Thomas A. CarlsonProfile page
(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 TAUGHTModern Middle East (GH)12 Jan 2026 - 1 May 2026Main 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 TAUGHTThe Old Testament and its Study (H)12 Jan 2026 - 1 May 2026A 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 TAUGHTIntroduction to World Religions (GH)18 Aug 2025 - 5 Dec 2025Major 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 TAUGHTWorld History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)18 Aug 2025 - 5 Dec 2025This 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 TAUGHTThe Mongol Empire (H)16 Jan 2024 - 3 May 2024Genghis 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 TAUGHTMedieval Islamic History (H)21 Aug 2023 - 8 Dec 2023Rise 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 TAUGHTWorld History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)21 Aug 2023 - 8 Dec 2023This 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 TAUGHTJerusalem: City and Symbol Across Millennia (H)17 Jan 2023 - 5 May 2023This 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 TAUGHTWorld History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)17 Jan 2023 - 5 May 2023This 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 TAUGHTMethods in the Study of Religion22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022Historiographical 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 TAUGHTModern Middle East (HI)22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022Main 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 TAUGHTTopics in History22 Aug 2022 - 9 Dec 2022For 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 TAUGHTDirected Readings in History19 Jan 2021 - 30 Apr 2021Readings 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 TAUGHTThe Mongol Empire (H)19 Jan 2021 - 30 Apr 2021Genghis 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 TAUGHTMedieval Islamic History (H)17 Aug 2020 - 4 Dec 2020Rise 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 TAUGHTModern Middle East (HI)13 Jan 2020 - 1 May 2020Main 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 TAUGHTReadings in World History: Methodologies in the Study of Religion13 Jan 2020 - 1 May 2020Historiographical 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 TAUGHTMongol Empire19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019Graduate-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 TAUGHTThe Mongol Empire (H)19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019Genghis 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 TAUGHTWorld History from Ancient Times to 1500 (H)19 Aug 2019 - 6 Dec 2019This 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 TAUGHTDirected Readings in History14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019Readings 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 TAUGHTMinorities and Diversity in the Middle East (H)14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019The 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 TAUGHTMinorities in the Middle East14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019Graduate-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 TAUGHTThe New Testament and Its Study (H)14 Jan 2019 - 3 May 2019A 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 TAUGHTIsrael & Palestine in Modern Times20 Aug 2018 - 7 Dec 2018Graduate-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.
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