HIST 125: Introduction to Global History

HIST 125-002: Introduction to World History
(Spring 2019)

12:00 PM to 01:15 PM T

Exploratory Hall (formerly Science and Tech II) L004

Section Information for Spring 2019

In this course, we will explore the sweeping historical changes that created today's world, ending with the fairly recent ascent of "the West." We will survey major features of the principal civilizations of the world and the major types of global contacts over the last eight centuries or so, both as many were originally formed and as they have been more recently altered during the past three centuries by the "forces of modernity." We will try to define what the major traditional features of each civilization were, and how those cultures persisted and changed as the "modern world" evolved. This course will specifically trace key processes shaping and reshaping the politics, cultures, and economies of various societies throughout the world. The chief goals of this course involve the following: the ability to assess change over time on a global level; comparing different societies, highlighting both similarities and differences; and the understanding of the emergence and impact of global processes throughout the past three-quarters of a millennium.

ALL parts of the world will be discussed in this course. Each geographic region became enmeshed in a global system affected by far-reaching religious transformations, mercantile activity, industrial growth and imperialism/colonialism. We will study that process along with the influences of modern nationalism, Cold War dynamics, and anti-colonial movements. By the end of the semester, students should have a grasp of the major trends underlying the most recent millennium of world history. To accomplish all of this, we will explore primary documents from some often "unheard" voices like women, non-whites and non-Westerners (although we won’t completely forget about the so-called “Great White Men” either), secondary source scholarship in the form of a textbook tailored specifically for this course, and informative (and amusing) videos. This class will be organized as BOTH lecture classes and interactive activities during recitations such as group work and discussion.

View 20 Other Sections of this Course in this Semester »

Tags:

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

By focusing on historical experiences that reflect the diversity of Mason’s student body, students will be able to see how their families and communities fit within, and contribute to, global history from the pre-modern period to our present day. This course offers a long-term historical perspective on structural issues challenging our world today, including demographic and environmental changes, national and global inequalities, and the underrepresentation of marginalized groups. Students will gain an understanding of how interconnections and inter-dependencies have been forged through the global movement of people, pathogens, goods, and ideas. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Global History
Schedule Type: Lecture, Recitation
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.