New Lectures in History (300-0-22)
Topic
Khans, Communists, and Oligarchs
Instructors
Jeff Eden
847/491-7448
Meeting Info
University Hall 121: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
The Graveyard of Empires. The Crossroads of the World. The Pivot of History. For all its grand nicknames, Central Asia remains a region little-studied in the West. This course endeavors to separate fact from fantasy while providing an introduction to the history of Central Asia from the eighteenth century to the present day. Spanning the region from Afghanistan to southern Siberia and from western China to the Caspian Sea, the class explores how this diverse region was impacted by the advance of empires, the fall of the USSR, and the rise of post-Soviet states.
Learning Objectives
• Use the study and historical contextualization of primary sources to acquire knowledge of Soviet historical phenomena (cultural, economic, intellectual, political, and social practices and their interdependent development over time in their local, regional, and/or global contexts). These authentic Soviet primary sources, and they will be supplemented with secondary sources on Soviet culture and history. • Develop skills of historical analysis using primary sources as well as historiography, including the means to evaluate Soviet sources in their historical context; become acquainted with scholarly historical demonstration, discussion, and debate on Soviet culture and society. • Appreciate the impact of Soviet historical developments as demonstrated by and depicted in Soviet primary sources; acquire historical perspective on the Eurasian present; consider agency and subjectivity in the context of the times; reflect on the varieties of memory and experience. • Express the results of primary document analysis effectively and persuasively in written, oral and visual forms by producing written evaluations of Soviet sources; crafting presentations offering critical analysis of these sources; and discussion/debating sources and Soviet history with colleagues.
Class Notes
History Major Concentration(s): European,Asia/Middle East
History Minor Concentration(s): Europe, Asia
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Only History majors and minors can currently enroll in this class.
Associated Classes
DIS - TBA: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - TBA: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - TBA: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM