HIST 2400 & 2500: Home

Economic History covers the economic activities of human beings from the beginning of early civilization with the Neolithic Revolution to the present day. It focuses on large factors that have influenced economic development over time such as geography, agriculture, demographics, technology, trade, culture, and institutions. Careful consideration is given to the transition from the pre-modern to the modern economic order with the Industrial Revolution of the late eighteenth century, as well as the rise of post-industrial societies in the late twentieth century. In addition to coverage of large, global economic trends over time, Economic History provides an introduction to the ideas of key economic theorists, particularly since the eighteenth century.  
 

Student Learning Outcomes

We will pay special attention to developing the skills that are necessary for the study of history:

• Understand the complex nature of the historical record:
  • Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and decide when to use each
  • Identify key events that define changes over time within the study of western medicine and identify how change occurs over time
  • Recognize a range of viewpoints in historical narratives of disease and caregiving
• Engage in historical inquiry, research, and analysis:
  • Understand the dynamics of change over time.
  •  Explore the complexity of the human experience across time and space.
  •  Distinguish between historical facts and historical interpretations
• Generate significant, open-ended questions about the past and devise research strategies to answer them
  • Seek a variety of sources that provide evidence to support an argument about the past.
  • Develop a methodological practice of gathering, sifting, analyzing, ordering, synthesizing, and interpreting evidence
  • Evaluate a variety of historical sources for their credibility, position, significance, and perspective.

Course Content Objectives

During this course, students will:

• Understand key developments in pre-modern economies, especially in agriculture, labor systems, technology, and trade.
• Explain changes to the global economy during the early modern (1450-1750) period.
• Give reasons for the Industrial Revolution, the Second Industrial Revolution, and the Great Divergence
• Understand the broad impact of the Industrial Revolution on society, government, business, and the environment
• Understand the key economic changes of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century, particularly the impact of the world wars, technological changes, and the increase in global trade.
• Explain the ideas of important economic theorists, including the Classical Economists, Keynesianism, and the Austrian School
• Learn to read and analyze primary sources in economic history, especially sources from economic theorists such as Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, Joseph Schumpeter, and Friedrich Hayek.

Course Modules

• Module 1: The Pre-Modern Economy
• Module 2: The Transition to the Modern Economy
• Module 3: The Industrial Revolution Goes Global
• Module 4: From World Wars to Post-War
• Module 5: Globalization since 1945
• Module 6: Recent Developments

OER Materials

• Video Lectures (with transcripts and guided viewing materials)
• Primary Sources
• Discussion Questions
• Test Bank Request Form

This course examines the interactions between disease, healers, and patients in historical context. Questions we will investigate include: How has disease influenced human history? How have humans influenced the history of disease? How have people perceived, experienced, and coped with disease? The main geographical and chronological focus will be on Western Civilization since 1300, but we will begin with an overview of medicine and disease in the ancient and medieval periods. We will examine advances in the understanding and treatment of disease, the evolution of healing as a profession, and the impact of major epidemics.

There are many reasons for studying history.  Its practice develops skills in reading, writing, and argument – skills that are essential for success in virtually any profession.  It also acquaints students with geographic features and place names that remain relevant in today’s world.  But perhaps the overarching reason for studying history is this: studying the past helps us understand the present.  The present is simply the current moment of that process we call “history,” and the present world is truly global.

Student Learning Outcomes

We will pay special attention to developing the skills that are necessary for the study of history:

• Understand the complex nature of the historical record:
  • Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and decide when to use each
  • Identify key events that define changes over time within the study of western medicine and identify how change occurs over time
  • Recognize a range of viewpoints in historical narratives of disease and caregiving
• Engage in historical inquiry, research, and analysis:
  • Understand the dynamics of change over time.
  •  Explore the complexity of the human experience across time and space.
  •  Distinguish between historical facts and historical interpretations
• Generate significant, open-ended questions about the past and devise research strategies to answer them
  • Seek a variety of sources that provide evidence to support an argument about the past.
  • Develop a methodological practice of gathering, sifting, analyzing, ordering, synthesizing, and interpreting evidence
  • Evaluate a variety of historical sources for their credibility, position, significance, and perspective.

Course Content Objectives

During this course, students will:

• Explore the origins of western medicine
• Evaluate current controversies in medicine and their historical origins
• Analyze the role of medicine and medical narratives in history
• Study medicine and medical caregiving in the west
• Engage with historical thinking skills and develop a practice of thinking historically: 
  • Historical Empathy
  • Chronological Thinking
  • Inquiry-Based Learning
  • Primary Source Analysis
  • Evidence-Based Argumentation

Course Modules

• Module 1: Disease & Globalization
• Module 2: Disease & Global Trade
• Module 3: Disease & the Atlantic World
• Module 4: Disease & the Challenges of Industrialization
• Module 5: Disease & New Imperialism
• Module 6: Disease & the Age of Global Strife
• Module 7: Disease & New 10th-Century Ethical Concerns
• Module 8: Disease & the Politics of Modern Medicine

OER Materials

• Video Lectures (with transcripts and guided viewing materials)
• Primary Sources
• Discussion Questions
• Test Bank Request Form