HIST 96.27 Great Historians: Classic Works from Herodotus to Du Bois

This course aims to introduce students to the craft of history via an exploration of the writings of some of the most celebrated historians in the Western tradition. The readings, which range from the 6th century BCE through the 19th century, are all canonical and though none is without its shortcomings, each has endured for good reason.  We will spend the course reading these works closely and critically, cultivating both an appreciative sense of what they do well and a critical sense of where they fall short. In the process, we will consider the methods, aims, purposes, and value of history itself.

Degree Requirement Attributes

Dist:SOC; WCult:W

The Timetable of Class Meetings contains the most up-to-date information about a course. It includes not only the meeting time and instructor, but also its official distributive and/or world culture designation. This information supersedes any information you may see elsewhere, to include what may appear in this ORC/Catalog or on a department/program website. Note that course attributes may change term to term therefore those in effect are those (only) during the term in which you enroll in the course.

Department-Specific Course Categories

Class of 2023 and Before Major/Minor Dist: EUR, pre-1800; Class of 2024 and Beyond Major/Minor Dist: EUR, premodern.