Pirates, Sailors & Smugglers at Sea.

Catalog description

This course explores how oceanic exchanges shaped the early-modern and modern era from 1400 CE to the present. Beginning with the Mediterranean Sea and continuing with units on the Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans, the course examines various political, religious, technological, cultural, economic, artistic, and military aspects of the maritime world connecting the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. We will pay particular attention to individuals—sailors, smugglers, pirates, etc.—to unravel how large bodies of water affected the lives of historical actors. Recognizing oceans as vibrant living spaces will challenge our conceptions of borders, empires, and the nation-state and help us define what we mean by the terms global and transnational history. ( GE1C , GEWE )