I am teaching a course in this coming fall titled “The History of Oil”—meaning petroleum, or crude oil. The class is meant to qualify as a world or transnational history, and is aimed at second, third, and fourth-year undergraduates. With that introduction, it is needless to say that this post is slightly off-topic in relation to our overall goals at USIH. But you will see by the end of the discussion that I am seeking cross-currents. For starters, I’m excited about the course. It will combine elements of economic, political, environmental, and socio-cultural history, as well as the history of Read more