In this course you will explore the making of the modern world and of our global society. The course begins with the expansion of the Silk Road and the devastating impact of the Black Death on Europe and Asia. We will examine the development of an international order of sovereign states during the Age of Revolutions and of Global Empires. The course ends with the convergence and interactions that have shaped the twentieth century and our contemporary era of globalisation.
This course focuses on key historical events, people and processes through which the world became increasingly interconnected. We will problematise and analyse the concept and phenomenon of globalisation and pay attention to the networks of people and ideas that have driven global transformations. You will gain a historically-informed understanding of contemporary society by examining the interactions between colonial and Indigenous powers, the development of a system of sovereign and independent states, and the development of social, economic and cultural relationships between Oceania, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe. You will learn to analyse, compare and critically assess first-hand perspectives of historical actors through a variety of texts and images.