HIST 405 - Disaster! Environmental and Social Crises in World History

Institution:

Saint Francis University

Subject:

History

Description:

Historian Lynn White has suggested that Saint Francis was himself one of the first environmentalists in Western civilization; this course builds on that legacy. This course studies human susceptibility to disasters throughout history. Students will emerge with factual knowledge and analytical skills that may help them make the world a better place. The course will focus on the ways in which colonialism and its consequences have affected social relationships and reactions to disasters, including floods, droughts, earthquakes, epidemics, and famines, throughout the world. We will explore the very concept of "dependence" and "developing regions" using theories from the social sciences. This course incorporates global history and an interdisciplinary approach in order to encourage students to think critically about the past and present. We will think about specific context as well as global trends. We will work on CHALLENGING OUR ASSUMPTIONS. Categories - like "first world" and "third world," or "developed and developing," that we assume to be fixed, universal, and absolute are often actually mutable and culturally relative. Students are expected to utilize and improve upon their critical thinking skills in this course. Students will engage in research using primary (first-hand accounts) and secondary (written by historians) sources. Students will study the unique history of the Johnstown floods, and the floods continuing ramifications today. We will work with a local non-profit group to help make this history more available to the public. Spring, even-numbered years.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.francis.edu

Phone Number:

(814) 472-3000

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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