History: History of the Wild

Topics examining the environmental history of North America. Representative topic: History of the Wild. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisite: Three hours of History.

Prerequisite: three hours History PACE students by permission and override

“Wild” and “wilderness” are concepts that most UVM students would embrace and celebrate. Where did they originate? How have they evolved over time? Who has defined them, and whom did/do they serve? We’ll launch this course with a field trip to a recently created Vermont wilderness preserve to gauge the meaning of these ideas to our fellow citizens now. Dropping back 500 years, we’ll trace the history of “wild” and “wilderness” in North America through a varied assortment of historical sources: maps and journals of European exploration; samples of American literature, art and philosophy; the creation and experience of parks, preserves and summer camps; Wild West shows and Hollywood film. This is a course in cultural and intellectual history which seeks to cultivate close reading, strong writing, and historical research. Some background in U.S. or Canadian history is useful Prerequisite: Three credits History