HIST 390: The Digital Past

HIST 390-001: The Digital Past
(Spring 2026)

12:00 PM to 01:15 PM TR

Horizon Hall 3014

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Section Information for Spring 2026

This course uses the Italian Renaissance—a period of innovation, conflict, and rapid change—to explore how people respond when new technologies transform the way information is created, shared, and controlled. From printing and new communication networks to shifting political power and social norms, the Renaissance offers a compelling lens for understanding challenges that feel strikingly familiar in the digital age. By connecting Renaissance case studies to present-day issues—such as misinformation, emerging technologies, political instability, and changing social norms—this course helps you see how societies past and present grapple with new information environments. You’ll leave the course with transferable skills in research, critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy that apply across majors and prepare you for work beyond the classroom.

This course fulfills George Mason University’s IT requirement by combining historical research with hands-on digital work. You will learn how digital information is created, stored, retrieved, evaluated, and used ethically, while gaining practical experience with information technologies. Along the way, you’ll think critically about authorship, bias, data, and the responsible use of digital tools. Rather than passively consuming information, you’ll build and communicate historical arguments using digital methods. Working with tools such as TimelineJS, StoryMaps, Twine, Voyant, and AI, you’ll create interactive, evidence-based projects that blend research, analysis, and storytelling. These projects emphasize collaboration, clear communication, and thoughtful design. 

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Teaches the fundamentals of information technology within the context of a history course. Students learn fundamentals and skills as well as how our society became so enamored of and dependent on these knowledge and information tools. Understanding a new technology requires understanding how new technologies transform the societies that embrace them. Emphasizes the use of free and open-source software whenever possible. Offered by History & Art History. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Mason Core, Info Tech & Computing
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.