Department of History

     Welcome to History at Fort Lewis College. The discipline of history is at the core of the liberal arts. It is concerned with the human condition in all of its manifestations in the past, and it relies heavily on reading and all forms of analytical and narrative writing. What will you gain by studying with us? We want you to gain self knowledge and to broaden your cultural horizons. While we want you to gain a sense of your own cultural roots, we also insist on a comparative perspective and some significant knowledge of the rich cultural diversity of the past. The Department offers a broad range of courses not only in European and American, but also in East Asian, Latin American, and African history. All members of the History Department are fluent in at least one other language besides English. All have traveled extensively; most have done research outside the United States. Our personal teaching styles and emphasis on different approaches to history may vary, but we share important assumptions about teaching and learning history. We regard wide and critical reading as essential for a broadening of knowledge and experience, the ability to organize material and ask critical questions as vital for working with historical sources, and the skill of effective writing as the ultimate key to the enterprise. We rely on close faculty/student interaction in class discussion and on individual teaching and advising to help foster the development of these skills. Above all, aside from these critical skills that will serve you well in any profession, you will gain a depth of intellectual curiosity and openness to the diversity of human cultural achievements that will enrich your life.

--Michael Fry

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--James Joll, 20th-century historian

The Department of History is located in Noble Hall. As you have already read above, the department has six faculty members of diverse training, backgrounds, teaching philosophies and methodologies. The photographs on this page, some taken at Fort Lewis College, are pieces of evidence, historical documents, some about our department. History is the collection of such pieces of evidence of things said and done, arranged in a meaningful pattern. Knowledge of the past supplies context, perspective and clarity in a diverse and changing world.

History Department Faculty Members (l to r):
Haiyun Ma, Michael Fry, John Baranski, Neil McHugh, Michael Martin, Ellen Paul

The History Department, as a working group of individuals, continues to change in personnel, courses and research interests. While we all agree on the importance of history as a foundation for knowledge about human societies, we offer a wide range of geographical specialties, research strategies, and scholarly interests. For specific information about us or some of the various events and lectures we offer, use the links provided here or in the upper part of the left column.

Besides teaching exciting and fascinating courses in History, the faculty members of the History Department also participate in and offer several other exciting events for you to attend, many in cooperation with the undergraduate student group, the History Club. Some of the events include public lectures on topics ranging from Custer's Last Stand to Nazi Youth groups; enrichment courses on Eastern European Films, Gay Culture through the Media, Films of Latin America, and Disney; we also have student/faculty mixers. For more information please click on Calendar of Events to take you to all of the exciting events and opulent options associated with our department.

Faculty/Student mixer at Ellen Paul's House
celebrating successful Senior Seminar Presentations

Woodrow Wilson, 28th President
of the United States of America

Many times people ask us: "What can you do with a History degree?" The career possibilities for a student who has a degree in History are endless. Some of the many possible pursuits are: K-12 History teacher; professor of History; museum director, curator or researcher; preservation studies; archivist; librarian; lawyer; CEO of a major company; author; consultant for documentaries and movies; an actor or actress; musician; you could even become President of the United States of America. Please click here for even more possibilities (pdf or html formats available).

Chris Martin of Coldplay
 

And just in case you need a bit more proof, here are just a few famous individuals you might know who graduated with degrees in History: Woodrow Wilson (President of the United States), Ken Burns (filmmaker), Edward Norton (actor), Howard Springer (CEO Sony America), Salman Rushdie (author), Mira Sorvino (actress), Conan O'Brien (talk show host), Chris Martin (bandmember for Coldplay), and Sting (singer, songwriter, and former History teacher). 

Faculty members are available for advising students interested in obtaining a major or minor in History. Once you have determined a discipline or field of interest, please contact the appropriate faculty member and they will be happy to advise you.  If you have general questions regarding the major/minor, you may also contact Dawn Widen, administrative assistant for the History, English and Sociology Departments. You can contact her by email (widen_d@fortlewis.edu) or by phone (247-7255).

Map 13: Alexander's world

WEEK 6

Website: www.romereborn.virginia.edu
Map 14: Punic Wars
Map 15: Republic Rome
Map 16: City of Rome during Republic

WEEK 7

Map 17: Imperial Rome
Map 18: Spread of Christianities
Map 19: Tetrarchy
Map 20: Diocletian's empire

WEEK 8

Map 21: Expansion of Monasticism
Map 22: Justinian's Empire
Map 23: Constantinople
Map 24: Byzantine Empire c. 1025
Map 25: Expansion of Islam
Map 26: Arabia time of Muhammad
Map 27: Abbasid Caliphate
Map 28: Islamic worldview

WEEK 10

Map 29: Barbarian Kingdoms

WEEK 11

Map 30: Manor
Map 31: Byzantine/Islamic/Carolingian empires
Map 32: Carolingian Europe
Map 33: Treaty of Verdun
Map 34: Europe c. 1000 C.E.
Map 35: Vikings/Magyars