Thoughts from history class
These “historians” talk too much and cite too little. The make claims that contradict what has been taught without offering proof. They act as if changing their story on bits of history is no important matter. As Sagan said, though he probably rolls in the grave at my use of it, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. If you are going to claim that North Americans traded with the Egyptians in the days of the Pharaohs you need to provide better proof than claims of nicotine on mummies. Which is easier to believe, that the Pharaohs consumed tobacco imported from North America, or that the mummies were contaminated by pipe smoking explorers?
Frankly, I'm surprised that this course (HIST103) exists. It is supposed to be history from the western world view. I get the feeling that his course has more to do with the instructor's world view than with anything else.