Description:
Required course for all students. An introduction to the history of the late 18th, 19th and 20th centuries from a global perspective. It begins with a consideration of the democratic and industrial revolutions in the West and the rise of nationalism. A good part of the course is spent on the 20th century, with attention to the world wars, the Great Depression, the Cold War, revolutionary political change and globalization. The important political ideologies of the 19th and 20th century are discussed: liberalism, socialism, communism and fascism. Specific sections may take an intercultural approach and compare Western history to Chinese history, for example. Emphasis is placed on the reading of primary texts and in-depth secondary texts. Analytic reading and the writing of reasoned arguments based on evidence are an important part of the course. Films may also be used.
