COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course explores global history through the medium of video games. Using Sid Meier’s Civilization as a chronological barometer, this course seeks to examine and explain human economic, political, diplomatic, and military systems from ancient times to the present. Each of the games discussed and played in class will provide students with different historical perspectives and experiences with different types of game play. For example, Civilization employs economic, political, and military systems whereas Battlefield 1 provides firsthand accounts and personalized stories about World War I. Students will engage with turn-based empire building games, city building games, real-time strategy games, and first and third person perspectives. In all of these cases, students will attempt to sniff out when the game developers go beyond fact into fiction with the aid of their readings, lecture, and class discussion.