HIST 2913: A History of Oil: Science, Technology, Culture & Conflict

HIST 2913: A History of Oil: Science, Technology, Culture & Conflict
Winter 2025

In this completely online course, students will explore the history of oil from the ancient period to the present day. The course will use a transnational approach designed to introduce students to the interconnected histories of oil in countries across the world. Specifically, students will follow a series of four themes as they move through the course – science, technology, culture, and conflict – which will guide their learning of the key people, places, events, and processes that have shaped the history of oil. Several new and exciting features have been added to the course this semester, including a new module that explores the history of oil in Canada from an Indigenous perspective, and a virtual field trip to the Canada Science and Technology Museum. By the end of the course, students will have an introductory understanding of oil and the ways in which the resource has shaped both the past and the present. The ultimate goal of this online course is to equip learners from all disciplines with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about oil and its future.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Engage in an experiential learning opportunity within the context of a national museum, its vast collections, exhibits, and professional development opportunities.
Explain the scientific and technological processes by which oil is formed, extracted, refined, transported, and consumed.
Identify the countries that have played a major role in the history of oil, and locate points of conflict and cooperation between them.
Analyze the images, stories, and ideas that have been used to think about oil in the past, and create linkages with those used in the present.
Construct an informed and well-researched position on a variety of oil topics.
Contemplate the historical relationship between the Canadian state, natural resources, and Indigenous peoples.
Reflect on their personal relationship with oil and the impact that oil products and technologies have had on their lives.