WWI Syllabus

Graduate Colloquium: The First World War

History 595JA
Fall 2004
Tuesdays, 4:20-6:50 pm
Sierra Hall 288
Prof. Jeffrey Auerbach

Description: World War I was a cataclysmic event that fundamentally changed the world. As there is an unmanageable amount of historical writing on the First World War, any course on the subject must by necessity be selective. This seminar highlights recent writings and rancorous debates, focusing on 1) the causes of the war, 2) the experience of battle, 3) the home front, 4) the war’s imperial and overseas impact, and 5) the consequences of the war.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes:

To learn about the origins of the First World War, taking into account political, social, economic, military, diplomatic, and cultural explanation
To evaluate the impact of the war on the Home Front, especially its effect on the role of the state and gender relations.
To appreciate the experience of battle and the motivation of the common soldier.
To analyze the ways in which the war affected Europe’s overseas empires and to evaluate the participation of colonial peoples in the war effort.
To understand how the First World War shaped the world in which we live today.

Requirements:

Attendance: You are expected to attend each class meeting and to arrive on time. Repeated absences or lateness will be penalized at the discretion of the instructor. If you miss a class, you must submit a 1-2 page summary/ analysis of the reading for that week before class begins.
Participation: Active, informed, engaged, respectful participation in discussions (30%). In addition, each student will be responsible for submitting five discussion questions in advance of one week’s assigned reading. Students will email the instructor their questions the day before their designated class meeting.
Two short (3-4 page) analytical papers on the assigned readings (10% each). You may choose two of the following three topics: the causes of the war (due Sept. 21), the experience of battle (due Oct. 12), and gender and the home front (due Oct. 26).
A final, analytical paper of 10-15 pages on a topic relating to the First World War on which there has been considerable historiographical debate, in which you explore and synthesize various interpretations (50%). The possibilities here are as limitless as scholarship on the war itself.

Policies:

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified due date. Late papers will be marked down one-third grade (e.g., from an A to an A-) per day.
All work in this course must be your own. Any student caught plagiarizing (copying or borrowing someone else’s work without crediting them) will receive a failing grade for the course, and will be referred to the Office of Academic Affairs for disciplinary action.
The instructor reserves the right to modify the course schedule or assignments as needed.

Schedule of Topics and Readings:

Introduction

Aug. 24
Historiographical Overview

The Causes of the War

Aug. 31
James Joll, The Origins of the First World War (1984)

Sept. 7
David Herrmann, The Arming of Europe (1997)

Sept. 14
Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. i-247

The Experience of Battle

Sept. 21
Alistair Horne, The Price of Glory (1962)

Sept. 28
Ian Ousby, The Road to Verdun (2002)

Oct. 5
Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. 248-394

Gender and the Home Front

Oct. 12
Susan Grayzel, Women's Identities at War (1999)

Oct. 19
Nicoletta Gullace, “The Blood of Our Sons” (2002)

Imperial and Overseas Connections

Oct. 26
Byron Farwell, The Great War in Africa (1986)

Nov. 2
Joe Lunn, Memoirs of the Maelstrom (1999)

Nov. 9
David Fromkin, The Peace to End All Peace (2001), pp. 1-379

Consequences

Nov. 16
Margaret Macmillan, Paris 1919 (2001)

Nov. 23
David Fromkin, The Peace to End All Peace (2001), pp. 381-end

Nov. 30
Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. 395-end

Return to Auerbach Homepage

Aug. 31	James Joll, The Origins of the First World War (1984)
Sept. 7	David Herrmann, The Arming of Europe (1997)
Sept. 14	Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. i-247

Sept. 21	Alistair Horne, The Price of Glory (1962)
Sept. 28	Ian Ousby, The Road to Verdun (2002)
Oct. 5	Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. 248-394

Oct. 12	Susan Grayzel, Women's Identities at War (1999)
Oct. 19	Nicoletta Gullace, “The Blood of Our Sons” (2002)

Oct. 26	Byron Farwell, The Great War in Africa (1986)
Nov. 2	Joe Lunn, Memoirs of the Maelstrom (1999)
Nov. 9	David Fromkin, The Peace to End All Peace (2001), pp. 1-379

Nov. 16	Margaret Macmillan, Paris 1919 (2001)
Nov. 23	David Fromkin, The Peace to End All Peace (2001), pp. 381-end
Nov. 30	Niall Ferguson, The Pity of War (2000), pp. 395-end