This is an experiment on my part. I am going to list the books or parts thereof that I have used in class.
I am also including assignments and some indicator of success or failure. If you wish to contribute, email your material to [email protected]
I am also including assignments and some indicator of success or failure. If you wish to contribute, email your material to [email protected]
The World That Trade Created by Kenneth Pomeranz and Steven Topik
I use article 3.1 (Chapter 3 is The Economic Culture of Drugs) Chocolate: From Coin to Commodity
I tell the students we are going to talk about drugs and they get all excited. Then I hand out the reading and they are truly disappointed. That starts a discussion of what is a drug and what are the "good and bad" ones. Some students mention the Oracle of Delphi and the pythia who was given drugs to have her trances. The discussion then shifts to trade and the countries involved and the different uses of the "drug" chocolate. It takes different directions each year, but it is also a good discussion.
(For future posts by other folks, use the following form.This way people can get in touch if they have questions)
Monty Armstrong, Cerritos High [email protected]
The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492, 30th Anniversary Edition by Alfred W. Crosby Jr
In terms of the idea of historians looking at the writing of history, Crosby in his preface to the anniversary edition (pg. xvii) has some great comments about his work and his looking back on his work. At one point he says, "I made some flat-out mistakes, some of them pretty good." I just use the preface but my students begin to get the sense that history is not craved in stone. I get some great discussions.
I use article 3.1 (Chapter 3 is The Economic Culture of Drugs) Chocolate: From Coin to Commodity
I tell the students we are going to talk about drugs and they get all excited. Then I hand out the reading and they are truly disappointed. That starts a discussion of what is a drug and what are the "good and bad" ones. Some students mention the Oracle of Delphi and the pythia who was given drugs to have her trances. The discussion then shifts to trade and the countries involved and the different uses of the "drug" chocolate. It takes different directions each year, but it is also a good discussion.
(For future posts by other folks, use the following form.This way people can get in touch if they have questions)
Monty Armstrong, Cerritos High [email protected]
The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492, 30th Anniversary Edition by Alfred W. Crosby Jr
In terms of the idea of historians looking at the writing of history, Crosby in his preface to the anniversary edition (pg. xvii) has some great comments about his work and his looking back on his work. At one point he says, "I made some flat-out mistakes, some of them pretty good." I just use the preface but my students begin to get the sense that history is not craved in stone. I get some great discussions.
