Time Schedule:
Daniel Clarke Waugh
HIST 388
Seattle Campus
Introduction to the discipline of history for new or prospective majors. Emphasizes the basic skills of reading, analysis, and communication (both verbal and written) that are central to the historian's craft. Each seminar discusses a different subject or problem.
Class description
PETER THE GREAT
Introductory seminar for new history majors, in which the focus will be issues of historiography and interpretation. While the focus will be the towering person of one of early modern Europe's most important rulers, the more substantial questions concern whether and how we can apply concepts of "modernization," how we can best measure change over time, what is the nature of the primary sources (as opposed to the secondary literature produced by modern historians). Russia in the era of Peter the Great and his immediate successors is an excellent example from which to learn about controversies in historical interpretation and thus the basics of historical method.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
No formal pre-requisites, although it cannot hurt to have had even a survey course covering European History between 1600 and 1800, and/or a survey course on Russia. This is the junior-level methodology course for history majors.
Class assignments and grading
Book reviews, analytical essays, active class discussion, probably some electronic discussion including student critiques of each others' work.
