The Rise and Fall of the Russian Empire (Dr. David Schimmelpenninck -- Brock University)

This course surveys the expansions and contractions of Russia from its Kievan origins in the 9th century to the present. Lectures will concentrate on the history of Russian diplomacy, warfare and imperial administration, while the seminars examine related topics, including geopolitics, ideology, culture, nationalities, and our own perceptions. Throughout the course we will also consider continuities with the past and their implications for today.      [View syllabus:  Word.doc]

The Soviet Union, 1917-1991 (Dr. Scott W. Palmer -- Western Ill. University)

This course explores the history of the Soviet Union from its birth as a utopian experiment in October 1917 to its final collapse, under the weight of institutionalized corruption, bureaucratic inertia, and political repression, in December 1991. Through the extensive use of original documents, literary and artistic works, and artifacts of popular culture, the course examines the major political, cultural, and social events that contributed to the rise and fall of the Soviet Empire. While emphasis will be given to the fundamental issue of the nature and evolution of Soviet political culture, the course will also explore essential social and artistic transformations that helped to shape the Soviet experience.      [View syllabus: HTML]