History

This course traces the seventeenth-century global conflict between the Dutch and the Portuguese. We’ll examine how myth and chance spurred diverse people to action—and how the once-neglected colony helped save the Kingdom of Portugal.

American Revolution naval operations involved the British Navy, Continental and State Navies, Privateers, and French Navy. The course will cover blockades, commerce raiding, amphibious, and fleet actions.

Explore the life of seventeenthcentury naturalist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian, her groundbreaking studies of insect life in Surinam, and the evolving recognition of her scientific illustrations over time.

The twentieth century is often referred to as the century of genocide. This course will examine the predominant themes of genocides through case studies of Armenia, Cambodia, Bosnia, and Rwanda.

Examine major events, decisions, and consequences of the early War on Terror through an informed historical lens.

Continue the discussion with later developments of the War on Terror and the evolving global and domestic impacts.

More than five centuries ago, Marco Polo’s adventures sparked the imagination of Christopher Columbus to the point where he used the printed tale to aid his own maritime quest. Printed traveler accounts have served as guidebooks, entertainment, and rationales for exploration and conquest, and as rich sources for understanding the past.

Besides the official services provided by the founders of the United States, there is the rest of the story that allows us to see them as individuals. We'll explore the lesser-known personal stories, relationships, and challenges of America's Founding Fathers.

This course explores the Trans-Mississippi Department, which encompassed the Confederate states of Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and western Louisiana, along with the Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma).

This second installment of What’s for Sale? A Commercial History of the Modern World explores how the trade in steel, oil, coffee, and more drove local, regional, and global encounter and exchange.

This course explores the Holocaust through the experiences of women as victims, perpetrators, rescuers, and resistors. Participants will examine how Nazi ideology shaped expectations of women and how gender influenced women’s lives during this period.