The Making of the Modern World
Courses
For course descriptions not found in the 2008-2009 General Catalog, please contact the department for more information.
Traditions
1. Prehistory and the Birth of Civilization (4) This quarter introduces students to what is known about early humans, including the evolution of the human body and the reconstruction of Paleolithic and Neolithic cultures. It examines contemporary hunting-and-gathering and tribal societies and illuminates the complexity of such cultures with respect to mythology and oral tradition, interpersonal relations, and ecological practices. The course will conclude with an analysis of the emergence of large agrarian societies and the earliest great settled communities and civilizations. Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (F)
2. The Great Classical Traditions (6) An introduction to five major classical civilizations of the ancient world. Equal attention will be given to the ancient Near East, Greece, India, China and the Roman Republic, all of which have left legacies to the present. The course covers the great early systems of religious and social thought, using an approach that combines history and social science. This course includes intensive instruction in writing expository prose. Three hours of lecture, two hours of writing and discussion sections. Prerequisite: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (W)
3. The Medieval Heritage (6) A survey of the period from about 29 B.C.E. to 1200 C.E., this quarter concentrates on the development of China from the Han to the Sung Dynasties, the growth and eventual dissolution of the Roman Empire, the development of Christianity, and the rise of Islam. This course includes intensive instruction in university-level writing. Three hours of lecture, two hours of writing and discussion sections. Prerequisite: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (S)
Transformations
4. New Ideas and the Clash of Cultures (4) An examination of the world from 1200 to 1750, the course focuses on the transition from medieval to modern by addressing philosophical, social, political, economic, and technological changes in Asia, Europe, and Islamic territories. Topics may include the Mongol invasions and their impact; the European Renaissance, Reformation, and Scientific Revolution; Islamic and Chinese empires; exploration and trade; and European expansion into the Americas. Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement; successful completion of MMW 2 and/or MMW 3. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (F)
5. Revolution, Industry, and Empire (4) A consideration of the great changes in European society from the late eighteenth century to the Russian Revolution, and their impact on the non-Western world. Topics include industrialization, the rise of nationalism and the nation-state, Western imperialism, and the colonial experience. Developments in non-Western countries during this period will be examined from their own internal perspective. Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement; successful completion of MMW 2, MMW 3, and/or MMW 4. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (W)
6. Twentieth Century and Beyond (4) The course begins with a consideration of the causes and consequences of World War I, and then looks at the post-war crisis of liberal values and institutions. It addresses the deepening of crisis in the thirties, especially evident in the emergence of ideological politics and extreme nationalism in the context of world-wide depression. This period of crisis provides the background for understanding World War II. Attention is then devoted to the Cold War, the competition between capitalism and communism, and the process of decolonization. The course ends with a discussion of the collapse of communism and the emerging world order (or disorder). Three hours of lecture, one hour of discussion. Prerequisites: satisfaction of the UC Entry Level Writing requirement; successful completion of MMW 2, MMW 3,MMW 4, and/or MMW 5. Open to Eleanor Roosevelt College students only. (Letter grade only.) (S)
