20th Century World History

This course focuses on the ways in which the dramatic events of the 20th century have shaped the 21st century world in which we live. We begin the course with an examination of the tragic events of World War I, ending with an analysis of the growth of nationalist movements that the war inspired around the world. After charting the emergence of totalitarian regimes throughout the world during the 1920s and 1930s, the class documents the violence of World War II and the tragedy of the Holocaust. A particularly important focus in this class will be the voices of history in the non-Western areas of the world (Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America) and their journey of change and empowerment. The course ends with an analysis of the growth of global issues such as environmentalism, terrorism, and the world economy in the early 21st century world.