Animal Histories

Animals have been people’s energy, food, wealth, gods, hobbies, icons, and companions. Wild and domesticated non-human animals are essential yet often invisible historical subjects. This seminar makes them visible by tracking them through time—ancient, modern, and contemporary—on every continent. They are often symbols, but we look beyond animals as represented by people. We are more interested in them as actors and subjects with agency. By pushing at the boundaries of what constitutes legitimate topics, this seminar serves as a critical introduction to the historical discipline.