HIST 231A Soccer: A World History
Soccer today is a global multi-billion dollar business. The sport has become part of a gigantic entertainment and betting industry stretching across the planet. The international soccer association FIFA has more members than the United Nations (208). However, for hundreds of millions of fans and players, soccer is mostly what they love as amateurs. Modern soccer has a history that dates back to 19th century England, from where engineers and businessmen brought the "English disease" to continental Europe, South America, and other places. In America, however, soccer had a more difficult time becoming a major national sport. This course offers insights into the fascinating social, economic, and cultural history of soccer, how the game spread over the globe, and why the tension between players, fans, and business is part of its success story. This course fulfills the History/Political Theory requirement within the Liberal Arts Curriculum. Students will do research and oral presentations on a specific team (national team or club team) as members of a group.