Dr. Karim M. Tiro

History Associate Professor
Honors Programs Associate Professor

Areas of Expertise:
Early America, Native Americans

Other Information:

I am a historian specializing in North America from the 16th through the mid-19th centuries. In my survey classes, I am particularly interested in reconsidering the historical importance of America’s less well-known wars, in particular the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American War. My upper-level courses examine the creation of a ‘New World’ where Spaniards, Scots, Angolans, Choctaws, and countless other groups struggled to understand and control one another. We explore the development of the colonies, the struggle for independence from Great Britain, and the creation of the republic. I always ask students to think about developments from multiple perspectives, and to ponder how patterns of interaction established so long ago continue to influence American culture today. My recent publications include Along the Hudson and Mohawk: The 1790 Journey of Count Paolo Andreani and “The Dilemmas of Alliance: The Oneida Indian Nation in the American Revolution.” For more than a decade (!), I have been immersed in writing a book on the history of the Oneidas between 1760 and 1850. During this time, I have served as a consultant to them in their land-claim litigation, as well as to the National Parks Service, and, most recently, to a documentary film production company working on a film about Native American history. I am also presently studying the historical effects of Columbus's introduction of Old World plants and animals to the Americas.