Course: HIS434 - The Modern World, 1500 to the Present
Last revised: Date: July 10, 2007     By:Dr. Alex Zukas
Textbook: For the correct edition of the textbook assigned to a specific class, go to: http://www.nutextdirect.com
Course Prerequisite(s):  English 100/101 and History 234
Course Description:  The world has changed remarkably since 1500.  In this course we will explore some of the more important transformations.  They include the colonial expansion of Europe from 1500 to 1750; the transformation of Europe and the Atlantic world from 1500 to 1770 under the impact of the slave trade and the later triangular trade; the rise and fall of Islamic empires of South and Southwest Asia; the emergence of new regional powers in Eurasia (Russia and Japan); the political and social revolutions in the Atlantic world from 1770 to 1825; the industrial revolution and the creation of a new imperial order around the globe after 1825; political and social revolutions in Eurasia and Latin America from 1900 to 1949; global wars and their political, social and economic consequences; national liberation movements and the decolonization of Africa and Asia; the rise and fall of a bi-polar world; and the crises and realignments of the post-Cold War world.  The course will highlight questions of race, class, and gender in these transformations and it will emphasize the integration of primary sources into an interpretive framework created by students.
Learning Outcomes:  
By the end of the course, students will demonstrate their ability to:
  • Delineate the successive political, economic, social and technological changes which transformed Europe from the 16th century to the 18th century.
  • Explain the rise and nature of the Atlantic economy and its impact on the peoples of Europe, Africa and the Americas.
  • Outline the unification, economic and military importance, and disintegration of major Islamic empires (Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal).
  • Describe the major political and social changes in Eurasia: the decline of the Ming dynasty and the expansion of China under the Qing dynasty, the rise of a Russian land empire based on serfdom under the Romanovs, and the isolation of Japan in the Tokugawa era.
  • Compare and contrast the origins, courses, and outcomes of the political and social revolutions in North and South America, the Caribbean, and France 1770-1820.
  • Clarify the causes and consequences of the Industrial Revolution in Europe.
  • Identify the reasons for a new imperialism after 1850 and role of Great Britain, Germany, France, the U.S. and Japan in fostering it.
  • Compare and contrast the causes and consequences of World War I and World War II.
  • Account for the similarities and differences in the major revolutions of the 20th century: Mexican, Russian, Chinese, Algerian, and Vietnamese.
  • Explain the similarities and differences between fascism, Nazism, and Stalinism.
  • Describe the influence of the Cold War on global politics and economics.
  • Assess the success of national liberation movements in Africa and Asia and explain the process of decolonization.
  • Elucidate the problems and promises of the new global economy.
  • Critically assess primary sources for information, bias, values, and tone.
Course Requirements:  
Course Goals:
Students will be able to situate the central issues of the modern world in their chronological and geographical frameworks and demonstrate knowledge of the temporal connection between events in the modern world. HIS 434 will examine systems of daily economic exchange and highlight the emergence of a world capitalist system and study the creation, expansion and disintegration of empires and state systems. It will explain the ways that social relations have changed fundamentally in the last 500 years as students become acquainted with the causes of historical change and continuity in various parts of the world. Finally, it will demonstrate how that the study of history involves interpretations of the past based on current concerns, and to see how understandings of the past change as new information and new interpretations of old information arise.

Course Content/Outline:
  The Early-Modern World, 1500-1800 C.E.
   The Transformation of Europe
   New Worlds: The Americas and Oceania
   Africa and the Atlantic World
   Tradition and Change in East Asia
   The Islamic Empires
   The Russian Empire in Europe and Asia
   Revolutions and National States in the Atlantic World

The Modern World, 1800 C.E. to the present
   The Americas in the Age of Independence
   The Making of Industrial Society
   Societies at the Crossroads in Africa, India and China
   The Building of Global Empires
   The Great War: The World in Upheaval
   An Age of Anxiety and World Economic Collapse
   New Conflagrations: World War II
   The Retreat from Empire
   The Bipolar World
   A World without Borders?

Assignment Descriptions
Minimum requirements:
One 8-10 page research paper that deals with an important historical topic or person. The author of the complete primary source used for the class can be the topic for the research essay. The grade for this paper must represent at least 30% of the final course grade.
A final exam, emphasizing essay questions. The exam should ask students to integrate course material as well as analyze a primary source.
Extensive readings in primary sources representing several different cultural traditions.

Weekly multiple-choice quizzes

Recommended assignments:
Additional short writing assignments.
Documentaries, films and/or field trips to museums or places of historic interest related to the themes of the course.
Assignments related to the process of writing the paper, such as rough drafts, bibliography, citation, etc.
Midterm exam.
Participation in class and small group discussion (should represent no more than 10% of course grade)
Student presentations of papers and/or research.


Recommended Course Grading (expressed as percentages):

A 96-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A- 90-95 B 84-86 C 74-76 D 64-66
    B- 80-83 C- 70-73 D- 60-63

Grading Factors:
Each instructor is responsible for identifying several specific grading components and the weight to be assigned to each component. The following are examples only, and are not meant to be all inclusive:

Definition of Grades:

Undergraduate Courses
A Outstanding Achievement Significantly exceeds standards
B Commendable Achievement Exceeds standards
C Acceptable Achievement Meets standards
D Marginal Achievement Below standards
F Failing *  
Graduate Courses
A Outstanding Achievement
B Commendable Achievement
C Marginal Achievement
D Unsatisfactory *
F Failing *

* Students receiving this grade in a course that is required for his/her degree program must repeat the course.

I

Incomplete A grade given at the discretion of the instructor when a student who has completed at least two-thirds of the course class sessions and is unable to complete the requirements of the course because of uncontrollable and unforeseen circumstances. The student must convey these circumstances (preferably in writing) to the instructor prior to the final day of the course. If an instructor decides that an "Incomplete" is warranted, the instructor must convey the conditions for removal of the "Incomplete" to the student in writing. A copy must also be placed on file with the Office of the Registrar until the "Incomplete" is removed or the time limit for removal has passed. An "Incomplete" is not assigned when the only way the student could make up the work would be to attend a major portion of the class when next offered.

An "I" that is not removed within the stipulated time becomes an "F." No grade points are assigned. The "F" is calculated in the grade point average.
W

Withdrawal Signifies that a student has withdrawn from a course after beginning the third class session. Students who wish to withdraw must notify their admissions advisor before the beginning of the sixth class session in the case of graduate courses, or before the seventh class session in the case of undergraduate courses. Instructors are not authorized to issue a "W" grade.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else's ideas or work as one's own. Students must give credit for any information that is not either the result of original research or common knowledge. If a student borrows ideas or information from another author, he/she must acknowledge the author in the body of the text and on the reference page. Students found plagiarizing are subject to the penalties outlined in the Policies and Procedures section of the University Catalog, which may include a failing grade for the work in question or for the entire course. The following is one of many websites that provide helpful information concerning plagiarism for both students and faculty: http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Ethics:
Ethical behavior in the classroom is required of every student. The course will identify ethical policies and practices relevant to course topics.

Technology:
Students are expected to be competent in using current technology appropriate for this discipline. Such technology may include word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. Use of the internet and e-mail may also be required.

Diversity:
Learning to work with and value diversity is essential in every class. Students are expected to exhibit an appreciation for multinational and gender diversity in the classroom.

Civility:
As a diverse community of learners, students must strive to work together in a setting of civility, tolerance, and respect for each other and for the instructor. Rules of classroom behavior (which apply to online as well as onsite courses) include but are not limited to the following:

Students with Disabilities:
Students seeking special accommodations due to a disability must submit an application with supporting documentation, as explained under this subject heading in the General Catalog. Instructors are required to provide such accommodations if they receive written notification from the University.

Writing Across the Curriculum:
Students are expected to demonstrate writing skills in describing, analyzing and evaluating ideas and experiences. Written reports and research papers must follow specific standards regarding citations of an author's work within the text and references at the end of the paper. Students are encouraged to use the services of the University's Writing Center when preparing materials.

The following website provides information on APA, MLA, and other writing and citation styles that may be required for term papers and the like: http://www.nu.edu/LIBRARY/ReferenceTools/citations.html

National University Library:
National University Library supports academic rigor and student academic success by providing access to scholarly books and journals both electronically and in hard copy. Print materials may be accessed at the Library in San Diego or through document delivery for online and regional students. Librarians are available to provide training, reference assistance, and mentoring at the San Diego Library and virtually for online or regional students. Please take advantage of Library resources: