History 10a and 10b, "Western Societies, Politics, and Cultures"

If History were a final club, History 10a and 10b would be one hell of a yearlong punch. Rough in practice but with marked reward, these two classes are the hazing in the History concentrator’s academic experience. Required of all concentrators until the 2006-2007 school year, both are Western history survey courses that cover thousands of years–in just one year. Much like the curriculum and readings, the makeup of the classes tends to be composed primarily of white males.



History 10a is the paradigm for many students’ larger intellectual gripes about Harvard: the class covers too much, too hastily and too broadly. The lecturing is split up between three professors who vary in quality, and students complain that by the end of the semester, 10a is a better venue to grab a power-nap (undisturbed) than to peruse Western history. The sourcebook was too often lauded as something more “exciting” than the lectures.



Coming after 10a, History 10b is more like a dessert than a hangover, whipping through modernity as fast as 10a covered the old stuff, but with more dexterity. Helped in the spring 2006 semester by eye-candy prof Niall Ferguson, 10b lectures were extremely well-attended and captivating. Ferguson is blessed not only with a superb knowledge of European history, but is capable of communicating them gracefully, ending class exactly one hour after it begins, and making every one in the class either want to be him or want to be with him. His apparent disgust at students exiting his class during shopping period reveals that he views time spent anywhere but in his lecture a waste. The readings border on ludicrous in terms of their length and density, and if you fall behind, it’s best just to cut your losses and move on.



History 10a and 10b are not for the faint of heart or the thin of wallet: expect to spend hundreds on your books for these classes. Consider it an investment though, as the money you make in your first 20 years as a professional historian should cover that at least two-fold.