2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses

Special Lecture: Western History, its Themes and Methods

Academic unit or major: Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s): Takeo Suzuki
Class Format: Lecture
Media-enhanced courses: -
Day of week/Period (Classrooms)
Class: -
Course Code: LAH.H321
Number of credits: 200
Course offered: 2025
Offered quarter: 4Q
Syllabus updated: Mar 19, 2025
Language: Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

In recent years, the themes and methodologies within historical studies have become notably diversified. However, the persistent perception that "history ends once it's memorized" remains a significant reality. This course aims to provide an overview of the development of historiography since the 19th century, introducing rapidly advancing fields such as "Global History," "History of Emotions," and "Gender History." By doing so, students will learn about the fundamentals and progression of historiography, as well as the backgrounds, characteristics, and significance of various themes and methods. Additionally, students will engage in discussions based on readings of relevant literature during classes. Through these experiences, students will develop an understanding of the current issues and emerging developments in the field of history, particularly in the realm of Western historiography. Ultimately, I aim for students to realize how encountering historical knowledge can alter perspectives on contemporary issues affecting our lives today.

Course description and aims

- Understand the fundamentals and progression of historiography and be able to explain its overview.
- Gain an understanding of the backgrounds, characteristics, and significance of the themes and methods covered in this course within recent Western historiography, and be able to explain their overview.
- Develop the ability to contemplate contemporary issues based on the historical knowledge acquired in this course.

Keywords

Western Historiography, Ordinary People, Global History, Gender History, History of Emotions, Ego Documents, Public History, Memory

Competencies

Specialist skills
Intercultural skills
Communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

In this course, each theme or method will be addressed in a set consisting of one lecture session to explain the overall picture including backgrounds, characteristics, and significance, and one exercise session where students will discuss assigned readings in groups. This approach aims to facilitate the acquisition, application, and retention of knowledge. Additional explanations will be provided as needed during exercise sessions

Course schedule/Objectives

	Course schedule	Objectives
Class 1	Guidance/Why do we learn history? Approaches to historical interpretation	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 2	Lecture - nation, language, culture, and identity as historical constructs	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 3	Lecture - focus on "ordinary people"	Read and summarize the copies of documents distributed, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 4	Exercise - Exploring literature on "ordinary people" (Theme: involvement with Nazi crimes)	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 5	Lecture - gender history	Read and summarize the copies of documents distributed, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 6	Exercise - What are ‘masculinity’ and ‘femininity’? What is the process of its construction?	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 7	Mid-term summary and report writing	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 8	Lecture - history of emotions	Read and summarize the copies of documents distributed, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 9	Exercise - How can we examine Emotions historically?	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 10	Lecture - Public history and history of memory	Read and summarize the copies of documents distributed, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 11	Exercise - dispute about memories	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 12	Lecture - global history	Read and summarize the copies of documents distributed, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 13	Exercise - global history/ Share your plan for the report	Summarize and organize what you have learned through lectures and group work, and organize one's thoughts.
Class 14	Summary and reflections: historiography as contemporaneous history, beyond Western-centredness?	Organize what you have learned throughout the course and organize one's thoughts.

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

There is no designated textbook.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Materials will be distributed.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Attendance in lectures: 70%
Report: 30%

Related courses

Prerequisites

Nothing in particular.

Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).

t.suzuki［at］ila.isct.ac.jp
Notice : Please replace "[at]" with "@".

Office hours

Please contact by mail in advance to make an appointment.