The human community from A.D. 1500 to the present, focusing on the interrelations of societies and cultures and comparing the experiences of peoples and civilizations with one another.
Athena Title
World Civilizations II
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in HIST 2702H
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the modern world by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how modern world history has shaped social and cultural identities, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
Topical Outline
World Societies in 1500
Cultural encounters: Iberia, Aztecs, Eurasia
Trade networks and inter-regional contact
The emergence of nation-states and empires
Ideologies of science, race, and freedom
Industrial change and class identity
Gender and social order: India, Britain
Technologies of empire: Africa, Asia, and Latin America
International conflict and superpower politics
The post-colonial order
Consuming habits: inventing consumerism and advertising
A clash of civilizations? Poverty, prosperity, and diversity today
General Education Core
CORE IV: World Languages and Global Culture CORE V: Social Sciences
