HIS 392 What If: Counterfactual and Alternative History
Science fiction writers have a long history of writing alternative historical narratives. Historians also think about how history might have happened differently. The heart of these “what if” questions is historical contingency; what events, people, and moments are the lynch pin of our historical realities. In this course we will examine both Alt-Hist and counterfactual arguments. Our interest will be in thinking about what makes these narratives plausible, interesting, and educations. Students will then create their own alternative historical narratives.