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CS92PROD
Religion, Science, and Empire: Crucible of a Globalized World

RELI 373
Fall 2011 not offered
Crosslisting: SISP 373
Certificates: International Relations, South Asian Studies

The development of modern science--and of modernity itself--not only coincided with the rise of European imperialism, it was abetted by it. Meanwhile, religion was integral to both the roots of European science and Western encounters with others. This class will explore how the intersections of religion, science, and empire have formed a globalized world with examples of European engagement with the Americas, Middle East, and, particularly, India from the age of Columbus through to the space race. We will examine how the disciplines we know today as biology, anthropology, archaeology, folklore, and the history of religions all crystallized in the crucible of imperial encounter and how non-Westerners have embraced, engaged, and resisted these epistemes.

Essential Capabilities: Intercultural Literacy, Writing
Three short papers are used to assess and improve the students' writing abilities and a long research paper provides the opportunity to demonstrate refined skills. The professor encourages the submission of drafts and review of completed papers.

This course is structured around moments of intercultural miscommunication, misinterpretation, and conflict. It prompts students to discern the logics and assumptions informing the perspectives of various sides.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS RELI
Course Format: SeminarGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Requirement for: (EDST-MN)(EDST)(GSAS-MN)(MUST-MN)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS)

Last Updated on DEC-26-2024
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