History Course Descriptions

HIST 101 The Foundations of European Civilization to 1648. (3)
An introduction to the foundations of European Civilization, beginning with the early civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia, followed by a survey of the history of ancient Greece and Rome, the rise of Christianity, the transmission of this heritage to Europe, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Reformation.

HIST 102 Introduction to European Civilization from 1648 to the Present. (3)
A survey of the rise of European civilization from the end of the Thirty Years' War to the present.

HIST 201, 202 History of the United States from Discovery to the Present. (3 each)
A general survey of the United States from the era of discovery to the present, emphasizing major political, economic, social, and intellectual developments. 201: Discovery through Reconstruction. 202: Reconstruction to the present.

The Following Courses Require Sophomore Standing or Above or Permission of the Instructor.

HIST 300 The Philosophy and Methodology of History. (3)
(Writing Intensive) A seminar which examines, with the help of examples from historical writers of all ages, the value underlying historical study and the methods used by historians. F.

HIST 302 The Middle Ages (500-1250). (3)
A study of the causes and course of the split of the Roman world into Western European, Eastern Orthodox and Islamic culture, followed by a discussion of the civilization of the High Middle Ages and the problems of cultural change in the late medieval period.

HIST 303 Renaissance and Reformation (1250-1648). (3)
A consideration of the decline of the medieval world and the dawn of modern civilization as exemplified by the emergence of the modern state, the Renaissance, the Reformation, the New Science, the Age of Exploration and the secularization of society.

HIST 304 The Enlightenment: Europe (1648-1789). (3)
A survey of the main currents of European thought, cultural development, and politics between the Thirty Years’ War and the French Revolution.

HIST 307 European History (1848-1914). (3)
A study of the main currents of European thought, from the Revolutions of 1848 to the rise of industrial power, imperialism, diplomatic realignment, nationalism, and the road to World War I.

HIST 308 World War I and the Twenty Years’ Truce. (3)
An inquiry into the causes and conduct of the First World War; the peace settlement of 1919-1923; the rise of totalitarianism and the struggle of the European democracies; the road to the Second World War.

HIST 313 The History of Russia to 1855. (3)
An introduction to the civilization of the Russian and Slavic peoples. The historical traditions and culture of the people who occupied the Russian plains from the eighth century A.D. to the mid 19th century.

HIST 314 The History of Modern Russia and the Soviet Union Since 1855. (3)
The decline of Imperial Russia, the Revolution of 1917, and the development of the Soviet Union.

HIST 316 Roman Republic and Empire. (3) (= Classical Studies 316)
An examination of the political history of the Roman state, from its foundation by the legendary Romulus to its destruction by barbarian invaders. Special emphasis upon the failure of Republican government and the disappearance of personal freedom as one family of unparalleled ability and wealth fights for victory in a bloody civil war. Imperialism, militarism, bureaucratization and the advent of Christianity highlighted. Colorful personalities, such as those of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, examined in some detail.

HIST 317 Comparative Revolutions. (3) (Writing Intensive) (= Politics 317)
(Prereq: sophomore standing) Case studies of the classic revolutions (English, American, French, and Russian) and analyses of these and other revolutions as political phenomena. Attention will be given to the political philosophy of revolution.

HIST 320 Introduction to Latin America Civilization. (3) (= Politics 320) A broadly based study of life in Central and South America that will include a preliminary study of the historical and geographical dimensions of the area, lifestyles and folkways, politics and political movements, and economic conditions.

HIST 321 State and Society in Modern Latin America. (3) (= Politics 321)
A survey of the social, economic, cultural, and political development of Latin American states from the achievement of independence (the early national period) to the present time, employing case studies to illustrate the connection between the Latin American experience and that of the world of developing nations at large.

HIST 326 History of Germany Since 1870. (3)
A critical study of the creation of the German Empire, Bismarck, Wilhelmian Germany, the First World War, the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, the Second World War, and the fate of German speaking peoples since then.

HIST 327 Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union: 1918 to the Present. (3)
History of the new East European states and the Soviet Union from the end of World War I to the present. Emphasis on their domestic and foreign problems during the interwar period, the Russian expansion and domination of Eastern Europe since 1945, the establishment of the "People's Democratic Republics" in Poland, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Albania, and the revolutionary upheavals in the 1980's leading to the fall and collapse of the Communist system and ideology in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union.

HIST 333 Modern France: 1715 to the Present. (3)
A political and social history of the French nation from the end of Louis XIV's reign, and the Revolutions of 1789 and 1792, to modern-day France.

HIST 337 The History of Britain: 1714 to the Present. (3)
The social, intellectual, economic, and political history of the British Isles from the beginning of the Hanoverian dynasty, through the Age of Victoria, the decline of the Empire, the catastrophe of two world wars, to the present time.

HIST 345 Intellectual History of Early Modern Europe. (3)
"Great books" from the High Middle Ages to the Romantic era, set within the broader social, economic, and political context. Topics include scholasticism, humanism, Renaissance Platonism, Reformation and Counter-Reformation theology, skepticism, the new science, British empiricism, the Enlightenment, and the Romantic reaction.

HIST 348 History of Japan. (3)
A survey of the origins and the Tokugawa period followed by a more thorough treatment of Japan’s rise to world power, World War II, and socioeconomic and political developments since then.

HIST 349 History of China. (3)
The historical foundations of the social, political and cultural evolution of China followed by a more detailed treatment of the 19th and 20th centuries.

HIST 366 Comparative New World Empires. (3)
A topical study of the colonial empires of the Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English in the New World from 1492 to the mid-1700's. Emphasis is placed on the cultural interactions between Europeans and natives, the growth of creole societies, and the development of political and economic institutions, including slavery.

HIST 367 Colonial America. (3)
An examination of the history of the American colonies from their beginnings through their evolution into mature provincial societies. Emphasis is placed on the interactions among colonists, native Americans, and African slaves, as well as the development of distinctive regions.

HIST 368 The Frontier in U.S. History. (3)
A thorough examination of America’s westward expansion and the impact of a frontier on the social, political, and economic development of the United States. Included will be a study of frontier life, myths, and legends.

HIST 369 Native American History. (3)
A detailed examination of North American Indian cultures and history from early colonization to the present including Indian wars, federal Indian policy, and the contemporary ethnocentric movement.

HIST 370 Revolutionary America. (3)
Study of the American Revolution era: the social and political causes of the rebellion, the war, the turbulent decade of the 1780's and the ratification of the Constitution. Emphasis is placed on the political debates of the period and the lives of ordinary Americans during these times.

HIST 371 Civil War and Reconstruction. (3)
Analysis of major problems of American history from the sectional conflict over slavery and secession through the war years and the reconstruction of the nation.

HIST 372 U.S. History 1876-1917. (3)
From the end of the Reconstruction to the First World War; Industrialization, Imperialism, and Reform.

HIST 373 U.S. History 1917-1945. (3)
Political, economic, social and cultural development during World War I, the “Roaring Twenties,” the Depression, and the Second World War. F.

HIST 374 U.S. History 1945 to the Present. (3)
A study of the political, economic, social, and cultural development of the United States since the end of World War II, the “Cold War,” and the global confrontation between the United States and the communist world.

HIST 376, 377 The Foreign Policy of the United States. (3 each semester) (377=Politics 341)
First semester: From the establishment of the foundations in the Colonial Period and Revolution to the background of World War I. Second semester: From World War I to the present.

HIST 383 History of the Colony and State of South Carolina. (3)
A study of South Carolina’s origins and development and a survey of recent South Carolina history with emphasis on social and institutional development.

HIST 384 History of Horry and Georgetown Counties. (3)
Insights into regional and local developments since the settlement of this area.

HIST 386 History of American Women. (3)
The social, political and economic roles and changing status of women in America.

HIST 387 Black Americans. (3)
A survey of the historical development of black people in the Western Hemisphere.

HIST 388 Hollywood’s America (3)
An examination of selected topics in American political, social and cultural history through the medium of Hollywood-produced films. Topics may include the filmed presentation of World War II, gender and race issues, Cold War American culture, and “American Memory” through film.

HIST 389 The New South. (3)
(Writing Intensive) (Prereq: sophomore standing) The Bourbon era, agrarian revolt, industrial revolution, racial problems, and the changes resulting from the impact of the Depression, New Deal, and two world wars.

HIST 399 Independent Study. (1-6)
(Prereq: Written contract between student and instructor, approved by the Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Fine Arts). May be repeated for credit under different topics.

HIST 492, 493, 494, Topics in History. (3 each semester) Reading and research on selected historical subjects. May be repeated for credit under different topics.

HIST 495 Internship in History. (3)
(Prereq: Permission of Chair required) Open to senior history majors with a minimum 3.00 GPA and subject to availability. The supervised internship requires 120 hours of on-site employment, a journal, and a term paper. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with practical training and experience in history-related work and introduce them to local and regional employers in fields of applied history.

HIST 496 Topics in Latin American Politics and Culture. (3) (=Politics 496)
A topical approach to Latin America employing a variety of teaching materials and techniques. Among the topics treated are women and race, recent and contemporary themes in Latin American civilization, political institutions and ideology.

HIST 499 Senior Thesis. (3)
A course designed to introduce the student to the principles of historical research and writing . History majors may apply during their junior year through the department chair. Only selected seniors will be admitted. Primary criteria are an outstanding academic record and a genuine interest in graduate school.