HIST 56B: Rethinking World History (to 1960)Instructor: Mate Rigo Prerequisites: None Course Description: This course offers an examination of key processes that shaped human history up to the post-WW2 period, focusing on the interconnectedness of societies, cultures, and civilizations across continents. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will delve into key historical events, movements, and themes that have shaped human civilization from antiquity to the mid-20th century. </br></br> The course begins with an exploration of early human civilizations, through the study of city cultures vs. rural societies, through the writings of classics such as Ibn Khaldun and Herodotus, and the recent work of Yuval Noel Harrari. After studying Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, and the Indus Valley and examining their political structures, economic systems, and cultural achievements, students will trace the development of classical civilizations in Greece, Rome, India, and China, analyzing their impact on subsequent societies and the transmission of ideas across regions. </br></br> A central focus of the course is the examination of the process of globalization, beginning with the exchange networks of the Silk Road, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan routes. Students will analyze the effects of trade, migration, and cultural diffusion on societies, as well as the emergence of empires such as the Mongols, Ottoman Empire, and Mughal Empire. </br></br> The course will also explore the interconnectedness of the Americas, Africa, and Europe through the Columbian Exchange, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and European colonialism. Special attention will be given to study continents instead of nation states. This summer we will explore in depth the Mediterranean space. </br></br> Throughout the semester, students will engage with primary sources, historical texts, and scholarly debates to develop critical thinking skills and historical analysis. Topics of discussion will include imperialism, nationalism, revolutions, industrialization, and the impact of technology on societies. </br></br> By the end of the course, students will have gained a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic interactions that have shaped global history up to 1960, as well as the legacies of colonialism, imperialism, and globalization that continue to influence the contemporary world. Session: Session II Day: M, T, Th Time: 11:10am - 1:40pm Credit Hours: 4 Credits Course Format: Remote Learning Course for Summer 2024 Brandeis Graduation Requirement Fulfilled: DJW, NW, SS Enrollment Limit: 20 students Course Classification: Undergraduate Level Course Course Tuition: $3,700 Course Fees: None Open to High School Students: Yes |
