Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - HIST 485 B100

Studies in History I (4)

Food in Global Perspective

Class Number: 3824

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units including nine units of lower division history.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Special topics.

COURSE DETAILS:

Global Food Histories

Food is a culturally constructed and historically grounded concept. Food production and consumption patterns are potent barometers, and even drivers, of historical and cultural change. In this class, we will examine how historians can use food studies and sources to enrich our knowledge of peoples and patterns in the past, including global and diasporic movements. After being introduced to foundational and interdisciplinary literature, students will pursue the food topic of their choice, shared through student-led article presentations, discussions, and final self-directed projects.  The ultimate goal is to bring everyone’s interests and contributions together through the course to appreciate global and temporal patterns, as well as tasty idiosyncrasies.  Topics include: innovations in food production; hunters and herders; religion, trade and mobility; globalizations and the Atlantic trade era; gendered relationships with food; colonial-era food economies; feeding the city; and the modern politics of food, including food in the news. Students will be assessed on participation (verbally in meetings and/or through written online posts), finding and presenting a scholarly article, and pursuing their research topic through a final project (paper, or alternate project) scaffolded across the book review, proposal, and draft feedback stages. This class is delivered as a blended class, and attendance and in-class activities will be graded; 1-2 absences during the term are acceptable (alert instructor for absence due to illness), and there will be no class Jan 26th. We will be consuming food as part of class, and all food observances are accommodated.

Grading

  • Participation 20%
  • Book Review 15%
  • Presentation and leading of class discussion 20%
  • Research Project (including proposal, draft, final) 45%

NOTES:

Grading and Assignments (up to 5% flexible distribution)

Materials

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Learn more about studing History at SFU:

History areas of study


Why study History?

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.