AHIS 200 - Gods & Devils of the Atlantic World 3 s.h.

This course explores the early modern Atlantic World, meaning the interconnected histories of Africa, Europe, North America, and South America in the Age of Exploration and the Age of Sail (ca. 1450-1850). It will examine the process through which these previously separate worlds collided and changed, resulting in bloodshed and conflict but also in the creation of new communities and cultures. Although providing a historical overview of the four centuries in question, the course mainly focuses on religion and religious encounters: the spiritual conquest of the New World, witchcraft beliefs and myths about “the other” among Europeans, Africans, and Indians, and related matters. Readings, lectures, and discussion will reflect a transnational approach to the study of history, moving beyond the traditional national narratives in an effort to reveal how imperial rivalries and intercultural contact shaped the world in which we still live. A-E Only. Offered Fall only.
LA
Prerequisite(s): SoS.