Department of History

Courses

Listed here are all regular courses offered by the department, excluding special topics. Important: these descriptions are unofficial and are provided for convenience of reference. For the official description, including prerequisites, semester taught, etc., consult the current course catalog at http://registrar.boisestate.edu/Catalogs.htm . For courses being offered in the current semester, consult the Class Schedules at http://registrar.boisestate.edu/classschedules.htm. The courses taught by individual faculty members are listed on that faculty member's departmental home page.

Distance/Online

Get more information on Distance and Online courses.

HIST # Course Title Description
101 History of Western Civilization A political, economic and cultural survey of western civilization from the earliest settled communities of the ancient Near East in the fourth millenium B.C. up through the cultural renaissance and religious reformation of western Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries of the Christian era.
102 History of Western Civilization A political, economic and cultural survey of western civilization from the end of the religious wars of the seventeenth century up through the worldwide expansion of western culture in the twentieth century of the modern era.
111 United States History History of American civilization from Pre-Columbian days to 1877 with emphasis given to the development of the Union and expansion.
112 United States History A survey of the significant factors influencing American development from the Civil War to the present, including the growth of American business and the emergence of the nation to a world power.
111 United States History History of American civilization from pre-Columbian days to 1877, with emphasis given to the development of the Union and expansion.
112 United States History A survey of the significant factors influencing American development from the Civil War to the present, including the growth of American business and the emergence of the nation to a world power.
121 Eastern Civilizations A topical and chronological historical survey of China and Japan. The course will introduce the philosophies, religions, cultures, and social patterns of China and Japan. Western intrusion (missionaries, trading companies, military personnel) into Asia, and the Asians' reactions to the West are included in this class. Other areas of Asia, including India, Korea, and Southeast Asia will be integrated into the class lectures and reading assignments.
201 Problems in Western Civilization A study of selected historiographical problems the researcher encounters when interpreting the history of western civilization from ancient Near Eastern to early modern European times.
202 Problems in Western Civilization A study of selected historiographical problems the researcher encounters when interpreting the history of western civilization from early modern European times through the modern twentieth century.
211 Problems in U.S. History Selected problems from colonial times through reconstruction following the Civil War.
212 Problems in U.S. History Selected problems from the rise of industrialism after the Civil War to the present.
251 History of Multicultural America An examination of America's multicultural history, with emphasis on how race and ethnicity have shaped American experience and identity.
291 Introduction to the Study of History An introduction to the study of history for liberal arts students, exploring the nature of the discipline, and dealing with practical problems of historical research and writing, including the applications of various methodological approaches ot the analysis of data.
293 Internship Subject varies. For details and contact information, see the Programs page.
301 Ancient Greece A study of the ancient Greek world from the Minoan sea empire of the second millenium to the empire of Alexander the Great in the late fourth century B.C. Political, economic, and cultural history are emphasized with special attention given to the outstanding achievements of the Greeks in political and philosophical thought, epic and dramatic poetry, historical writing, and visual arts.
302 Ancient Rome A survey of Rome from its earliest beginnings under Etruscan tutelage through its late imperial phase in the fifth century of the Christian era. Emphasis is on political and military developments, social and religious changes, outstanding personalities, and literary, legal, and artistic achievements.
303 Early Christianity A study of the rise and development of Christianity from its Jewish and Greek origins in the first century through its establishment and elaboration as the state religion of the late Roman empire in the fifth century. Doctrinal, ethical, organizational, liturgical, and aesthetic developments within the Christian movement, and the political, social, and cultural roles of the Church within the late empire are analyzed through the media of early Christian and contemporary pagan writings and artistic remains.
304 The Byzantine Empire A survey of the history and culture of the Byzantine Empire from the foundation of Constantinople by the Christian emperor Constantine in A.D. 330 to the final conquest of the empire by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. Provides a detailed study of the eastern Greek Orthodox imperial successor civilization ot the ancient Roman empire, and its role in converting and civilizing the peoples of eastern Europe and Anatolia in the middle ages.
305 Medieval Europe A survey of the political, religious, economic, and cultural development of Western Europe from the fourth to the fourteenth century. Special emphasis given to the Constantinian revolution, the rise and elaboration of monasticism, the Carolingian empire, fedualism and chivalry, the Gregorian papacy, and th eoutstanding cultural achievements of the twelfth century renaissance.
306 Popular Religion and Culture in Europe, 800-1600 A study of how ordinary people in turbulent eras in European history bound themselves together for protection, community, and salvation through religious and social customs rich in ritual, symbolism, and tradition.
308 The Age of Renaissance and Reformation The connections between and the consequences of the Renaissance, the development of reformed religions, and the ideological clashes among Protestants and Catholics in European history between 1350 and 1650 are examined.
309 The Old Regime and the French Revolution Cultural, economic and social history of Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, focusing upon continuity and change in the daily life of peasants, causes of discontent, and French Revolution as a defining moment in European history.
311 History of Ireland The development of the concept of an Irish nationality, the effects of the long colonial relationship between Ireland and Great Britian, the struggle for Irish indpendence, the contemporary Ulster issue.
312 History of England to the Glorious Revolution Survey of the major cultural, political, economic, and religious developments in England from the beginning to 1688.
313 History of England in Modern Times Survey of the political, cultural and religious history of England and the United Kingdom from the late seventeenth to the early twenty-first century.
314 Modern France since 1815 Exploring the different ways in which the French people grappled with their revolutionary heritage and attempted to put "Liberty, Fraternity, Equality" into action.
315 Modern Germany Germany from 1800 through the present, including the emergence of German nationalism, debates over what the German nation should mean, and the different "Germanys" that have existed over the past two centuries.
317 The History of the Habsburg Monarch, 1526-1918 The Habsburg monarchy dominated the lands of Central and Eastern Europe from the sixteenth century to the end of the First World War. This course will examine the reasons for its long survival as well as the sources of its collapse.
318 The History of the Balkans since 1453 History of the southeast European region since 1453, evaluating Ottoman rule in the Balkan peninsula, the collapse of Ottoman authority, and the rise of the independent nation-states of Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania, Greece, and Romania.
319 Eastern Europe since the Second World War Examines the history of Eastern Europe since the Second World War. The war itself, the communist takeover in Eastern Europe, and the overthrow of communist regimes will be the focus of the course.
320 History of Tsarist Russia A survey of the political, economic, social and cultural history of Russia under the tsars from the late medieval period to the end of World War I.
321 History of Modern Russia A survey of the political, economic, social and cultural history of Russia from the early twentieth century to the present, focusing upon its leadership of the Communist Soviet Union for seven decades, and its fate in the post Cold War era.
322 Saints and Sinners: Women in Christianity An exploration of female participation in the Christian faith as lay persons, nuns, scholars, saints, missionaries and social activists, and Church attitudes toward women from antiquity to the present. Crosslisted with GENDER 480.
323 The History of Marriage and Family in Europe A study of the institution of the family in Europe from medieval to modern times, including the topics of sexuality and contraception, marriage and family structures, childbirth and the raising of children.
324 The History of Women in Early Modern and Modern Europe An exloration of the evolving roles of European women as seen in the writings of contemporary women authors and in the analyses of modern social historians, examing the roles women created for themselves and the roles forced upon them by social norms.
325 History of Socialism Survey of European egalitarian ideas and movements. Emphasis given to nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
331 European Exploration of North America North American exploration from the pre-Columbian era through the late 19th century: imperial rivalries, economic interests, technological advances, the development of "modern" science, government-assisted expedeitions, and the modern legacies of these processes are studied.
332 Colonial America The colonizing activities of Spain, France, and England in North America, and how the different political, social, economic and cultural policies of each resulted in different legacies throughout modern America. Special attention is given to the American Revolutionary War.
333 The National Era, 1815-1848 The development of American nationalism, the Era of Good Feelings, the emergence of Jacksonian democracy, Manifest Destiny, the beginnings of sectional rivalry, and the Mexican War.
334 Civil War and Reconstruction A study of the origins of the conflict between the states, the encounter, and the problems of reunification.
335 The Gilded Age A study of United States history from 1877 to 1917, with emphasis upon industrial and concomitant social developments, emergence as a world power, and national responses to these changes, culminating with the Progressive Movement and Woodrow Wilson's "New Freedom."
336 Recent United States, 1917 to Present Versailles and post-war disillusionment, boom and bust of the 1920s, the Great Depression and FDR's New Deal, reappearance on the world scene, World War II and its aftermath.
337 United States Constitutional History A study of the origins, writing, and development of the American constitution with emphasis on the role of the Supreme Court.
338 Diplomatic History of the United States Development of diplomacy from the foundation of the republic to the present with emphasis on the emergence and continuance of the United States as a world power, and the impact of domestic developments upon the formulation of foreign policies.
341 The Indian in United States History The history of Native Americans, and the development of U.S. Indian policy from colonial antecedents to modern times with selected tribal histories are covered. Special attention is given to a comparison of U.S. and Canadian policies.
342 Western America The frontier as a region in transition from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast, but largely the settlement and development of the trans-Mississippi West.
343 Idaho and the Pacific Northwest Political, economic, and social development of the Pacific northwest with emphasis on the people, customs, and institutions of Idaho.
346 Women in America from the Colonial Era to the Present A survey of the changing roles, experiences and contributions of women to American history from the seventeenth century to the present. Emphasis on race, class and ethnicity. Designed to introduce the student to some of the major issues in women's history and to understand how changes in women's lives are related to other changes in American history.
347 America in the 1960s Background, causes, character and impact of the "Sixties Era" on the United States and its citizens, focusing on the political, social and cultural movement of the era, the war in Vietnam, and debates over "freedom."
348 American Religious History Relations between religion and American culture from the colonial period to the present time, examining how politics, war, economics, gender, sexuality, and modernization have affected it.
351 Natural Environment in U.S. History Examines various historical issues concerning American history and the natural world. Issues include cultural values related to philosophical and religious perspectives on the meaning of nature, the landscape's function in economic development, and forces that produced government policy. Considers the American environment as a vital facet of national identity.
361 Colonial Latin America A study of the development of distinctive Latin American societies through the fusion of late medieval Iberian with American and African cultures in Middle and South America, with emphasis upon the creation of colonial institutions in the context of Spain's and Portugal's imperial rise and decline and the early nineteenth century wars of independence.
362 Modern Latin America An examination of Latin America in the aftermath of the wars of independence and the struggles for political and economic stability during the nineteenth century. Particular emphasis is placed upon twentieth century socioeconomic change and the role of the United States in that process.
363 History of Mexico An examination of cultural, social, political and economic factors affecting the historical development of Mexico from pre-conquest times to the present, with emphasis upon the conquest era, the revolution, and post-revolutionary periods.
366 History of Modern Africa History of the African continent from 1750 to the present with emphasis on the sub-Saharan regions, including the slave trade, its abolition, the pre-colonial eras, independence movements, and the emergence of the African state. Mediterranean, black, and white African states will be included.
368 The Islamic Middle East A history of the people, institutions, and culture of the Near and Middle East from Muhammad to the decline of the Ottoman and Safavid empires in the eighteenth century.
369 The Modern Middle East A history of the Near and Middle East during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the breakdown of cosmopolitan Islam, and the rise of Turkish, Iranian, Arab and Israeli nationalism.
371 History of Modern South Asia The Mughal empire, its decline; the rise of British power, its social, political and economic impact; South Asian reaction to British rule; the rise of nationalism and independence; and Indian and Pakistani history since 1947.
372 The History of Modern Southeast Asia Examines Southeast Asian history from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present. The profound outside influences and the strength of the Southeast Asian indigenous world views are explored throughout the course.
373 The History of Twentieth Century China China's transition from the Qing Dynasty (1912) to the Nationalist Period (1928-1949) will introduce twentieth century China. The emphasis in this course will be on post World War II China and on China's growth in the post-Mao Zedong era.
374 Critical Issues in Modern Asian History Examines how the historic rural/urban relations, gender issues, and interregional trade and conflict throughout Asia have changed since World War II.
375 Living Religions A comparative analysis of the major active religious traditions of the world, treating their historical development, philosophical foundations, and social and political ramifications, especially in modern times, with emphasis on Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, and Christianity.
380 Colloquium in European History Intensive studies of a particular period, topic or problem in European history. Reading and discussion format. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
381 Colloquium in U.S. History Intensive studies of a particular period, topic or problem in American history. Reading and discussion format. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
382 Colloquium in Regional History Intensive studies of a particular period, topic or problem in regional history. Reading and discussion format. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
417 United States Economic History Major factors in the economic growth and development of the United States from colonial times to the present. Particular emphasis is given to the interaction of economic factors and other aspects of America.
480 Seminar in European History Critical analysis of course materials and historical literature on a topic of restricted scope in European history. Preparation and presentation of research papers. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
481 Seminar in American History Critical analysis of course materials and historical literature on a topic of restricted scope in American history. Preparation and presentation of research papers. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
482 Seminar in Regional History Critical analysis of course materials and historical literature on a topic of restricted scope in regional history. Preparation and presentation of research papers. Consult current class schedule for specific selections offered each term.
493 Internship Subject varies. For details and contact information, see the Programs page.
498 History Seminar Subject varies
Classical Languages
Latin 211 Elementary Classical Latin An intensive introduction to the basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of classical Latin with emphasis on comprehension of the nominal declension and verban conjugation forms of the language; and a survey of Roman republican literature with illustrative reading passages excerpted from the ancient authors.
Latin 212 Advanced Classical Latin Second semester of the intensive introduction to the study of classical Latin with emphasis on comprehension of the advanced grammatical forms and syntactical patterns of the language; and a survey of Roman imperial literature with translations and analyses of extended historical and literary texts from the ancient authors.
Latin 323 Early Church Latin Literature Translation and analysis of selections from the major writings of the Latin Fathers of the early Church, such as Tertullian, Cyprian, Lactantius, Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine.
Latin 324 Medieval Latin Literature Translation and analysis of selections from significant medieval Latin writers, such as the papal biographers, Egeria, Gregory of Tours, the Venerable Bede, Einhard, Pope Gregory VII, Fulcher of Chartres, Abelard, and Jacques de Vitry.
Latin 491 Advanced Latin Tutorial Translation and analysis of classical texts from authors of the "Golden Age of Latin Literature," such as Cicero, Caesar, Vergil, and Livy. Survey of materials and methods of teaching Latin in secondary schools.
Latin 492 Advanced Latin Tutorial Translation and analysis of Christian texts from the Constantinian Era, such as imperial biographies, laws, letters, and creeds. Survey of materials and methods of teaching Latin in secondary schools.