HIST 2131

Energy in History

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2015-2016.

In this seminar, we will explore the role of energy as a force in the driving of history.  With the widespread harnessing of fossil fuels in the nineteenth century as our pivot point, we will consider both the prior energy regimes of wood, wind, water, and human and animal muscle, as well as the politics of energy production and consumption from the industrial age to the present.  While attentive to issues of environmental impact, we will also examine the broader implications of energy use for social, economic, and political structures across time.  Readings will consist of both classic works and recent scholarship, with cases drawn from all around the globe.

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (HA-AS)

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