Prehistory to 800 CE. History 4A introduces students to the histories of ththe ancient Mediterranean and West Asia, including Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, Persia, and Rome. Lectures and readings examine cultural, economic, intellectual, military, political, religious, and other aspects of the period. Weekly small group sections in which students discuss historical sources and methods are an essential part of this course.

Provides essential historical context for understanding major issues and developments in contemporary life; topics vary each year. Coverage ranges from the local to the global, and encompasses current events in politics, economics, social relations, welfare, science, religion, and popular culture.

This course surveys the leading issues in North American life from colonial times to the early 19th century. It examines European colonialism, the expansion of slavery, the transition to capitalism, and the emergence of hierarchies of race, class, and gender within an Atlantic and hemispheric context. Emphasis is placed on the interactions among Indigenous peoples, European colonizers, and enslaved and free Africans. Features discussion sections. 

An introduction to the history of the South Asian subcontinent, with emphasis on the period from 1500 CE to the present.

Explores the creation of early modern scientific and religious knowledge by focusing on one of the most famous conflicts between the two: The Trial of Galileo. During this class students study the foundations of early scientific knowledge, read primary sources related to early modern understanding of the natural world, and seek to understand how conflicts between different regimes of knowledge have been navigated in the past. The influence of Galileo’s trial on the perception of science and the Church in European history are considered at the end of the course.

Undergraduate research seminar on a diverse range of topics in science, technology, and medicine. Varied topics addressed: defining a research problem, identifying an original topic, conducting research, citing sources, and presenting results. Students will conduct historical research in a seminar context, using both primary and secondary source materials, to produce an original and substantial research paper. Intensive writing required.

A focus on the history of France from the reign of Henri IV (1595) to the end of the reign of Louis XIV (1715). Topics include court culture and politics, religious tensions and experiences of French Protestants, natural philosophy, social upheaval and gender relations, French colonial endeavors.

Addresses how the Ancient World & the Middle Ages have been portrayed in popular culture & film. Did certain films influence our views of the past and how much we know or think we know about the Ancient World & the Middle Ages? Do these movies influence the way we see the past? We will view films in class & discuss them. Among the topics of these films will be the fall of the Roman Empire, the Crusades and Joan of Arc.

All colonial projects had to face the problem of linguistic differences. The ways in which they did so varied widely and are very revealing of their different ambitions, ideological foundations, and local circumstances. Explores the history of colonialism comparatively from the perspective of language, from the late fifteenth to the early nineteenth centuries, in the Americas, Africa, and Europe.

The history of the Chicanos from the indigenous/colonial past to 1900. Explores the evolving history of Mexican descent people during the Pre-Columbian, Spanish, Mexican, and the U.S. periods.

Through this year-long internship, students work under faculty direction to produce an issue of the UCSB History Department?s Undergraduate Journal. Students meet every two weeks and gain practical experience in scholarly publishing disseminating calls for papers, soliciting undergraduate contributions, locating peer reviewers, facilitating revisions with authors, and bibliographic and copywriting work. They also gain a working knowledge of the UCSB Library’s online publication platform, which will host the journal. Students utilize various digital humanities tools – podcasts, social media, and websites – to promote the undergraduate research being published in Journal as well as host an annual showcase of scholars work. This is part one of a two quarter internship. Students will earn 4 units total upon completion of HIST 196JB. Use HIST 196JC to earn credit for journal participation beyond two quarters.

Students gain practical experience by working in organizations or initiatives engaged in addressing poverty and inequality through policy analysis, advocacy, direct social provision, community action, and/or political organizing. Opportunities to cultivate problem-solving, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills needed to work effectively in institutional or collectively organized settings and to gain exposure to professional, post-graduate educational and training, and related career opportunities in anti-poverty and social justice fields. Students work under faculty supervision to produce reports, a research paper, or other types of creative material based on their experiences.

A reading course in a field of the professor’s specialty. Introduces the student to the sources and literature of the field in question. Written work as prescribed by the instructor.

A research seminar on selected problems in Japanese history. Some working knowledge of the Japanese language desirable but not necessary.

This year-long colloquium brings together undergraduate students, graduate students, as well as scholars at UCSB and beyond to explore the history of labor, capitalism, commodities, trade, colonialism, imperialism, poverty, race, gender, class, law, and politics. It meets three to four times a quarter and includes guest lectures, workshops, and reading groups.