Course Description

This course offers a survey of the major themes and events that have shaped societies across the world since 1300. In addition to examining major economic and political transformations and upheavals, we will consider the changing relationship between humans and the natural world, as well as the extraction, production, and global movement of commodities such as silk, ceramics, coffee, rice, sugar, chocolate, tobacco, cotton, and. Students will learn about the emergence of plantation slavery, the industrial revolution, capitalism, decolonization, nationalism, and communism. Rather than framing the period since 1500 as the “rise of the West” this course takes a de-centered approach, illustrating the multitude of human experiences, cultural and religious practices, technologies, and arts from across Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe. Students will have an opportunity to engage with literary works, movies, and sounds coming from diverse cultural traditions.

Course Reviews

Reviews coming soon.