HS 220 - Plagues, Spells, and Pills: The History of Medicine and Disease

2.  Analyze scholarly primary and secondary sources in order to understand and articulate the commonalities and differences theories around bodies, disease and medicine among diverse cultures and worldviews with regard to economic, social, cultural, and political problems. (GELO3)

3.  Comprehend how the changing historic context and social, political, economic, and cultural conditions impacted the behavior and choices of individuals, the development and operation of societal institutions and governments, and the perception of social and cultural institutions and phenomena around bodies, disease, and medicine. (GELO3)

4.  Through a historical perspective, understand how past generations have used scientific and medical theory to explain the natural world, explore the causation for diverse cultural ideas and traditions around these topics, and appreciate the diversity and complexities of the global community. (GELO3)

5.  Through learning historical methods of analysis, students will be able to conduct primary and secondary research, analyze data, craft academic arguments about historical causation and social significance, and effectively present their findings. (GELO2)

6.  Through selected primary and secondary readings, lectures, group discussions and documentary films, students will comprehend how the changing historic context and social, political, economic and cultural conditions from the Neolithic period to the present impacted the behavior of individuals, the development and operation of societal institutions and law codes and the perception of social and cultural institutions and phenomena. (GELO3)

7.  Explore questions and hypotheses related to political and scientific power and agency, and racial, social, and gender inequality through the use of primary and secondary sources and detailed analysis. (GELO3)

8.  Analyze the complex relationship between the social construction of illness, biological disease, scientific racism, race, and gender politics, while evaluating their impacts on politics, societies, and cultures. (GELO3)

9.  Translate or explain what written information means and/or how it can be used. (GELO2)

10.  Create and/or organize data and information into meaningful patterns in order to interpret and draw inferences from it. (GELO2)

11. Translate or explain what written information means and/or how it can be used. (GELO2)

12. Create and/or organize data and information into meaningful patterns in order to interpret and draw inferences from it. (GELO3)

II. Ancient Concepts of the Body and Medicine: The One-Sex Model, Humours and Miasma Theory

III. Scientifics of Bubonic Plague: Modern Reality   

IV. Historical Narrative and Modern Research: The Plague of Justinian

V. Changes in the Medieval Concepts around the Body and Medicine: The Islamic Golden Age

VI. Historical Narrative and Modern Research: The Arrival of the Black Death  

VII. Boccaccio and Maguerite de Navarre: The Social Reaction

VIII. Kill the Cats and Dogs: The Scientific and Political Reaction  

IX. Acts and Revolts: The Social Reaction

X. A Danse Macabre: The Cultural Reaction

XI. The Impact of the Plague on World History       

XII. Changes in Medicine and Public Health 

XIII. Field Trip: The Public Museum Pharmacy      

XIV. Historical Narrative and Modern Research: The Third Pandemic

XV. Legacies of the Third Pandemic

XVI. Disease, Medicine, and Bodies Today

Discussion based on the secondary resources and primary sources: 20-50%

Any major deviations from the suggested material must be vetted through the department.

Papers: 30-40%

Essay-Based Exams: 40-50%

Presentation and Participation: 10-20%

Quizzes and Written Assessments: 10-20%