Introduction to Global History

Examines how the modern world came into being by placing today's headlines within deeper historical contexts. Follows societies across the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, from ancient times to the present, with particular attention to moments of intense global interaction and major historical turning points. Topics may include global pandemics from the Black Death to COVID-19; world trade from the Silk Road to the 'chip war'; Atlantic slavery and the rise of modern capitalism; imperialism and its afterlives; the roots of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; the Cold War; fossil fuels and climate change; and global communication and new media. Students will learn to interpret sources critically and situate contemporary global issues within deeper historical trajectories.