This team-taught, full-year module familiarises the students with the main factors and processes that made the modern globalized world we are living in today. It begins with identifying the roots of 'Modernity' and the rise of Europe up to the 18th Century, then focuses on developments in the 19th Century, tracing them to the present day and the current crisis of globalisation. The module structure and content of the lectures reflect the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the Making of the Modern World, and also its global character.
The module aims to introduce students to conceptual thinking by giving them an understanding of ideas such as 'Modernity', 'Modernization', and 'Globalisation', among others. Part of this is done through the discussion and understanding of different histories, different methodological approaches and different ways of interpreting the past.
Last, but not least, the module helps students with their academic skills, especially in making the transition to more independent study in the second and third year. Students are taught how to interpret primary sources, how to find and read relevant secondary literature, how to write essays, and how to organise their studies effectively.
- Module Supervisor: Matthew Grant