCR and satisfies CP ACE.

HIS 372 Historical Research 1.00 A seminar exploring the various fields of study, methods, and professional opportunities available to the student of history. Students will prepare for, and do preliminary work on, potential senior thesis topics. Intended for history majors in their junior year.