Focus on key events, ideologies, and themes across these time periods.
Lectures aim to prepare students for exams, with humor and engagement.
Unit 6: 1750-1900
Key Themes
Imperialism and Ideologies: European empire building driven by ideologies like the belief in racial superiority, social Darwinism, and the desire to spread Christianity.
Nationalism: Nationalist motives within imperial states to expand empires as a show of power.
Economic Motives: Industrial Revolution's demand for new markets and raw materials.
Imperialism
Examples: Belgium's control of the Congo, British control of India.
New Imperialists: U.S. imperialism post-Spanish-American War, Japan's colonization of Korea and parts of Asia.
Scramble for Africa: European powers' diplomatic division of Africa at the Berlin Conference.
Resistance to Imperialism
Direct Resistance: Rebellions like Tupac Amaru's in Peru, the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Creation of New States: Nationalism leading to new Balkan states.
Religious Movements: Ghost Dance in the U.S., Cattle Killing Movement in South Africa.
Economic Changes
Shift from subsistence farming to cash crops due to industrial demands.
Economic Imperialism: Industrialized nations exerting economic control, e.g., Britain's influence in China via opium trade.
Unit 7: 1900-present
Global Conflicts
World War I Causes: Militarism, alliances, imperialism, nationalism.
World War I Strategies: Total war efforts, new technologies like poison gas, trenches.
Post-War Economy: Great Depression leads to increased government intervention (e.g., New Deal in the U.S.).
World War II
Causes: Treaty of Versailles' flaws, global economic crises, rise of fascism.
Strategies: Total war, use of propaganda, technological advancements like firebombing and atomic bombs.
Consequences: Genocide, ethnic violence, e.g., Holocaust, Stalin's policies in Ukraine.
Unit 8: Cold War and Decolonization
Cold War Dynamics
Causes: Ideological conflict between U.S. capitalism and Soviet communism.
Effects: Arms race, new military alliances (NATO, Warsaw Pact), proxy wars (Korea, Vietnam, Nicaragua).
Decolonization
Negotiated Independence: India gained independence through non-violent movements led by Gandhi.
Armed Resistance: Algeria's violent liberation from France.
Economic and Social Changes
Communism in China: Mao's policies like collectivization, Great Leap Forward.
Global Economic Integration: Rise of multinational corporations, free trade agreements.
Unit 9: Globalization
Technological and Medical Advancements
New communication and transportation technologies; impact on global commerce and connectivity.
Medical advancements like birth control and vaccines reduced disease impact in wealthy nations.
Agricultural innovations like the Green Revolution.