History Courses: 2012-2013
HISTORY 1. The Ancient World. Fall. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A2345, B1235, or E1345. History 1 is a one semester survey of the peoples, societies, and cultures of the ancient world that serve as the foundation of world civilization. The goal of the course is to investigate and examine the societies, cultures, and traditions of the ancient peoples of the Near East. More specifically, this course focuses on the choices that different peoples made to organize and maintain their premodern societies. This course will also feature an extensive, step-by-step research process, resulting in a significant paper, in lieu of a final examination.
HISTORY 2. Topics in World History: Middle East. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A2345 or B1235. History 2 is a one-semester survey of the history of the Middle East. The goal of this class is to provide students the necessary skills and knowledge so they can understand and make critical judgments about events in the region. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this course will explore the geography of the region; the development of Islam, Judaism and Christianity and their importance in today’s world; the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire; the creation of independent states in the region following World War I; the Arab-Israeli Conflict; the Persian Gulf Wars; and contemporary issues. Debates, simulations, primary sources and historical films will be used.
HISTORY 3. Topics in World History: China. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A2345 or E1345. History 3 is a one-semester course that introduces students to the history of China. This course will cover the period from the early dynasties and the rise of Imperial China through the encounters with the West and the revolutions and civil wars of the twentieth century, and conclude with an examination of present day challenges facing China, particularly its role as a political and economic power in the world. In addition to the social, political, and economic components of Chinese historical development, students will be introduced to the philosophies and religions of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism (and its roots in Hinduism) as well as “Marxist-Leninist-Maoist Thought.” The course will use primary and secondary materials as well as film.
HISTORY 4. Topics in World History: West Africa. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A2345 or B1235. The History of West Africa is a one-semester course that explores the history of West Africa from the earliest hunter-gatherers to the present day. Using primary and secondary sources, as well as African literature, students will examine the internal development within West Africa and the centuries of contact between West Africans and outsiders. Key units include the rise of sub-Saharan empires, the impact of Islam and international trade (including the Mid-Atlantic Slave Trade) on West Africa, the reading of Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the impact of European colonialism, and the prospects for West Africa in the 21st Century.
HISTORY 5. Topics in World History: South America. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block E1345. History 5 will study the political, socio-cultural, and economic developments of the South American continent. Particular attention will be given to the nation of Brazil, which developed quite differently from the Spanish speaking nations on the continent. The course will begin with the study of indigenous peoples on the South American continent, most notably the Inca and Tupi-Guarani. Students will then investigate the colonial period, the system of forced labor and African slavery, the patriotic revolutions of the 1800s, and immigration. The course concludes with a study of 20th century South America, particularly the conflict between authoritarian and democratic rule, the influence of foreign ideologies (such as socialism and fascism), and the region’s attempts to enter the global economy. In this course, students will develop geography skills, craft written responses to essential questions, and learn through a variety of media including audio, digital film, and internet resources.
HISTORY 7. Early Modern European History. Fall. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A1345L1, D2345L4, or E1235L2. History 7 is a one-semester survey course that focuses on European history from the Renaissance through the French Revolution (c. 1400 – 1795 CE). While the course incorporates a wide range of topics, there is an emphasis on the political, intellectual, and cultural issues that shaped the western world. Specific attention is paid to learning how to read and interpret primary source materials. Students will also work on writing effective paragraphs and essays, according to the tenets of the sophomore writing workshop. Students may also participate in a variety of activities such as debates, simulations, trials of historical figures, and historical films. Students who wish to take the Advanced Placement Examination in European History should enroll in this course and attend the Exam Preparation Workshop offered by the Department during the spring semester.
HISTORY 8. Modern European History. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block A1345L1, D2345L4, or E1235L2. This course is required for all members of Class III. History 8 is a one-semester survey course that focuses on European history from the rise of Napoleon to the formation of the European Union (1795 – 2004 CE). Its main focus is to continue to develop the skills of analysis and synthesis, through examination of primary sources, the writing of essays, and the presentation of ideas in class discussions. This course also features a formal research assignment. Students intending to take the Advanced Placement Examination in European History should complete Early Modern European History and participate in the workshop offered by the Department during the spring semester.
HISTORY 10. United States History. Year. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block B1235H1, C1235G3, or F1345G2. This yearlong course covers the study of the United States from 1763 CE, with the end of the French and Indian War, to the present day. It utilizes both primary and secondary documents to illuminate those trends and events which have contributed most significantly to the formation of the American character and to the institutions and ideals with which we deal today. Strong emphasis is placed upon the development of the skills of research and writing necessary for the pursuit of the discipline of history.
HISTORY 11. Advanced Placement United States History. Year. Mr. Risley. 5 meetings weekly. Block BH2 or FG2. Prerequisite: Grade of 87 or better in History 8 and Permission of the Department. This course covers the same topics as History 10, but with a more varied and in depth approach to the historiography. This reading intensive course is intended for highly motivated students of history and emphasizes a blend of content mastery with the development of extemporaneous expository writing skills. The course relies on seminar discussion and student-centered activities and will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination in United States History in early May.
HISTORY 21. History of the Persian Gulf Region. Fall. Mr. Proctor. 4 meetings weekly. Block G13H23. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. An examination of topics in the history of the Middle East with particular emphasis on the states in and related to the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. Topics will include the foundation and evolution of Islam, the special relationship of the United States with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel, the two American wars with Iraq, Iran’s desire to be a nuclear power, the continued role of Al Qaeda, and the ongoing American war in Afghanistan. A variety of historical, visual, literary and film sources will be utilized including Lawrence of Arabia, Persepolis, Osama, and Hurt Locker. THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE OFFERED IN 2012-2013.
HISTORY 24. Historical Fiction: The Era of George Washington. Fall. Mr. Risley. 4 meetings weekly. Block TBA. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. This course is designed to understand and practice the historical methodology that goes into the writing of historical fiction. Students will choose a period from George Washington’s life and work throughout the semester to create a chapter of historical fiction through the blend of historical research and creative storytelling. The readings will consist of one lengthy piece of historical fiction that falls within the era of George Washington. The remainder of the workload will consist of research and writing with focus on plot, setting, character development and relationships within the historical context, and all of the relevant details that will enhance writing.
HISTORY 25. Afro-American History. Fall. Mr. Whitlock. 4 meetings weekly. Block B1235. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. This course will explore the African-American experience from the seventeenth to the late twentieth centuries. Using primary, secondary and cinematic sources, students will hear the stories, explore the cultures and delve into the causes and effects of slavery in Colonial America, and explore the black presence in the Era of the American Revolution. Students will learn about the complex interplay of freedom and restriction in the Antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction periods. Modern African-American History focuses on the struggle to dismantle segregation against the forces of resistance through the World War periods, culminating in the advances of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Students will deepen their understanding of the complexities of color, class, and race in United States History.
HISTORY 26. Holocaust Studies. Fall. Mr. Harrison. 4 meetings weekly. Evening films will occasionally replace one class meeting during a week. Block D1235. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. This course explores the history of the Jewish Holocaust in Nazi Germany. Students in the course will study the complex moral and political issues presented during the era through reading, film, primary sources and other approaches. The readings for the course include Deborah Dwork’s Voices and Views: A History of the Holocaust and a reader that includes excerpts of the leading historical monographs dealing with the Holocaust, primary documents, and eyewitness accounts of events. Films include Europa Europa, Triumph of the Will, The Long Way Home, Schindler’s List, The Pianist and excerpts from The Sorrow and The Pity, Shoah, The Reader, and Auschwitz. A major part of the course assessment is each student’s nightly journal. Students’ involvement in discussion and willingness to share their ideas and reactions to the course material are vital to the success of the class. THIS COURSE WILL NOT BE OFFERED IN 2012-2013.
HISTORY 29. From Zero to Hero . . . or Villain? Interpretations of the Life and Times of Napoleon Bonaparte. Weston High School. Fall. 2 extended meetings weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Open to members of Class I and II. Limited to 3 students. Prerequisite: Completion of Modern European History and concurrent enrollment in United States History. This course must be taken on a PASS/FAIL basis. Did you ever wonder why France sold the Louisiana territory to the United States? Or why France gave up on its profitable Haitian colony? The answer to these historically puzzling questions lies in the master plan of one man: Napoleon Bonaparte. Emperor at 35, Napoleon rose through the ranks during the chaotic French Revolution to become one of the most highly regarded and highly reviled leaders in history. Using a wide variety of primary and secondary sources, our journey will tackle the history and historiography of the "Age of Napoleon" as a world event.
This one semester course will begin with an examination of Europe in the late 18th century and chronicle Napoleon’s circumstantial rise to power. It will continue to trace the transformations that took Europe and the world by storm when Napoleon crowned himself emperor and waged war on enemies and allies alike. We will examine the reforms Napoleon implemented in his vast empire, his fall from power, and the mystery surrounding his death. Following that, we will undertake a historiographical investigation of the uncertain legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte. Was he a hero or a villain?
HISTORY 30. Current World Issues. Spring. The Department. 4 meetings weekly. Block C1235. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. This course will encourage and assist students in developing and refining their own positions regarding current world issues. Students will be asked to read a daily paper, write letters to the editor, and prepare an Independent Research Topic (IRT). IRTs will promote students gaining expertise in an area of their choice and take the course in varied directions. The teacher and the student will work out appropriate means of assessment for each IRT, which could include an essay, lecture, public presentation, film, or other visual art. In addition to reading, students will be asked to listen to the radio, watch television news programs, and view a number of documentary films.
HISTORY 33. War and Reconciliation. Spring. Mr. Hitzrot. 4 meetings weekly. Block F1235. Distributional credit in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. In his provocative 2002 book, the war correspondent Chris Hedges asserted that “war is a force that gives us meaning.” This course will investigate that assertion, based on case studies of human conflict throughout history, from the sacred texts of the ancient Hebrews to contemporary conflicts in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The course will also examine ways that societies have recovered from war through various methods of reconciliation. Course materials will be drawn from primary source texts, book-length secondary sources, and films. Students will write essays in response to the course readings and in response to issues that arise from class discussion.
