Admission requirements
Required course(s):
None.
Description
History as an academic discipline originated together with the modern nation-state. By contrast, this course highlights aspects of the past that transcend any single nation-state, empire, or politically defined territory. Covering the period roughly between 1400 and 2000, it acquaints students with a range of important social, economic, and cultural phenomena: the spread of trade networks, colonization and indigenous dispossession, ideologies of empire, capitalism, fossil fuels, the rivalry between state and non-state sovereignties, the rise of transnational social movements, and globalization. Only during the modern era did the world truly become “globalized” into an interconnected whole. The course introduces students to classic debates between historians over what constitutes the proper subject of historical analysis (e.g., empire, nation-state, social class, gender), then it considers whether these debates are resolved by the new field of global history. Through assigned readings, classroom discussion, and individual writing assignments, we will try to determine what it means to be modern.
Course Objectives
Engage critically with historical scholarship, social theory, and empirical sources, especially in the field of global history.
Present a historical topic to a non-specialist audience.
Improve oral communication and societal awareness by discussing significant patterns, processes, and events of modern global history.
Improve written communication and societal awareness by writing an essay on a topic relevant to modern global history.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2024-2025 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
During this class we will practice critical reading and reflect on the scholarly literature by discussing the assigned reading. Students will improve their ability to “think historically” about social, economic, and political phenomena that continue to shape our world today by bringing current events explicitly into the seminar discussion.
Attendance of class meetings is mandatory. Students may miss a maximum of two meetings.
Assessment Method
Participation in classroom discussion: 15%, ongoing
In-class presentation: 15%, delivered in chosen week
Short essay: 30%, due three weekdays after presentation date
Final essay: 40%, due at the end of term
Reading list
All the required readings will be available via Brightspace/Required Readings.
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Terence Renaud, t.r.renaud@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
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