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Course Information

HE:Reacting to the Past (HIST 380)

Term: AY 2025-26 Spring

Faculty

Michael R. RussellShow MyInfo popup for Michael R. Russell
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Schedule

Mon-Wed-Fri, 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM (1/21/2026 - 5/14/2026) Location: MAIN PH

Description

"Reacting to the Past" is a rotating topics course that uses role playing to immerse students into particular moments of social, political, and intellectual debate and change. Students run these games and assume various roles in debates. In addition, students engage primary sources from the events and use them to defend their arguments, with the purpose of succeeding over others in difficult and complicated scenarios. The outcomes do not have to follow the actual historic events - students are free to "alter" history, using the original sources to support their positions. Each course section will typically play 2-3 reacting games. Game topics may include Democracy in Athens, Revolution in France, The Trial of Anne Hutchinson, India on the Eve of Independence, The Council of Nicaea, The Reformation Parliament, The Trial of Galileo, and many others. Under different subtopics this course may be repeated for credit, per Liberal Studies and History Department policies. Prerequisite - at lea