History of Antisemitism and the Holocaust
This course examines Antisemitism as a central phenomenon of Western history. We will study its theological origins in the conflict between Judaism, the Jesus Movement, and the early Church, follow its development through the Middle Ages, examine its secularized forms during the modern period, and conclude with a discussion of contemporary Antisemitism, including that of the Islamic world. The Nazi destruction of European Jewry, a central focus of the course, will be examined within the context of modern German history and as a culmination of the long history of Antisemitism.
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The Great Historians
This intensive seminar will examine various styles of historical interpretation through the work of key historians such as Marc Bloch, E. P. Thompson, Natalie Zemon Davis, and Carlo Ginzburg, among others. It is designed to provide a general trajectory of twentieth century historiography and to further develop our analytical, interpretive, and discursive skills.
Europe since 1945
This course surveys European societies from WWII to the European Union of today. Our main purpose is to understand the historical development of western and eastern Europe over the last seventy years. In particular, we will examine the causes and repercussions of WWII, the development of the Cold War, the European Union, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the transatlantic divide between Europe and America.
Explaining Hitler
In this course we will examine Adolf Hitler from a number of scholarly perspectives. Since 1945, historians, philosophers, psychiatrists, and theologians have all tried to explain Hitler's Weltanschauung. Filmmakers, artists, and writers too have tried to understand the man and the storm of destruction he unleashed upon the world. We will study scholarly, artistic, and popular interpretations of Adolf Hitler in our attempt to account for his deadly ideology: National Socialism.
Recent European History
This course will allow students to discuss the work of major historians who study the twentieth century. We will focus on the two world wars, National Socialism and its destruction of European Jewry, the rise and fall of European communism, the challenges facing contemporary European multiculturalism, and the development of European Islam.
Historiography and Historical Method
This course is an introduction to historiography (the history of history) and historical writing. It is designed to introduce students to the discipline of history and to the various styles of historical interpretation.
The Twentieth Century World
This course will examine the history of a variety of social and economic processes including industrialization, imperialism, nationalism, war and genocide, totalitarianism, globalization, environmental destruction, and terrorism.