HSY3600 - Cults and the End of Time: a history of millenarian discourse

Leader: Peter Howard

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

As for HSY2600

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit students will have:

1. Acquainted themselves with and evaluated the considerable body of knowledge that has built up on the subject of millenarianism in recent years.
2. Reflected on the complex relationship of apocalyptic traditions to religious, social and political change, and therefore to dissent and revolution, between 100 and 2000 CE.
3. Thought about questions of millenarian concepts of time, history and numerology, as well as the contextual and conceptual nuances of millenarian, apocalyptic, eschatological and utopian designations.
4. Thought comparatively and applied their developing understanding to analyses of specific situations and contexts, examples of which they will have engaged during the course.
5. Continued the acquisition of the critical and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate them verbally and in writing.
6. Acquired a greater degree of analytical skills and a greater understanding of the key conceptual and methodological issues involved in using different kinds of literary and historical works in the context of social history.

Assessment

Review of a major monograph (800 words): 15%
Research presentation and essay (2200 words): 40%
Two in-class tests (equalling 90 minutes): 45%
Third-year students will be expected to demonstrate more sophisticated analytical skills and submit work incorporating a higher level of competence in independent reading and research.

Contact hours

2 hours (1 lecture and 1 tutorial) per week

Prerequisites

A first-year sequence in History or permission

Prohibitions

RLT3600, HSY2600, HSY3600