Requirements and Grading

Readings

There are no required textbooks for this class: all the course readings will be posted online in PDF format. Students are expected to do the required background readings for each class. I am always happy to guide you to further reading and other resources, whether in connection with your project or just for interest.

Essays (15% of grade each)

There will be two short multimedia essays over the course of the term (the text should be roughly 2,500 words). The first essay will focus on the analysis of a primary source, such as an artefact or a text (we will work with sources from the Harvard Museums, Library and Archives). The second essay will be focused on the analysis of a piece of ancient propaganda, chosen from a pre-selected collection of images.

Research Project (35% of grade)

Students will choose a research topic in collaboration with the instructor and turn it into a project. The project should involve an analytical and critical discussion of a relevant historical problem or topic within the scope of the course (drawing comparisons from other regions and time periods is perfectly acceptable). The project should bring together multiple lines of evidence and make appropriate use of graphics, visualizations, and other aids in presenting its subject. The essay that will constitute the core of the exhibition should be roughly 5,000 words.

Attendance and Class Participation (35% of grade)

In addition to doing the readings and participating in class, throughout the term, we will maintain a collective online timeline and a map. Each week students will be responsible for adding entries based on that week’s readings, according to a schedule we will develop during the first week of classes.