War and Society: Antiquity to Modernity

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in any WC&IL II course or HON 1000

War has existed since the first hominids organized socially and, unfortunately, will likely endure as long as our species survives. HIST 3660 helps us to understand the horrible nature of war and to identify the commonalities and differences between ancient and contemporary warfare. This course examines the history of warfare from antiquity to contemporary times, while exploring the fundamental relationship between war and society. We will learn about the evolution of warfare globally, and its cultural and economic underpinnings. Course themes may include civil-military relations, ethical and moral issues, coalition warfighting, total war, regional strife, insurgency and counterinsurgency.

Credit: 3