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Thomas A. Carlson

(he/him/ܗܘ/هو/او/նա)

Professor

History

TEACHING SUMMARY

At the undergraduate level, I teach a first-year World History survey (up to 1500 CE) and anything related to the Middle East after 600 CE, as well as a course on the Mongol Empire of Chinggis Khan. At the graduate level, I teach a methods reading course in the historical study of religion, and independent studies as available.

TEACHING

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  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Modern Middle East (GH)
    12 Jan 2026 - 1 May 2026
    Main political events, social institutions, cultural and economic developments, as well as various aspects of everyday life in the Middle East. Transformation of traditional society, imperialism and independence, Arab nationalism, Arab-Israeli conflict, the impact of oil, westernization, the rise of militant Islam, and the prospects of democratization.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    The Old Testament and its Study (H)
    12 Jan 2026 - 1 May 2026
    A study of the Old Testament with emphasis upon content, historical background, the history of its study and the critical analysis and interpretation of selected passages. Previously offered as REL 3013.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Introduction to World Religions (GH)
    18 Aug 2025 - 5 Dec 2025
    Major world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam with a view to understanding the general nature of religion and its various dimensions.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    World History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)
    18 Aug 2025 - 5 Dec 2025
    This course examines the development of social, cultural, economic, and political systems from ancient times to the beginning of the sixteenth century. We will examine the growth of empires, trade routes, religions, and culture in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. This course will examine the ways in which these societies connected and made contact with each other through trade, warfare, and migration and the resulting exchange of ideas. Previously offered as HIST 2213.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    The Mongol Empire (H)
    16 Jan 2024 - 3 May 2024
    Genghis Khan is infamous for destruction of his conquests, yet his empire grew to be the largest land empire in history, and sparked diplomatic and cultural contacts on a far wider scale than ever before. This course traces the Mongol Empire from Genghis himself to the legacy of the divided Mongol khanates. Attention will be paid to the Mongol Empire's institutional structure, political and cultural dynamics, contacts with Europe, and historians' methods for using primary sources.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Medieval Islamic History (H)
    21 Aug 2023 - 8 Dec 2023
    Rise of Islam in Arabia and subsequent spread to Africa, Asia and Europe. Discussion of political, social, cultural and economic institutions established in the Middle Ages as well as diversity of Islamic and continuing non-Islamic traditions.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    World History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)
    21 Aug 2023 - 8 Dec 2023
    This course examines the development of social, cultural, economic, and political systems from ancient times to the beginning of the sixteenth century. We will examine the growth of empires, trade routes, religions, and culture in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. This course will examine the ways in which these societies connected and made contact with each other through trade, warfare, and migration and the resulting exchange of ideas. Previously offered as HIST 2213.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Jerusalem: City and Symbol Across Millennia (H)
    17 Jan 2023 - 5 May 2023
    This course explores the history of Jerusalem as a city from the earliest records of its existence in the Ancient Near East to current events, as well as the meanings attached to Jerusalem as a symbol by Jews, Christians, and Muslims living around the world, from ancient scriptures to contemporary America.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    World History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)
    17 Jan 2023 - 5 May 2023
    This course examines the development of social, cultural, economic, and political systems from ancient times to the beginning of the sixteenth century. We will examine the growth of empires, trade routes, religions, and culture in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. This course will examine the ways in which these societies connected and made contact with each other through trade, warfare, and migration and the resulting exchange of ideas. Previously offered as HIST 2213.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Methods in the Study of Religion
    22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022
    Historiographical and bibliographical study of special areas of European and World history.Offered for fixed credit, 3 credit hours, maximum of 24 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing or permission of instructor required.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Modern Middle East (HI)
    22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022
    Main political events, social institutions, cultural and economic developments, as well as various aspects of everyday life in the Middle East. Transformation of traditional society, imperialism and independence, Arab nationalism, Arab-Israeli conflict, the impact of oil, westernization, the rise of militant Islam, and the prospects of democratization.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Topics in History
    22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022
    For students interested in pursuing either a research or a reading project. Open to students in history and to others by permission of instructor. Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 9 credit hours.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Directed Readings in History
    19 Jan 2021 - 30 Apr 2021
    Readings in selected topics in history to develop factual knowledge, analytical skills, and interpretive understanding.Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing or permission of instructor required.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    The Mongol Empire (H)
    19 Jan 2021 - 30 Apr 2021
    Genghis Khan is infamous for destruction of his conquests, yet his empire grew to be the largest land empire in history, and sparked diplomatic and cultural contacts on a far wider scale than ever before. This course traces the Mongol Empire from Genghis himself to the legacy of the divided Mongol khanates. Attention will be paid to the Mongol Empire's institutional structure, political and cultural dynamics, contacts with Europe, and historians' methods for using primary sources.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Medieval Islamic History (H)
    17 Aug 2020 - 4 Dec 2020
    Rise of Islam in Arabia and subsequent spread to Africa, Asia and Europe. Discussion of political, social, cultural and economic institutions established in the Middle Ages as well as diversity of Islamic and continuing non-Islamic traditions.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Modern Middle East (HI)
    13 Jan 2020 - 1 May 2020
    Main political events, social institutions, cultural and economic developments, as well as various aspects of everyday life in the Middle East. Transformation of traditional society, imperialism and independence, Arab nationalism, Arab-Israeli conflict, the impact of oil, westernization, the rise of militant Islam, and the prospects of democratization.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Readings in World History: Methodologies in the Study of Religion
    13 Jan 2020 - 1 May 2020
    Historiographical and bibliographical study of special areas of European and World history.Offered for fixed credit, 3 credit hours, maximum of 24 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing or permission of instructor required.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Mongol Empire
    19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019
    Graduate-level work under taken in association with upper-division lecture courses. Added component ordinarily entails a graduate-level research paper or historiographical essay of substantial length.Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    The Mongol Empire (H)
    19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019
    Genghis Khan is infamous for destruction of his conquests, yet his empire grew to be the largest land empire in history, and sparked diplomatic and cultural contacts on a far wider scale than ever before. This course traces the Mongol Empire from Genghis himself to the legacy of the divided Mongol khanates. Attention will be paid to the Mongol Empire's institutional structure, political and cultural dynamics, contacts with Europe, and historians' methods for using primary sources.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    World History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)
    19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019
    This course examines the development of social, cultural, economic, and political systems from ancient times to the beginning of the sixteenth century. We will examine the growth of empires, trade routes, religions, and culture in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. This course will examine the ways in which these societies connected and made contact with each other through trade, warfare, and migration and the resulting exchange of ideas. Previously offered as HIST 2213.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Directed Readings in History
    14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019
    Readings in selected topics in history to develop factual knowledge, analytical skills, and interpretive understanding.Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 6 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing or permission of instructor required.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Minorities and Diversity in the Middle East (H)
    14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019
    The Middle East has long been a melting pot, or mosaic, of different groups. Large parts of the region have even been ruled by minorities. This course will explore the history of social diversity in the Middle East, including ways that ethnic and religious minority groups interacted with rulers, the majority, and each other, whether peacefully or not. The effects of long-term social diversity will bring discussion to the contribution of minority groups to the Middle East as we know it today.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Minorities in the Middle East
    14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019
    Graduate-level work under taken in association with upper-division lecture courses. Added component ordinarily entails a graduate-level research paper or historiographical essay of substantial length.Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 39 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    The New Testament and Its Study (H)
    14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019
    A study of the writings of the New Testament in their historical contexts and the methods used in their study. Emphasis interpreting selected New Testament passages. Previously offered as REL 3023.
  • COURSE TAUGHT
    Israel & Palestine in Modern Times
    20 Aug 2018 - 7 Dec 2018
    Graduate-level work under taken in association with upper-division lecture courses. Added component ordinarily entails a graduate-level research paper or historiographical essay of substantial length.Offered for variable credit, 1-3 credit hours, maximum of 39 credit hours.Prerequisite(s): Graduate student standing.