In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of this course are to develop an understanding of some principal themes in modern world history, an ability to analyze historical evidence, and an ability to analyze and to express historical understanding in writing.  Modern World History will emphasize intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history, social and economic history, as the issue of “the individual and the greater community” evolves chronologically in the modern historical era.

Although special focus will be given to the major themes from Modern European Culture, students will undertake a substantive comparative study of global human themes.  The final focus of Modern World History will consider the complex reality of growing global interdependence amongst all peoples and cultures, by comparing and contrasting themes, intellectual ideas, and cultural issues of “the individual in the greater community” from all world regions.