HIST 1102

FWS: All Over the Map: Cartography in the Making of Boundaries, Places, and Histories

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

What's in a map? Can they obscure as much as they reveal? This course focuses on the way maps, and their boundaries, intrude on the stories we tell. Histories, in particular, typically concern places that fit neatly within boundaries-be they city limits, international borders, or shorelines. Rather than treating these features as naturally occurring, we will ask questions, such as: Can a place be said to have existed before its so-called discovery? Do the names of nations, continents, cities, or even harbors simply refer to places, or can they somehow help bring those very places into being? Seminar discussions and assignments will largely revolve around assigned readings, assigned maps (which we will often consult in conjunction with the readings), and writing exercises.

When Offered Fall.

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