HIST XR020 - World History: Twentieth Century

Course Description

Over five weeks, we will trace the history of the long 20th century across our interconnected world. Throughout the course, we will assess global patterns and trends, including decolonization, total war, and the Great Acceleration, and focus in on illustrative case studies in the Congo, Hawai’i, Japan, and more. Our survey of the 20th-century world will be guided by three key themes:

• the global movement of people and ideas
• technological and environmental crisis
• power struggles between revolution and empire

Apart from the historical content, the course will also teach you how to think and read like a historian.

Learner Outcomes

• Gain a multifaceted understanding of the global 20th-century world
• Understand how to evaluate historical significance
• Learn to evaluate, analyze, and use historical primary sources
• Assess change over time, and connect historical trends across decades