Introduction to Topics in History (292-0-24)

Topic

Great Trials in History

Instructors

Edward Muir
847/491-3653
Harris Hall - Room 244
Ed Muir was one of the pioneers of microhistory, the methods of which were first worked out by his colleagues in Italy. He recently served as the President of the American Historical Association. Prof. Muir is the President-Elect of the American Historical Association, the largest society of professional historians in the world. Ed Muir first travelled to Italy as an undergraduate study aboard student aboard one of the last passenger voyages of the Italian Ship Lines. So transformed by his student sojourn in italy, he became is a specialist in Italian history and has lived there for many years. At Northwestern he has been honored with the Charles Deering McCormick Professorship for Teaching Excellence. He still finds the tragedies and glories of Italian history utterly fascinating.

Meeting Info

Harris Hall L04: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

Topic: Great Trials in History

One of the distinguishing characteristics of western civilization has been its persistent concern to adjudicate disputes and to judge alleged wrong-doers through the process of a trial. The forms of trials and standards of evidence have changed a great deal since ancient times when Socrates was condemned to death, and yet the trial still remains the principal means through which society makes its most important judgments. Trials are also exceptionally revealing of the basic values in society. What distinguishes the great trials has been how they uncover conflicts about those values, how they preserve for prosperity a sensitivity for justice and injustice, how they symbolize conflicting values, and how often they have stimulated great works of philosophy and literature. In this course we shall analyze a few of the most famous trials from the ancient world to the twentieth century and ask such questions as what is justice and injustice, what is the role of persuasive rhetoric in trials, how have trials constructed evidence for and against defendants, and most importantly how have the trials of certain individuals stimulated a debate about the fundamental values of society?

Learning Objectives

Argumentation techniques, building a case

Class Notes

History Major Concentration(s): European
History Minor Concentration(s): Europe

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Registration is restricted to History Majors and Minors only until the end of pre-registration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites (if any)