Research Seminar (395-0-22)

Topic

Finding People Lost in History

Instructors

Edward Wallace Muir Jr
847/491-3653
Harris Hall - Room 244

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L05: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

In recent years historians have developed a new technique called microhistory for capturing the lives of the people who have been lost to history—peasants, heretics, poor women, gays, and con-conformists of all sorts. These were the people who because of their low social status, rural origins, illiteracy, or unpopular beliefs were ignored, despised, or persecuted by the dominant society. Microhistory is a method of investigation that usually relies on the evidence from judicial trials of otherwise obscure people who found themselves in trouble with the authorities. The method gives a voice to those who otherwise left no written record of their lives. The result of the studies has been a remarkable re-evaluation of the experiences and beliefs of the common people.

Learning Objectives

Learn the research techniques of microhistory and apply them to an independent research project.

Evaluation Method

Discussion, short essays, and research paper

Class Notes

Concentration: Americas, European

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Freshmen may not register for this course.