Teaching a college-level history survey course is both challenging and rewarding. I think of designing one as a science and delivering it as a form of art. The faculty in the Department of History who teach these American and World history surveys use a variety of formats and pedagogical strategies. There is no one “best” way of communicating historical content or helping students develop the skills of a historian – so each instructor does so differently based on multitude of factors. This post shares how I have redesigned HIST 1510: World Civilizations into a history “lab” course.
Each spring, the Student Union at BGSU welcomes middle and high school students from Northwest Ohio to compete in the Region 1 Contest of Ohio History Day. Students create tabletop displays, documentaries, websites, performances, and papers, then bring them to the Regional Contest for judging and feedback.
Toledo Early College Student with exhibit about the invention of anesthesia Continue reading →
BGSU Department of History master’s student, Oluwatimilehin Fatoki, had interned and researched in the South Carolina’s Oyotunji African Village, writing on the significance of the “spirital ecosystem” and the significance of cultural resilience and preservation of African culture in the United States. Below is his thesis, titled “The Yoruba Gods in Oyotunji, South Carolina: a Case Study of Religio-Cultural Africanisms in the Americas”.
Emily Shaver Kay and Peter Limbert, students in the History M.A. program, presented a poster about the Eclipsing History podcast in the National Council for Public History annual conference in Salt Lake City.
The poster gathered good attention and multiple attendees scanned the QR code to open up the season! Those who engaged with the presenters and the poster commented on how innovative the class which constructed the podcast sounded and that it covers perspectives and topics usually left behind in the history field, like Indigenous knowledge and contribution to American history and Western scientific thought. There was also great interest in the digital history skills that students learned. Congratulations on the presenters and everyone in the class for this success!
≈ Comments Off on Past BGSU Student Jo Enger Arthur, Story, Legacy, and Study Abroad Scholarship
The Jo Enger Arthur Scholarship for Study Abroad encompasses a love of history, Europe and European language, and international studies, along with a strong passion for travel. This scholarship commemorates Jo Arthur, her life, legacy, and love of family and learning, especially about other people and their cultures.
A few weeks ago we featured a crossword by Tim Beatty, a retired teacher and alum. Tim Beatty grew up in Swanton, Ohio, forty minutes northwest of Bowling Green. He attended Bowling Green State University (BGSU) between 1969 and 1976, earning both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s in history and American Culture Studies. He remembers fondly Robert Twyman as one of his history professors, enjoying the courses he taught.
≈ Comments Off on BGSU History Students, Alum at the 2024 Ohio Academy of History!
BGSU history faculty, students, and alumni attended the Ohio Academy of History Meeting last Friday and Saturday.
Dr. Mancuso and Dr. Martin attended to support grad students giving papers (Dr. Mancuso also gave an interesting paper on the history of hazing at BGSU). Chase Fleece, Chloe Kozal, McKade Schultz, and Andrea Freimuth (ACS) all gave excellent papers, as did Sara Butler-Tongate (University Archives). It was also good to see department alums attending and presenting papers. Don Eberle (PhD) and Jacob Mach (ABD, Purdue) gave well-received papers, and we also ran into Chris Blubaugh (MA).
Let’s look forward to next year’s OAH at Kent State!
Figure 1: Since its addition, the bronze statue of the Archangel Michael has become one of the, if not the most, iconic parts of the Castel Sant’Angelo.
One of Rome’s many great sites in Rome is the Mausoleum of Hadrian, now known as the Castel Sant’Angelo. Over the years, the Mausoleum has served a variety of purposes and housed the remains of many notable Roman Emperors and their families. Because the structure saw considerable use even after the fall of the Roman Empire and into the Medieval and Renaissance periods, the Castel Sant’Angelo remains in incredible condition when compared to many other notable ancient Roman sites such as the Roman Forum, Colosseum and more. The Castel Sant’Angelo has however changed immensely since its initial construction, with the changes reflecting its uses as a mausoleum, fortress stronghold, and even prison. During our study abroad trip, we had the chance to visit Castel Sant’Angelo and see its history up close.
The mausoleum’s mastermind, the Roman Emperor Hadrian, ruled from 117 CE until his death in 138. Hadrian is considered part of the Roman Empire’s “Five Good Emperors,” who ruled Rome in its Golden Age. Hadrian is best known for his large public works projects with this most famous being Hadrian’s Wall in Britain.
