The History of Sexuality from the Renaissance to the Present

3 credits · Undergraduate

(3 hrs Lecture) By tracing the historical evolution of a variety of themes, such as aphrodisiacs, reproductive theories, the sex trade, and policies on public health, this course offers a survey of sexuality from the Renaissance to the twentieth century. The focus is on the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution, with a critical look at these historical periods as watersheds in the history of sexuality. Though references are made to other regions for comparative purposes, the focus of this course is on Western Europe.