This is the home page of the course syllabus, which outlines all the instructions, logistics, and expectations for the course. The syllabus also has a schedule page, which details the reading and activities for each session.
Why do people tell stories about the past? Why do those stories keep changing?
This course explores this history of history. We investigate how different societies across time have explained and interpreted the past, and why those have changed over time. From ancient myths and medieval chronicles to modern archives and AI-generated summaries, we ask how ideas about truth, evidence, and authority shape the stories societies tell about themselves.
Our survey moves through classical mythology, medieval chronicles, early modern statecraft, Enlightenment histories of progress, romantic imaginations, scientific professionalism, modernist scholarship, postmodern critique, and today’s digital age.
The main take home: history is not simply a record of the past, but an evolving cultural practice through which people make sense of themselves and their place in the world.
As a Gen Ed course, the specific information in it is only one facet to the class. More important are habits of mind and critical thinking that you should apply to any subject.
Even if you have never been challenged to think about how history is made, you are welcome here! This course assumes no prior history knowledge or skills. I grade quite leniently at the beginning of class and the bar slowly rises throughout the class as we dive deeper into course material and you get more comfortable with what we do.
I really do want you to have fun learning in this class. I will do everything I can to help you learn as much as you’re motivated to learn, and to help you get whatever grade you’re aiming for. If you feel the course structure or assignments aren’t facilitating success or your current grade does not represent the effort you’re putting in the course, let’s talk!
There are no required books to purchase. We use a tool called Zotero to manage PDFs of reading assignments apart from the books.
To get connected, follow the Zotero set up instructions, noting the links below.
Our Zotero Group homepage is https://www.zotero.org/groups/2703269/making-history-unm. This link is best for joining the course Zotero Group.
Our Zotero Library page is https://www.zotero.org/groups/2703269/making-history-unm/library. Once you are a member of our group, this link is best for accessing our Zotero Library.
All assignments are graded as A, B, C, D, F. There are usually no plusses and minuses, but sometimes I can’t resist. Canvas calculates these into percentages in the Gradebook, so you can always see your current percent and letter grade based on work you’ve submitted.
The goal of this course is for you to see and engage with history differently—not to learn facts about the past. I care about the effort and thought you put into engaging with the material, not whether you get the “right” answer (because there usually isn’t one).
| Percent | Grade |
|---|---|
| 98+ | A+ |
| 93-97 | A |
| 90-92 | A- |
| 87-89 | B+ |
| 83-86 | B |
| 80-82 | B- |
| 77-79 | C+ |
| 73-76 | C |
| 70-72 | C- |
| 67-69 | D+ |
| 60-66 | D |
| 59- | F |
If life gets overwhelming during the course and you question whether you can continue, please reach out. We can discuss formal or informal accommodations, deadline adjustments, or other support needed for you to complete the course successfully enough for academic progress and to keep scholarships.
UNM is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for students with documented disabilities. As your instructor, it is my objective to facilitate an inclusive classroom setting, in which students have full access and opportunity to participate. To engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations for this class and/or program, please contact Accessibility Resource Center at arcsrvs@unm.edu or 505-277-3506.
Our classroom and university should foster mutual respect, kindness, and support. If you have concerns about discrimination, harassment, or violence, please seek support and report incidents. Find confidential services at LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, the Women’s Resource Center, and the Arcoiris Center. UNM prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex (including gender, sex stereotyping, gender expression, and gender identity). All instructors are “responsible employees” who must communicate reports of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and sexual violence to Compliance, Ethics and Equal Opportunity. For more information, please see UAP 2720 and UAP 2740.
These indicate something you have to DO or TURN IN (sometimes before class (if we’re going to be talking about it), sometimes by midnight).
These indicate something you should be aware of—usually an upcoming assignment—but isn’t anything you need to immediately do.
These indicate something that is important to know, but isn’t time sensitive.