HIST 538 (01) - Modern European War and Society: The Napoleonic Wars to World War II

Modern European War & Society

Durham   Liberal Arts :: History
Credits: 4.0
Term: Fall 2021 - Full Term (08/30/2021 - 12/13/2021)
Grade Mode: Letter Grading
Class Size:   35  
CRN: 16293
This course is organized around three conflicts: the Napoleonic Wars, World War I, and World War II. As we study them, we'll discuss the evolution and impact of total war in order to understand how societies work in wartime and how these conflicts have shaped Europe. In our exploration of each war, we examine a range of participants from international alliances to individual soldiers and to civilians involved in the conflict. Total war, by its nature, incorporates most elements of society, so we will spend time looking at the homefronts as well as the battlefronts. We will survey the conflicts as a whole, but also devote time to some special events or elements. For example, we will look at the battle of Somme during the portion of the course dedicated to World War I. We will also study some of the art that arose out of the conflict. The core of the class will be lectures, but we will engage in some discussion almost every day and there are some classes that will be dedicated to discussion. Course meets the History major requirements for Group II.
Department Approval Required. Contact Academic Department for permission then register through Webcat.
Only listed campus in section: Durham, Manchester
Instructors: Marion Dorsey

Times & Locations

Start Date End Date Days Time Location
8/30/2021 12/13/2021 MWF 9:10am - 10:00am HORT 215
Additional Course Details: 

Booklist

Paul Johnson's Napoleon: A Life (978-0143037453), Michael Howard's The First World War: A Very Short Introduction (978-0199205592), R.C. Sherriff's Journey's End ( 978-0573040030), Gerhard L. Weinberg's World War II: A very Short Introduction (978-0199688777), John Keegan's The Face of Battle (978-0140048971), Rapport's The Napoleonic Wars: A Very Short Introduction (9780199590964), and Stansky's The First Day of the Blitz: September 7, 1940 (0300143354). Students may purchase any edition of the books, but you must be able to cite exact page numbers in the book or scenes and lines in the play. (Not all e-copies will let you do that.) Note, too, that all of the books are relatively brief.