History
History 101 - Western Societies from Antiquity to the Present
This subject presents a broad introduction to the study of history and the context of Western history. It examines several approaches to historical inquiry and examples of the ways in which those approaches have been put into practice. The periods, people and themes studied include Ancient Greece, Alexander the Great, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and Marxism. Each of these topics introduces students to new themes in Western history and new methodologies in historical inquiry.History 102 - The Ancient World: From the Birth of Greek Rationalism to the Crisis of the Roman Republic
This course explores the roots of Western civilization in the ancient Greco- Roman world, from the so-called Age of Revolution in the seventh century BC to the reign of Constantine the Great in the fourth century AD. Along the way, students will examine the works of Plato, Aristotle, Lucretius, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Augustine, and Eusebius. In the company of these authors, students will acquaint themselves with the religious, political and philosophical trends at various times in Hellenistic and Roman history. Emphasis will be placed on the fusion and tension between these trends and Christian culture, especially in Imperial Rome. Students will also have the opportunity to study the development of various aspects of Greco-Roman culture, including theatre.
History 203 - The Early Church and the Roman Empire: From the Principate of Augustus to the Reign of Justinian
This subject explores the rise of the early Christian Church from the Principate of Augustus to the reign of the emperor Justinian. It will first examine the question of the origins of Christianity and its relation with the Judaism of the Second Temple and then the emergence of the early Christian communities in the empire following the death of Jesus, the changing nature of the persecutions against Christians, along with the structuring and organisation of the Christian institution of the Church, its triumphant recognition by Constantine, its internal fight against heresy, and the formulation and formalisation of dogmas and rituals through the work of the apologists, the early Church Fathers and the various Councils.
History 201 - Europe During the Middle Ages: 600-1300
This subject presents a survey of the formative era of Christendom, covering the rise of Christian culture after the fall of Rome until the end of the thirteenth century. More specifically, students will study how and why the Carolingian Empire rose to prominence during the eighth century, the issues at stake for the European monarchies and the Church during the investiture conflict of the twelfth century, and the philosophical, religious, and technological expansion of Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Special attention will be given to the historiographical debates regarding the ways in which we characterise and describe the events of the Middle Ages.
History 301 - War, Science and Religion in the XX Century
The dialogue between faith and reason since the XVIII century has been marked by moments of convergence and divergence among theologians and scientists. In the XX century the debates grew into a polemics which intensified as the pace of technological and scientific development gained momentum, leading to a hiatus between the two spheres whereby religion came to be regarded as the antithesis of science. The XX century represents the culmination of that process of ‘secularisation’ of the European mind which began in the intellectual milieu of the Renaissance and later the Enlightenment. This subject focuses on the examination of the dramatic events which marked European history from the XVIII to the XX century, along with the cultural ferment and social changes which characterised the period. The fallacy and inherent contradictions of secularism are examined on the backdrop of the events of the time.
History 302 - Australian Politics, Culture and Religion since 1788
The subject will focus primarily on the historical interaction between politics, culture and religion in Australian History since 1788. It will examine the historiographical debates regarding the nature of Australian history. Topics will include the relationship between the first European settlers in Australia and the indigenous population; the arrival of European immigrants/settlers to Australian shores; the contribution of leading political, religious and intellectual figures to Australian nation- and state-building; the contribution of Australia to the major world conflicts and events and their effects on Australian politics and society; multiculturalism and the problem of Australian national identity.
HIS303: Humanists and Reformers
This course explores the period in Western European history known as the Renaissance, from the middle of the fourteenth century to the middle of the eighteenth century. It will focus mainly on the literary and intellectual achievements of this period, especially during the Italian humanist movement, the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and the early Enlightenment. It presents a history of early modern times emphasising the philosophical, political and theological issues discussed amongst some of Europe’s best-known writers, including Machiavelli, Erasmus, Calvin, Kepler, Descartes, Newton and Voltaire.HIS304: Western Civilisation from the Enlightenment to the Age of Imperialism
At the end of the seventeenth century and beginning of the eighteenth century, many philosophers in Britain and France considered the advancements in science and society of the previous era. They argued that such advancements were the beginnings of great social and political change based on notions of human liberty and progress. Such ideals were used in the publication of dictionaries, encyclopaedias, political tracts, historical works, novels, and a variety of scientific treatises. All these writings were intended to promote human knowledge and assist social advancements. The aggressive ideology of these philosophers, as well as the perceived demise of traditional institutions, including Christianity, also led to social and political revolutions in France and North America. In the nineteenth century, such changes continued to manifest themselves in religious and political conflict, including the emergence of various scientific views, as well as competing nations and empires. This subject asks students to consider these events and to examine critically the writings of Locke, Hume, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Condorcet, Smith, Paine, and others, as well as several secondary sources related to the so-called Age of Reason.
History Major
Completion of eight History units constitutes a major.