Professional Stuff

This is where it can get boring

Basic Information:  Richard S. Williams, Associate Professor of History at WAZZU, Washington State University to you non-locals.  There is now a marketing office, if you can believe it, which has tried to forbid WAZZU as being unwanted party school image.  I'm resisting, as you might have noticed. 

B.A. Mathematics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

M.A. History, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Ph.D. Ancient History (minor fields Medieval, Roman & Anglo-Saxon Britain), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

I have been at WAZZU since 1974, teaching Ancient and Medieval History.  Beginning in Fall, 2008, I have been on "phased retirement" and only teach in the spring.  Although I used to teach both ancient and medieval undergraduate courses, my current courses are now limited to just ancient history.

I normally now teach the following:

Ancient Greece:  junior level GER Humanities course to acquaint students with the origins of Western Civilization.  Taught in  spring semester, often in summer session.

Rome: Republic and Empire: junior level GER Humanities course, companion to Ancient Greece, to acquaint students with the people who created the concept of a united Europe.  Taught in spring semester.  I also teach this course for the Distance Degree Program summers and fall semesters when I am not teaching on campus.

World Civilizations to 1500:  required course (first of two) for entering freshmen designed to acquaint students with the basic civilizations on this planet.  This is balanced between East and West, exploring the culture, religion, philosophy, art, architecture, society of various major world civilizations. 

The following two courses are no longer included in my teaching responsibilities:

Early Middle Ages: senior level course, first of two that explores Europe between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.  This course ends arbitrarily at the year 1000.  Not currently taught.

Later Middle Ages:  senior level course, second of two that explores Europe between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.  This course starts at 1000 and finishes the medieval period. Not currently taught.

I was the coordinator for Classical Studies at WSU, for several years.  Since Classics at the University of Idaho is contracting and interest in Classical languages on this campus is negligible, the program has finally been dismantled.  If you want to study classics, you should go to a school with a viable Classics program, such as the University of Washington or the University of Oregon. 

My research interests are in Roman political history and in ancient mathematics.  My wife and I have published articles and presented papers in both areas.

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