Chronos Through the Ages: A History of Time and Temporality
HIST 339
Spring 2025
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01
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Why do we start the new year in the dead of winter? Why is September the ninth month when its name means "seventh" in Latin? The same could be asked of October, November, and December. How can time zones be so variable, and why do we change the clocks by an hour twice a year? Contrary to our modern view of time as a scientific constant that runs the same everywhere in the world, the answers to these questions reveal that how we think about time has been socially constructed and contingent on historical circumstances. This course will introduce students to the history of time as it has been understood through human culture, from antiquity to the modern era, as well as critical engagements with how historians and anthropologists engage with time. We will analyze primary sources from different eras that all grappled with the concept of time, and learn about the history of clocks, calendars, and more. Students will come away with critical reflections on our modern assumptions about time. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
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