The modern world is increasingly a global world. The ways of thinking needed to live in it must also become global. This means we must learn to think inclusively rather than exclusively. History must become more than the history of particular nations or particular cultures. Eventually, it must become the history of human beings. And even more than that ... it must become the history of the world and the Universe we inhabit. David
Christian
Course
Description
Macquarie University ~ Sydney, Australia History courses traditionally focus on a particular country or region, theme or period. World history expands the boundaries of historical analysis to survey history on the largest possible scale. Rather than "learning everything that happened," world history approaches broad themes and cross cultural fractures and connections. HIST 2321 is a Writing Intensive (WI) course. See Department Course Syllabus. World Civilization to the 15th century provides a global perspective on the past. Understanding a global perspective has become an essential tool of citizenship. Building on the themes — tradition and encounter — we will examine the development of political, social, economic, and cultural traditions that have shaped the world's peoples from Antiquity to the 15th century. The study of global history prepares one for an understanding of the modern world. The goal of this course is to prompt historical inquiry, analysis, and interpretation, and acquaint students with major events and significant trends in world history from antiquity to the fifteenth century. In the first part of this two semester course, we will explore the common challenges and experiences that unite the human past. We will focus on the major, enduring civilizations in the world, the forces that shaped their experiences, the manner in which they came into confluence, and their legacies.
Our class sessions are intended to engage in the process of historical analysis — to encourage you to think like historians. Each student will be challenged to consider history in new and different ways. Learning Outcomes & Performance Objectives with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students mastery of those outcomes
Performance Objective/Measurement: Through an examination of change over time, identification of multiple perspectives on the past, and exploration of cross regional influences on human development, students will recognize the contributions of multiple cultures to world history. Through a combination of individual and group presentations/projects, quizzes, tests, self tests, written and reading assignments, personal diaries, and class discussion the student will be able to demonstrate mastery of course learning outcomes. |