New Lectures in History (300-0-26)
Topic
Nomads in World History
Instructors
Jonathan Brack
Meeting Info
Harris Hall L06: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
In contrast to prevailing stereotypes of nomads as improvised, marginal wanderers or their romanticized depiction as exemplifying a simpler way of life, pastoral nomadic societies had a decisive role in shaping global history. From the late second millennium BCE to the eighteenth century CE, pastoral nomads emerged, often from the fringes of Eurasian civilizations, and wielding substantial military force influenced sedentary states, empires, and societies, from China to the Middle East and Europe. Beyond their military prowess, however, they also functioned as cultural agents. Sedentary people - Chinese, European, Muslim or others - portrayed them as violent intruders negatively impacting their cultures; yet nomads also facilitated and directed the exchange of goods, people, animals, religions, ideas, and technologies across civilizational boundaries, and maintained a relationship of interdependence with their settled neighbors. This course offers a comparative perspective on the role nomadic societies had in world history, spanning the early nomadic empire of the Xiongnu in nowadays Mongolia, Chinggis Khan's universal empire, the Berber Arabs of North Africa, and the Turkish armies in Asia Minor. We will explore how modern historians navigate the paucity of sources about nomads and the polities they established, and untangle narratives predominantly crafted by members of the sedentary societies.
Learning Objectives
Students will become familiar with key themes related to history of nomads on the global, and the relevant primary sources their study. • They will develop skills of historical analysis using secondary and primary sources including texts, images, objects, maps, and more. This includes the ability the evaluate accounts in their historical context and assessing current scholarly discussions and debates in the field. Students will learn how to use historical comparisons as a tool for understanding wider patterns and questions. • Appreciate the impact of nomads on world history; acquire perspective on present pastoral nomadic communities; learn to consider broader historical social contexts and structures. • We will work on our transferable skillset: critical thinking and reading, argumentation and debate, and structured, evidence supported writing.
Evaluation Method
Attendance and active participation (10%), Quiz (10%), Weekly Responses (10%) Short essays X2 (40%) Final essay exam (30%)
Class Notes
Concentrations: Asia/Middle East, Africa Middle East
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area