This is a lecture and tutorial course that explores the history and representation of New York City, from its beginnings as a Dutch settlement down to 9/11, using the archetypal modern metropolis as a window on American history. We look at the people, images and events that defined the city, its relationship to the American nation, and explore place as a category of historical analysis.
Students complete two essays, one focusing on why a particular event took place in New York City, and the other analyzing a particular place, drawing on maps and images as well as documents. They also do an exam which asks them to examine themes that run through the city’s history.
