Course Offerings, Spring 2012

Hist 3071: Louisiana (T Th 1:30 – 3:00)
A general survey of Louisiana’s history from the earliest days of European colonization to the present.  Although the primary focus is on events that took place within the boundaries of the colony, territory, and state, we will also cover material intended to help students understand Louisiana’s past and present in terms of relevant regional, national, and international events and contexts.  Within those broad parameters, students will be required to develop an accurate mental timeline of important events, eras, and developments in the state’s history.  Drawing on reading assignments and lecture materials, students will also be asked to develop and express historically informed opinions about the significance of the state’s history in three exams.  Prof. Alecia Long.

Hist 3117, Section 1 (T 3:00-6:00)
Missionaries in World History: Non-European Encounters with Christianity Since 1500: The seminar will focus on comparing how different non-European cultures have responded to Christian missionaries. Under what circumstances have they resisted? Converted? More importantly, how did they assimilate elements of Christianity into their own cultures? In addition to doing common readings, each student will pick a non-European area of the world and report on two books pertaining to that area. There will also be an 8-10 page research paper on a topic from your area, which you will also present to the class. We top it off with a take-home final. Interested students should e-mail hylind@lsu.edu or call 578-4490.  Prof. David Lindenfeld.

Hist 3119, Section 1: The Civil Rights Movement in History and Memory (W 1:00 – 4:00)
This is a National Spring Break "Study Abroad" program. This course explores the history of the Civil Rights Movement in the twentieth century. Beginning with the origins of Jim Crow, students enrolled in this course will learn about the emergence of local, regional, and national protest movements that attempted – both successfully and unsuccessfully – to challenge the legal, institutional, and cultural racism of the United States. Throughout the semester, students will work on an independent research project utilizing digital archives. Various course assignments are designed to support students in this endeavor. Students also will consider how the Civil Rights Movement is remembered and memorialized today. To take this learning experience out of the classroom, students enrolled in this course will participate in a six-day roadtrip, visiting sites where major events of the Civil Rights Movement took place, and museums and memorials dedicated to participants and events. Scheduled stops include the King Center in Atlanta, the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, and much more! To apply, students should contact Professor Lewis (cflewis@lsu.edu, 231B Himes Hall, 578-2671) for permission to register for 3119:1 and the study abroad form. The expected cost of this program is $900, which includes transportation, museum and site admissions, hotels, meals, and guest speaker fees. Prof. Carolyn Lewis.

Hist 3119, Section 3: History of Sex in the United States (T Th 10:30-12:00)
Students in this course will be introduced to the burgeoning scholarship on the history of sexuality in the United States.  Although there are many subfields within this history, we will focus on books and articles that explore the connections among sexuality, gender, and social equality (or its lack) in different periods of U.S. History.  Students will be required to read several books and articles, take two exams, and do an oral presentation.  Students will also engage in a service-learning activity by doing an oral history interview with a  Louisiana woman.  Questions may be directed to Prof. Long at  aplong@lsu.edu.  Prof. Alecia Long.

Hist 4004: Rome of the Caesars  (T Th 12:00-1:30)
From the death throes of the Republic and the assassination of Julius Caesar to the Golden Age of Augustus, the Principate of the early dynasties, the military monarchy and the rise of Christianity, leading to the New Rome of Constantine.  Political and military developments provide the framework, but due attention is given to Roman society and culture; Roman relations with other peoples (allies and subject peoples, but also Rome's external enemies); Latin literature; the absorption of the Greek world, and the changing shape of the Imperial City itself.  Two midterms and a final exam;  two five-page research papers (or one paper and a class project); moderate reading load (mainly selections from ancient historiographers and imperial biographies).  One or two film presentations. Prof. Steven Ross.

Hist 4012: History of Modern Christian Thought (T Th. 10:30 - 12:00)
REL 4012 focuses on the development of major ideas in modern Christian thought between 1750 and 1900, tracing themes like reason and revelation, faith and doubt, religion and ethics, historical thinking, and sources of authority. It will examine the writing of thinkers like Hume, Kant, Schleiermacher, Hegel, Marx, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and others. This is a reading-intensive and writing-intensive course, and assignments will include two essay exams, a term paper, and class presentations. Crosslisted with Religion 4012. Prof. M. Yadlapati.

History 4017: 20th Century Europe  (M W F 1:30 - 2:30) 
A survey of European history from 1900 to the present, with particular attention paid to intellectual, cultural, and political developments. Course requirements include a variety of readings, the viewing of a number of films, five short papers, and a final exam. Participation in class discussions counts toward the final grade. Prof. Meredith Veldman.

Hist 4022: France Since 1770  (T Th 9:00-10:30)
This course covers the principal political, social, economic, and intellectual developments in France during the last two and a half centuries.  Special emphasis is on two topics:  how the government evolved from absolute monarchy to republic, with interruptions for constitutional monarchy and empire, and how the  French people experienced the social and economic changes resulting from this political upheaval.  Required reading:  four books; required testing:  midterm examination and final examination. Prof. Benjamin Martin. 

Hist 4032: The Balkans, 1879-Present (M W F 10:30-11:30)
This course will trace the social, political, and economic developments of the Balkans and the influence of international developments upon them from 1878 to the present.  The modern Balkan states to be considered are Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Slovenia, Turkey, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo.  The reading will consist of seven books which will provide insights into Balkan culture and attitudes.  There will be two papers based on the reading, a mid-term, and a final examination. Prof. Karl Roider.

Hist 4043: Tudor England  (M W F 12:30-1:30)
This course focuses on the political, religious, social and cultural history of England during the reign of the Tudor dynasty from 1485-1603. Among the most important of English monarchs, the Tudors (among whom were Henry VIII, 'Bloody' Mary, and Elizabeth I) presided over the creation of a new style of monarchy, a new Protestant church, and a new colonial Empire. Course requirements include a midterm exam, research paper, final exam, and active participation in class discussion. Prof. Victor Stater.

Hist 4050: British Colonialism in South Asia (T Th 10:30-12:00)
The contemporary historiography of Britain acknowledges the pivotal place of British colonial rule in  South Asia for the political, economic and cultural development of the metropole as well as the Indian Ocean region.  By focusing on the period between the founding of the East India Company in 1600 to the end of British imperial rule in 1947, this course provides a focused consideration of Britain’s colonial experience in South Asia, emphasizing cross-cultural exchange and development during this important period in British history. Prof. Reza Pirbhai.

Hist 4055: The Civil War (T Th 10:30-12:00)
The history of the American Civil War (1861-1865), in the context of the era of North/South sectional conflict (1830-1877).  Discussion of political, economic, cultural, and racial issues as well as military campaigns.  Essay examinations include both lectures and assigned readings. Prof. Charles Royster.

Hist 4065: History of Contemporary America  (M W F 8:30-9:30)
The history of America since 1945, focusing on domestic events, but not excluding foreign policy crises with significant domestic repercussions.  This course makes particular use of appropriate aural and visual resources:  radio, film, television, internet.  The course includes careful coverage of the recent past, and one assignment may be done using on-line sources exclusively.  Prof. David Culbert.

Hist 4071: The Antebellum South (T Th 9:00 - 10:30)
 This course covers the history of the American South from the colonial period to 1861. Topics that receive particular attention include: slavery from its beginnings to the mature institution, with treatment of origins, the slave world, and the master-slave relationship; the nature of the southern economy; the white social order; the southern mind; political history from the Revolution to the breakup of the Union, emphasizing the connection between the South and the nation. Prof. William Cooper.

Hist 4079: Women in American History (M W 9:30-11:00)
This course explores the history of women in America from the colonial period to the present day. We will read primary sources, scholarly articles, and monographs that examine how women have experienced, shaped, and understood life in the American colonies and the United States. In doing so, we will do more than identify women’s contributions to the political, economic, social, cultural, intellectual, and military history of this country. Rather, we will look at this history through women’s eyes, interrogating how gender, sex, and sexuality, as well as such factors as race, ethnicity, class, or region, shaped the lives and experiences of women living in the American colonies and the United States. Students enrolled in this course will write several short essays, as well as a midterm and final exam. Prof. Carolyn Lewis.

History 4085: Modern West Africa (T Th 10:30-12:00)
History 4085 is a survey course on the historical evolution of West African societies from the nineteeenth century to the present. It examines the broad outlines of the historical developments of the subregion during that period and will look at such major themes as the rise of Islamic orthodoxy and the resultant jihads of the nineteenth century, the trans-Saharan and South Atlantic trade systems and the evolving relations between the peoples of West Africa and the imperial nations of Europe. Other issues, such as urbanization, environment and disease, class structures and socioeconomic inequities, inter alia, will be covered as well. Prof. Gibril Cole. 

History 4091: China to 1600 (M W F 11:30-12:30)
 This course presents a survey of approximately three thousand years of Chinese history, from the dawn of Chinese civilization around 1500 B.C. to about A.D. 1500, the eve of the modern Western intrusion. The class will focus on political and cultural history, and the course will devote some attention to such aspects of Chinese civilization as archeology, language, philosophy, literature, religion, and art. There is no specific course prerequisite for enrolling in this course. Prof. John Henderson.

History 4093: Pre-modern Japan (M W F 9:30-10:30)
Political and cultural history and civilization from the beginnings to the close of the Japanese middle ages. Prof. John Henderson. 

Hist 4096: The Modern Middle East (T Th 1:30-3:00)
Major problems of the Middle East and North Africa in the modern period; internal Arab social, economic, and intellectual developments; Muslim responses to European colonialism; modern Arab nationalism and political trends; Islamic reformist and revivalist movements; problem of Palestine. Crosslisted with INTL 4096 and REL 4096. Prof. Reza Pirbhai. 

Hist 4112: The Enlightenment  (T Th 1:30-3:00)
This course offers an inter-disciplinary overview of the ideas and cultural worlds of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe.  We will give extensive attention to the Enlightenment, the French Revolution (and reaction to it), the Romantic movement, and Realism.  Course readings are extensive and range from philosophy to economics, from political treatises to literary masterpieces; readings on this semester’s syllabus include works by Locke, Rousseau, Balzac, and Nietzsche.  Students will be expected to come to lectures, to write two papers on the readings, and to take a midterm and final exam. Prof. Suzanne Marchand.

Hist 4130: The Second World War (T Th 12:00-1:30)
Global crisis of the 1930s; Axis and Allied strategies; major military campaigns; great power diplomacy; homefront mobilization; the Holocaust; espionage and resistance; relationship between American Strategic Culture and war-fighting; reasons for Germany's defeat; global consequences.  Cross listed with MILS 4130. Prof. Stanley Hilton. 

Hist 4195: Contemporary China, 1949 to Today (T Th 12:00-1:30)
In 1949, Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China (PRC), initiating three decades of Communist rule that was to take China through dramatic social and economic upheavals, including the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Today, more than 35 years after the death of Mao in 1976, China is experimenting with new forms of social and economic organization under the banner of “Communism with Chinese characteristics.” As the economic interests increasingly outweigh ideological differences in the global marketplace, the PRC is in the process of creating a "China" and a "Chinese" identity that is as much about capitalism, flashy karaoke discos, and flaunting its international muscle as it is about the revival of traditional social and religious rituals.
Requirements
Three quizzes: 10% each (total of 30%)
Midterm: 30%
Final: 30%
Class participation: 10%

Hist 4196: Pre-modern Sport (T Th 12:00 – 1:30)
This course explores sport, spectacle and entertainment primarily in the ancient Roman and Medieval periods.  Topics will include participatory sport, spectator sport, team sport, athletes, gladiators, martyrs, circus performers, actors, tournaments, animals, and the emergence of ball sports.  We will look at the creation of special venues such as the theater, the amphitheater, hippodrome, arena and circus, as well as the transformation of civic space into a place for spectator sport in medieval cities and towns. We will explore the role of entertainment and spectacle in the politics, society and culture of the Premodern world. There will be papers required, an oral presentation, two written exams and discussions. Prof. Maribel Dietz.

Hist 4197, section 1: History of the Acadians (Cajuns) in Louisiana  (M 6:00-9:00 p.m.)
This course begins in 1603 with the creation of the Company of Acadia by King Henry IV of France and the founding of the colony of Acadia in what is today the Maritime Provinces of Canada in 1604. We will study the development of the colony in the 17^th and 18^th Centuries and the creation of a people called Acadians. Special attention will be given to Le Grand Derangement (The Great Upheaval) and Le Grand Rassemblement (The Great Reunion), and how, why, and when the Acadians reached Louisiana and their evolution into the Cajuns of today.  Dr. W. Arceneaux.

Hist 4197, section 3: Scandals in American History (T Th 12:00-1:30)
This class explores the historical meaning of political scandal in the United States. We will begin with Benedict Arnold (the first “American” traitor) and end with the Abu Ghraib scandal. Scandals contribute to the ongoing debate over what is dangerous to American democracy, invoking (at times, exaggerating, even distorting) palpable fears of deceit and secrecy, sexual disorder, racial impurity, social violence, tyranny and anarchy. Political scandals are more than an entertaining sideshow to the normal activities of democratic governance. By creating a public and national forum, they shape the shifting norms of state power and constitutional authority, moral expectations of presidential leadership, and the language of nationhood. Required Reading: Books (and some additional articles from JSTOR): John Marszalek, The Petticoat Affair (2000); Michael Les Benedict, The Impeachment and Trial of Andrew Johnson (1973); Eric Rauchway, Murdering McKinley (2003); James Madison, A Lynching in the Heartland (2001); Keith W. Olsen, Watergate: The Presidential Scandal that Shook America (2003).  Prof. Nancy Isenberg.

Graduate Courses

History 7909:  Research Seminar in European History (W 3:00-6:00) 
 Prof. Suzanne Marchand.

Hist 7922: Seminar in European History to 1650 (Th 3:00 - 6:00)  Prof. Maribel Dietz.

Hist 7930:  Reading Seminar in British History (Day and time TBA)
 Prof. Victor Stater.

Hist 7952: Reading Seminar in American History from 1815 (T 3:00 - 6:00)
 Prof. William Cooper.

Hist 7957: Research Seminar in American History (W 3:00 - 6:00) Prof. Charles Shindo.

Hist 7959:  Constitutional Controversies in American History (Th 3:00 - 6:00)
This class will examine a series of constitutional issues in American history. We will cover a number of significant topics: the evolving legal definition of citizenship; early meanings of the Second Amendment; the first efforts to end capital punishment; President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment; Mormon polygamy and religious freedom; coerced sterilization; Nazi saboteurs and military tribunals; civil rights and the Warren court; and the ERA. Students are expected to write three papers and participate actively in class discussion.

Required Reading (and a few articles from JSTOR):

James Kettner, The Development of Citizenship, 1608-1870 (Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 2005).
Saul Cornell, A Well Regulated Militia: The Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008).
Louis P. Masur, The Rites of Execution: Capital Punishment and the Transformation of American Culture, 1776-1865 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1991).
Michael Les Benedict, The Impeachment Trial of Andrew Johnson (New York: W. W. Norton, 1999).
Sarah Barringer Gordon, The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth Century America (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2001).
Mark A. Largent, Breeding Contempt: The History of Coerced Sterilization in the United States (New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press, 2011).
Louis Fisher, Nazi Saboteurs on Trial: A Military Tribunal and American Law, 2d ed., abridged and updated, Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2005.
Jane J. Mansbridge, Why We Lost the ERA (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986).  Prof. Nancy Isenberg.

Hist 7970: History, Memory, Space (Th 3:00-6:00)
This graduate world-history seminar will explore issues of memory and space in historical context, touching on topics such as remembering and interpreting the past, the dynamic of transnational memories, the heritage of traumatic memories from the Holocaust to the Chinese Cultural Revolution, historical amnesia and political nostalgia, and the deployment of national or transnational memories in support of ad hoc political agendas.  In the final two or three weeks students will present and discuss in class their research papers.
            This seminar should be of interest to students in history, literature, anthropology, and mass communication. Students will be encouraged to write papers in their area of specialization. Prof. Margherita Zanasi.