History

This course will trace the development of western culture from ancient times to the early modern era. A wide variety of topics will be explored including the origins of early civilizations, the contributions of Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and the Arab World, the emergence of Medieval Europe, and the Renaissance exploration and colonization. Emphasis will be placed on the ideas, people and events that have helped to shape the modern world.

This course will focus on the complex interactions of the social, intellectual, economic, ecological, and political factors that contributed to the development of Western thought from the early modern era to the present. Topics to be explored include decline of absolute monarchies, colonialism, the rise of revolutionary ideologies and scientific thought, the Enlightenment, political revolutions and rise of nationalism, imperialism and industrialization, 20th century wars and Cold War, and recent trends in Western society, as will critical scrutiny of Western tradition. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying the ideas, people, and events that have helped to shape the modern world.

This course will focus on the development of world cultures and trends from the earliest societies to the 15th century. It includes first-wave civilizations in China, India, Southwest Asia, Africa, and the Americas, as well as later civilizations, including empires in Europe, the Byzantine Empire, the Islamic World, and the Mongols. Discussion will focus on comparing and contrasting the characteristics of civilizations as well as identifying their political, technological, economic, ideological, and cultural achievements. Special emphasis will be placed on identifying the ideas, people, and events that have helped to shape the modern world.

This course will provide an overview of the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the United States from the Pre-Columbian Era through 1877. It emphasizes colonial development, political institutions, the Revolutionary era and foundations of American government and democracy, sectional rivalry and slavery, the development of nationalism, and the cultural development of the American people. The course concludes with the period of Reconstruction.
 

This course will provide an overview of the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the United States from 1877 to the present. It emphasizes the urban industrial century, the emergence of the United States as a world power, the Progressive Movement, the World Wars, the rise, fall, and aftermath of the Cold War, social revolutions, and the expansion of civil and human rights, and recent trends.

This course examines New Hampshire history from the prehistoric era through the present day, including the indigenous peoples and colonizing, the Revolutionary and industrial eras, and the evolution of the state in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will learn about local events and trends and the extent to which New Hampshire history reflects larger national developments.

A survey of the history of America in the 20th century, the course emphasizes the explosive growth of aviation as a major influence upon the economic, military, and societal development of the United States.

This course examines the political, economic, and social development of Asia from the 19th century to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on China, Japan, Korea, and India - Asian nations that play an increasingly important role in today's global economy. Discussion topics will include Western imperialism and its legacy, strategies of modernization, the rise of nationalism, communism in Asia, World War II, the Cold War, the emergence of Asian countries into the global economy, the modernization and exportation of Asian cultures, and 21st century trends.

A study of the evolution of American constitutional law includes the drafting and ratifying of the Constitution and the doctrine of judicial review and chronicles the development of major constitutional principles.

This course will cover important political, technological, economic, and social developments since World War II. Discussion will focus on exploring three themes/topics: the impact of rapid technological innovation on society; the paradox of American democracy and popular demands for change; and the role of the United States government at home and in an increasingly interconnected world. By the end of the course, students should understand that knowledge of the post-World War II period provides them with a valuable historical perspective for critically assessing current events.

A wide variety of cultural groups will be examined, probing the historical circumstances that motivated them to come to this country. How and why they have been able or unable to maintain an ethnic identification over the generations will be explored. Students will begin to develop an appreciation of the influence of one's cultural heritage and will gain a greater understanding of the cultural value, beliefs, and behaviors of members from different cultures.

This course will explore the effectiveness of movies as a source for understanding social history.Topics include modernization, the struggle to escape poverty, prejudice, family life in the suburbs, gender roles, and the rise of youth culture. We will study the accuracy of how our movies portray various social groups, from high society to the suburban middle class to gangsters, as well as what they reveal about changing attitudes, norms and problems faced by various segments of our society, from the gilded age and the roaring twenties to the end of the 20th century. Analytic writing, independent research and joining Netflix for the term will be required.

This course explores the history of Latin America and the Caribbean from 1800 to the present day. Discussion topics will include the 19th century nation-building, caudillismo, 20th century revolutions, modernization, cultural developments, Latin American relations with Europe and the United States, and recent trends. While the experiences of individual countries will be considered, the course will focus on larger political, economic, and social themes that shaped the entire region.

This course provides students with an opportunity to learn about an area not covered by existing courses in the history curriculum. While the topics may vary from semester to semester depending on faculty and student interest, this course emphasizes a core set of essential skills common to all history courses at Nashua Community College. A course description will be made available prior to the start of registration.