Biomedicine and World History (379-0-20)
Instructors
Helen Louise Tilley
847/467-3014
Harris Hall - Room 335
Helen Tilley studies African colonial and postcolonial history with a particular focus on medical, racial, environmental, and anthropological themes. She is finishing a book on the history of traditional medicine and its relationship to African decolonization, global governance, and ethnoscientific research during the Cold War.
Meeting Info
Harris Hall 107: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
This lecture course uses the Covid-19 pandemic as a point of departure to study the history of global health and biomedicine in comparative terms. We will break up the quarter into four segments during which we will consider: 1) how and why infectious diseases "unified" the globe and with what effects; 2) the role of empires, industries, war, and revolutions in spreading biomedical ideas, experts, and tools around the world; 3) the functions played by transnational and global health institutions in setting medical priorities and sustaining health norms across continents; and 4) the growth of clinical trials, the pharmaceutical industry, and narcotics trade. Because the world around us has been radically altered by SARS-coV-2, you will have an opportunity to place in historical context this pandemic's roots and its ongoing cycles. You will also be given a chance to apply insights from the readings - about histories of racial segregation, reproductive politics, militarization, and police powers - to this pandemic. Lectures and readings cover all world regions: Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Learning Objectives
To understand diseases as active agents in human history. To analyze how political, economic, legal, and social systems intersect with medical history. To explain how global phenomena have taken root in different parts of the world. To refine historical reasoning about the origins and impact of multifaceted and transnational issues.
Evaluation Method
To understand diseases as active agents in human history. To analyze how political, economic, legal, and social systems intersect with medical history. To explain how global phenomena have taken root in different parts of the world. To refine historical reasoning about the origins and impact of multifaceted and transnational issues.
Class Materials (Required)
All the assigned readings will be uploaded on Canvas
Class Notes
History Area(s) of Concentration: GLOBAL
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area
SDG Good Health and Well-being
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Students who have previously taken History 300-0 Section 47, Biomedicine and World History, in Spring 2013 are not allowed to take this course.
Associated Classes
DIS - University Library 5322: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - University Library 5322: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Library 5322: Thurs 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - University Library 4722: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Library 4722: Thurs 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - University Library 4722: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - University Library 5722: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Library 4770: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - University Library 4722: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - NO DATA: NO DATA