European Military History

Catalog description

Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours. CONTENT. European military history from the Thirty Years’ War to the end of the Cold War, examining the development of warfare, strategy, technology and state power in shaping modern Europe. Themes include but are not limited to the rise of professional armies, the Napoleonic Wars, the World Wars and the evolution of total war and nuclear deterrence in the Cold War era. Emphasis on the interaction between military institutions, political change and the social impact of conflict. Course content is selected to align with the course description and the current state of scholarship in the field. The presentation of course content fosters critical thinking in the context of scholarly consensus and debate, rather than instructors’ views, values or beliefs. Instructors may assign different readings and/or topics that fit within the course description and meet the learning objectives. BENEFITS. History teaches evaluation and synthesis of evidence, development of persuasive arguments in written and oral form, expansion of understandings of historical contexts that have contributed to human complexity past and present, including but not limited to the formation of group and individual identities, social and political dynamics, and debates about values and rights. Applying this knowledge produces more informed citizens, who are proficient in the abilities required by today’s workforce.