The Caucasus is a fascinating region that is relatively little known in the West, despite its rich history and current geopolitical sensitivity. The course will examine selected topics in the history and contemporary politics of the Caucasus region. The topics we will cover break down approximately as follows: pre-Russian, imperial, and Soviet history; post-Soviet state formation, ethnic conflict, and interstate wars; and domestic politics, development, and social change. The goal is to give students a basic introduction to the contemporary Caucasus that will enable them to embark on further advanced study, research, or work in the region. The class will be taught in seminar format and students will be expected to play an active role in presenting and discussing each week’s reading assignment. While there are no formal prerequisites, some prior training in Soviet history and post-Soviet politics will be helpful.