Genesis
HIS2220.01
Course Description
Summary
Genesis is the first book in a compilation known collectively as the Bible. It is a text of enormous literary value, and one of our earliest historical chronicles, providing foundational material for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Yet how many of us know what it actually says? How did it come together, what is the narrative, and how does it relate to ideas, cultures, and events in the ancient world? We will not be considering Genesis in terms of its status as scripture. Instead, we consider it as a literary work, a case study in the History of the Book, and a primary source in the history of the ancient world.
Learning Outcomes
- Students taking this course will engage with the joy of doing good history. Specifically, they will:
1. Learn about one facet of the multifaceted, never-ending, and eternally surprising realities of the past.
2. Learn how to respectfully analyze historical facts and documents through an understanding of those who made them.
3. Learn how to express those respectful analyses in writing.