Dr Hammer's work focuses on Tudor England and especially high politics, military matters and elite political culture. He is currently completing a book on the political struggle which occurred in the closing years of the reign of Elizabeth I and resulted in the so-called Essex Rising of 8 Feb. 1601 and the subsequent trial and execution of the earl of Essex and several of his associates. This work is characterised by detailed use of an unprecedented range of original manuscript materials.
HIST 1113 - Introduction to British History to 1660
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021
Deals with Roman, medieval and early modern periods. Covers the demographic, economic, social patterns, political and religious developments, and cultural changes that contributed to the formation of the English nation.
HIST 3020 - Historical Thinking & Writing
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2018 / Fall 2022
The second cornerstone course for history majors centers on the essential skills all historians use. Students will advance their reading, sourcing, and research techniques, hone critical, analytical, and synthetic skills, navigate scholarly discourse, and practice historical writing. As this simultaneously satisfies the College's upper-division writing requirement, all sections involve substantial, regular, and varied writing assignments as well as instruction in methods and the revision process. All topical variations of this course are limited to a maximum of 18 students in order to focus on supporting students as they learn to write - and think - like an historian. Topics will vary by section. Recommended for sophomores or juniors, HIST 3020 may be taken concurrently with, but not prior to, HIST 1800. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.
HIST 3113 - Seminar in Medieval and Early Modern English History
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2022
The third, and final, cornerstone course for history majors is a capstone seminar. Capstone seminars are designed for advanced history majors to pull together the skills they have honed in previous classes towards producing historical knowledge about a particular area of interest. This seminar focuses on medieval and early modern English history, and will include readings and discussions in a small seminar setting. These and other class activities and assignments will support the central goal: for each student to develop an individual research project on a topic of their own choosing in relation to medieval and early modern English history. Students will then write a substantial and original research paper based on primary sources. Completion of HIST 3020 is required for history majors to enroll in a senior seminar. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Recommended restriction: History GPA of 2.0 or higher.
HIST 4123 - Medieval England
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020
England in the 14th and 15th centuries endured climate change, the Black Death, peasant revolts, foreign and civil war and the forcible removal of five kings; yet this period also saw renewed forms of religious devotion, famous military victories and the exaltation of kingship. Crucially, it also saw the growing importance of the common people in English politics and the notion that government should aspire to serve the common good of the whole realm. Recommended prerequisite: HIST 1011 or HIST 1113.
HIST 4133 - The Tudors: British History 1485-1603
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019 / Summer 2020
Deals with the history of England from 1485 to 1603. Examines patterns of daily life, the impact of the Reformation and the Renaissance and the development of Parliament and the monarchy under the Tudor rulers, especially Henry VIII and Elizabeth. Recommended prerequisite: HIST 1011 or HIST 1113.
HIST 4143 - The Making of Great Britain: British History 1603-1714
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Covers the history of the British Isles from 1603 to 1714, the era of the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. Traces economic and social relationships, cultural change and religious and political conflict under the Stuart monarchs. Recommended prerequisite: HIST 1011 or HIST 1012 or HIST 1113 or HIST 1123.
HIST 5012 - Graduate Colloquium in European History
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020
Acquaints students with key works in the literature of European history, and addresses matters of method and interpretation. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced requisite: admission to the graduate program in history.
