ANTH 12.11 Arctic Crossroads
Once considered a remote frontier with a shallow history and marginalized peoples, "the big thaw" is transforming the Arctic into an international melting pot with a surprisingly deep and complex history. This course presents the 40,000 year history of the circumpolar Arctic through the latest discoveries in environmental science, archaeology, ethnology, history, and art. We will also explore how Europeans 'discovered' the Arctic, beginning with the voyages of Pythias, the sagas of Norse Vikings, Frobisher's Northwest Passage quest, and Dezhnev's discovery of the Bering Strait. The third strand of our Arctic odyssey will be seen through the eyes, art, mythology, and beliefs of the northern peoples themselves.
Department-Specific Course Categories
ARCH, CULT