History

HIS 190V Myths of California

The history of California has been shrouded in myths. The historian Richard White describes myths as "timeless stories that differ from history" and "are not so much falsehoods as explanations." This course studies the history of myths that have shaped how many people in California understand the past, including myths about the histories of Indigenous peoples, European explorers, Spanish missions, the Gold Rush, and different visions of "the California Dream." In the final assessment for the course, students use historical thinking to create a research paper to challenge a mythic representation of California history.

Requirements

Prerequisite(s): Satisfaction of the Entry Level Writing and Composition requirements, HIS 100, and two additional upper-division history courses, or by permission of instructor. Enrollment is restricted to junior and senior history majors.

Credits

5

Instructor

Aims McGuinness