courses of instruction - Lafayette College

process, organize, and report their find
ings accurately. Through the study of
such issues as historical causation and
the role of the individual in history, stu
dents learn how to make use of the past,
and achieve practical research, writing,
and speaking skills.
Students choose from several sections,
each taught by a specialist in that topic.
Current topics include: Slavery and the
American Civil War; Witchcraft and Evil
Spirits in Europe 1100-1700; the Holo
caust; the Atomic Bomb/Atomic Diplo
macy; the Emergence of the U.S. as a
World Power. Films. Offered in spring
semester (usually one section in fall
semester). [W] Staff
108. Survey of American History to
1877. This course provides an introduc
tion to American political, economic, and
social history in the Colonial, Revolution
ary, Early National, Antebellum, Civil
War, and Reconstruction periods. The
course examines such topics as the causes
of the American Revolution and the Civil
War; industrialization; slavery and the
origins of racism; everyday life in early
America; reform movements; and chang
es in social structure, religion, the envi
ronment, ethnicity, and gender roles.
Offered in fall semester. Ms. Rosen
109. Survey of American History from
the Gilded Age through the 1980s. A sur
vey of recent American history focusing
on political, economic, and social trends
that have affected all aspects of society.
The course examines the capital/labor
clashes of the Gilded Age, the impact of
the Populist and Progressive movements,
the social contradictions of the "Roaring
'20s," the Great Depression of the 1930s,
World War II and its aftermath, Vietnam
and the 1960s, and the nature of post-Wa
tergate America. Lecture/discussion. Of
fered in spring semester. Mr. Jackson
INTERMEDIATE COURSES
Classical Civilization
HISTORY
211. Ancient Greece (Hellenic and Hellen-
nistic Periods). A history of Hellenic civili
zation from the Middle Bronze Age to the
Hellenistic Era, with a focus on its principal
political achievement: the polls (city-state).
Special attention to the achievements and
legacy of the classical Athenian polls in gov
ernment, politics, literature, philosophy,
and art. Study of other Aegean centers of
Greek civilization. Lecture/discussion. Of
fered in spring semester, odd-numbered
years. Mr. Marbkstone
212. Ancient Rome. A history of Roman
culture and society from the founding of
the City of Rome to the Christianization of
the Empire. Emphasis on Romanitas, the
Romans' unique character as expressed in
government and administration, the arts
of war and peace, and in the interaction of
the worlds of philosophy, literature, and
art with the Republic and then with the
imperial despotism. Lecture/discussion.
Offered in spring semester, even-num
bered years. Mr. Marbkstone
213. Ancient Israel. This course explores
Israel from its remotest beginnings among
desert tribes of the ancient near east and
the fulfillment of its national destiny as a
religious commonwealth in Canaan, to its
transfiguration into an exilic people under
the Romans. Emphasis is placed on cul
tural and religious factors that differenti
ated Israel from other near eastern king
doms, especially the Temple at Jerusalem,
the national religious cult, and the role of
the prophets. The legacy of its religious
and moral experience to Western civiliza
tion is also discussed. Mr. Marbkstone
Europe
219. Modern European Society through
Film. Treatment of specific historical is
sues (war and society, modernization)
through a combination of films and histor
ical writings. The emphasis is on historical
method as a way in which to analyze a va-
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