MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu 21H.912 The World Since 1492 Fall 2004 For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.21H.912 Instructor: David Ciarlo Spring, 2008 MW 11-12:30 THE WORLD SINCE 1492 Description: This class offers a look into the last five hundred years of world history. Rather than attempt an exhaustive chronology of all of the significant events and processes that have occurred on the globe since 1492—an impossible task for a lifetime, let alone a single semester—we will be focusing on certain geographic areas at specific times, in order to highlight a particular historical problem or to examine the roots of processes that have had an enormous impact on the contemporary world. In order to lend structure to such a wide-ranging exploration, the class will orient around several central themes: colonialism and imperialism; political and social transformations; industrialization; nationalism; and the rise of consumer society. While any of these themes could provide the basis for a class in-and-of itself, we will look to the ways in which these themes interact—for example, how the history of imperialism relates to the course of industrialization. Finally, in this class we will engage with a range of different types of readings, from primary sources (writings from the times), to historical narratives, to historiography (debates about history), to works of fiction. In this way, the class will also allow a glimpse into the ways in which history itself is constructed and continually re-written. Organization of the Class: In general, we will have an intensive discussion session every week addressing a specific book or group of essays. Other class meetings, meanwhile, will be a blend of informal lecture, question and answer, and discussion. Discussions will therefore be the single most significant element of this class. This is reflected in the calculation of the final grade, which can be broken down as follows: Four 5-page papers: 15% each Discussion/Participation: 25% Final Exam: 15% In addition to discussion, the criteria for a HASS-D subject include twenty pages of written assignments. These papers will draw from the assigned readings, lectures, and discussions over the course of the class: no additional or outside research will be required for the papers. The four 5-page papers are due March 10, April 2, April 23 and May 7. You must revise and resubmit at least one of these papers. Please talk to me first before rewriting a paper; revisions must be returned, along with the marked original and comments, within two weeks of receiving the corrected original. 1Please note: Plagiarism of any kind—that is taking another's words and/or ideas from a book, another student, or from the internet without full and complete citation—will not be tolerated regardless of the circumstances, and will result in an "F" for the final class grade. Books for Purchase: Robert Marks, The Origins of the Modern World: a Global and Ecological Narrative (2006 edition; ISBN 0742554198 Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Equiano Jonathan Spence, The Death of Woman Wang (1978) Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities (1991) (optional; we'll read excerpts) Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Heda Kovaly, Under a Cruel Star (1997) Additional readings will appear on the Course Website or handed out in class. Class Outline: Week 1 Feb. 6 (Wed.): Introduction to class and requirements Week 2 Feb. 11 (Mon.): World Systems before 1492 Discussion: Marks, Origins of the Modern World, 1-42  bring one (written) question on Marks Feb. 13 (Wed.) Indian Ocean Encounters; Conquest in the New World Read: Marks, 43-79 Discussion: Excerpt from Sepulveda/Las Casas debate (1554) [6 pp.] Week 3 Feb. 18 (Mon.) No Class (President's Day) Feb. 19 (Tues.; following Monday Schedule): Racism I: New World Slavery Read: Marks, 82-92 Feb. 20 (Wed.) Discussion: Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Equiano Week 4 Feb. 25 (Mon.): Dynasties: China and India in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Marks, 79-82 Feb. 27 (Wed.): Discussion: Jonathan Spence, The Death of Woman Wang 2Week 5 Mar. 3 (Mon.) Film: To Be Announced Mar. 5 (Wed.) Dynasties: France's Ancien Regime Week 6 Mar. 10 (Mon.) The Outbreak of the Revolution in France *First paper due Mar. 12 (Wed.) Revolution in Haiti: Universal Human Rights? Discussion: Documents from L. Hunt, The French Revolution and Human Rights Week 7 Mar. 17 (Mon) Origins of National Identity (and of Nationalism) Read: Marks, 139-142 Discussion: Benedict Anderson, Imagined Communities (excerpts) Mar. 19 (Wed.) European Industrialization Read: Marx, 95-139 Excerpts from Pomerance & Topik, The World that Trade Created (Course Website) March 24-27 Spring Break Week 8 Mar. 31 (Mon.) Discussion: Smiles, Self-Help (1882) [3 pp.] Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels Communist Manifesto(1847 & 1888) [36 pp.] Apr. 2 (Wed.) Social Implications of Industrialization: Read: Documents on child labor and social conditions of industrialization *Second paper due Week 9 Apr. 7 (Mon.) The New Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa Marks, 142-151 Apr. 9 (Wed.) Discussion of Chinue Achebe's Things Fall Apart (entire book) Week 10 Apr. 17 (Mon.) The Origins of Consumerism? Apr. 16 (Wed.) Discussion: The Dawn of Advertising Raymond Williams "Advertising: The Magic System" T. Jackson Lears, "From Salvation to Self-Realization" 3Week 11 Apr. 21 (Mon.) No Class (Patriot's Day) Apr. 23 (Wed.) The First World War Marks, 155-162 *Third paper due Week 12 Apr. 28 (Mon.) Socialism in the Soviet Union & China (begin reading Heda Kovaly, Under a Cruel Star) Apr. 30 (Wed.) The Rise of Fascism Marks, 162-166 Week 13 May 5 (Mon.) World War II May 7 (Wed.) Discussion: Heda Kovaly, Under a Cruel Star (1997) *Fourth paper due Week 14 May 12 (Mon.) The Cold War Marks, 166-174 May 14 (Wed.) Decolonization & Global Inequity Marks, 174-207 May . 19-23 Final Exam period