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The Modern World, Part Two

Global History since 1910

Philip Zelikow

This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part Two begins early in the twentieth century, as older ways of doing things and habits of thought give way. What follows is an era of cataclysmic struggles over what ideas and institutions will take their place. The course concludes in the present day, as communities everywhere are transitioning into a new era of world history. Again we work hard to grasp what is happening and ask: Why? Again we are drawn to pivotal choices made at key moments by individuals and communities.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Crackup (1905-1917)

New Orders Emerge (1917-1930)

The Crisis of the World (1930-1940)

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops an understanding of modern history's major turning points and their lasting impact

Taught by Philip Zelikow, recognized for their work in international relations and history

Uses a global perspective to provide a comprehensive overview of modern history

Examines historical events from various angles, emphasizing pivotal moments and their significance

Requires students to actively engage with the material and critically assess historical sources

May not be suitable for students with no prior knowledge of global history

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive global history since 1910

According to learners, this course provides a comprehensive and well-structured overview of global history since 1910. Students widely praise the instructor's expertise and the engaging quality of the lectures. While the course covers a vast amount of material and can feel fast-paced, many reviewers found the content to be thought-provoking and felt they gained a solid understanding of the modern world. The accompanying readings are considered valuable, though occasionally dense. Overall, it is described as a highly rewarding and worthwhile learning experience for anyone interested in contemporary history.

Needs careful attention and effort.

"Requires consistent effort and engagement."

"You need to be disciplined to keep up with the readings and lectures."

"Definitely not a course you can just breeze through."

Significant amount of content covered quickly.

"It moves very quickly through complex events, but is very dense and worthwhile."

"The amount of information to process in a week can be substantial."

"It is very dense but worthwhile. There is a lot of information to absorb."

"Pace can feel fast given the breadth of topics."

Promotes critical thinking about history.

"It forces you to think about history in new and challenging ways."

"The course encourages critical analysis of historical narratives."

"Left me with a lot to ponder about the modern world."

Readings add depth and context.

"The required readings enhance the lectures and provide valuable perspective."

"The readings were well-chosen and complemented the lecture material."

"I appreciated the depth provided by the supplementary texts."

"Some readings were dense but added crucial context."

Covers a broad range of global historical events.

"An excellent overview of global history in the 20th and 21st centuries."

"The course is comprehensive and well-structured."

"It covers a vast amount of material effectively."

"It provides a grand overview of global events and their interconnectedness."

Lectures are clear, interesting, and well-delivered.

"The lectures are interesting and thought-provoking, often covering aspects of history not typically found in standard texts."

"His lectures are outstanding - so knowledgeable, thoughtful, engaging, and clear."

"The video lectures are excellent and stimulating."

"I found the lectures engaging and easy to follow."

Instructor is highly knowledgeable and engaging.

"Professor cannot be praised enough. His lectures are outstanding - so knowledgeable, thoughtful, engaging, and clear."

"The lecturer has a profound knowledge of the subject and his lectures are delivered in a clear, logical, and engaging manner."

"Excellent lecturer, clearly an expert in the field who presents information clearly."

"I really enjoyed listening to the professor, he is clearly very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about history."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910 with these activities:

Practice identifying the key terms and concepts of the course

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This activity will help you develop your understanding of the key terms and concepts of the course. This will help you succeed in the course as you will be able to more easily follow the lectures and readings.

Browse courses on 20th Century History

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Review the key terms and concepts of the course.
Take a practice quiz.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you are confident in your understanding of the key terms and concepts.

Watch a documentary about a topic related to the course

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This activity will help you develop your understanding of a topic related to the course. This will help you succeed in the course as you will be able to more easily follow the lectures and readings.

Browse courses on 20th Century History

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Choose a documentary about a topic related to the course.
Watch the documentary.
Take notes on the key points of the documentary.

Review your notes from previous courses on related topics

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This activity will help you refresh your knowledge of related topics. This will help you succeed in the course as you will be able to more easily follow the lectures and readings.

Browse courses on 20th Century History

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Gather your notes from previous courses on related topics.
Review your notes.
Take practice quizzes on the material.

Five other activities

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Review 'The Outbreak of World War I' by Stevenson

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Reading this book will help you develop a strong foundational understanding of the causes and consequences of the outbreak of World War I. This will help you succeed in the course as we discuss the period of 1917-1930.

View Cataclysm: The First World War as Political... on Amazon

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Read the book in its entirety.
Take notes on the key points of each chapter.
Write a short summary of the book.

Make a map of the world showing the major empires and their colonies in 1914

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This activity will help you visualize the global political landscape at the outbreak of World War I. This will help you succeed in the course as we discuss the causes and consequences of World War I.

Browse courses on World War I

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Gather information about the major empires and their colonies in 1914.
Create a map of the world.
Label the empires and their colonies on the map.

Create a timeline of the 20th century

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This activity will help you visualize the key events of the 20th century and understand how they are connected. This will help you succeed in the course as we discuss the major themes and events of the 20th century.

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Gather information about the major events of the 20th century.
Organize the events chronologically.
Create a visual representation of the timeline.

Write a blog post about a topic related to the course

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This activity will help you develop your writing skills and your understanding of the course material. This will help you succeed in the course as you will be able to articulate your thoughts and ideas more clearly.

Browse courses on 20th Century History

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Choose a topic related to the course.
Research the topic.
Write a blog post that is well-written and informative.

Attend a lecture or conference related to the course

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This activity will help you connect with other people who are interested in the same topic. This will help you succeed in the course as you will be able to learn from others and get different perspectives on the material.

Browse courses on 20th Century History

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Find a lecture or conference related to the course.
Attend the lecture or conference.
Network with other people who are interested in the same topic.

Career center

Learners who complete The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

As a Historian, you will conduct research and write about the past. You will analyze historical events and interpret their significance. You will also teach history and help people to understand the past. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Historian. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills. This course could also be helpful in the field of museum studies or archival science if you are interested in pursuing this career.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Journalist

As a Journalist, you will report on current events and write articles for newspapers, magazines, and websites. You will research stories, interview people, and write and edit articles. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Journalist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills. It will also help you to understand the role of the media in society.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Foreign Service Officer

As a Foreign Service Officer, you will represent the United States abroad. You will work in embassies and consulates, and you will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including political reporting, economic analysis, and public diplomacy. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Foreign Service Officer. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Service Officer

Diplomat

As a Diplomat, you will represent your country in international affairs. You will work in embassies and consulates, and you will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including negotiating treaties and agreements, promoting trade, and protecting your country's interests. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Diplomat. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking, analytical, and communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Diplomat

Lawyer

As a Lawyer, you will advise clients on legal issues, represent them in court, and draft legal documents. You will need to have a strong understanding of the law, as well as excellent critical thinking and analytical skills. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Lawyer. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Political Scientist

As a Political Scientist, you will study politics and government. You will research political systems, analyze political behavior, and develop theories about how politics works. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Political Scientist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Economist

As an Economist, you will study the economy and how it works. You will research economic trends, analyze economic data, and develop theories about how to improve the economy. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Economist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Sociologist

As a Sociologist, you will study society and how it works. You will research social trends, analyze social data, and develop theories about how society works. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Sociologist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Anthropologist

As an Anthropologist, you will study human culture and society. You will research different cultures, analyze cultural data, and develop theories about how culture works. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Anthropologist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Geographer

As a Geographer, you will study the Earth and its physical features. You will research different regions of the world, analyze geographical data, and develop theories about how the Earth works. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Geographer. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geographer

Archaeologist

As an Archaeologist, you will study the past by excavating and analyzing artifacts. You will research different archaeological sites, analyze archaeological data, and develop theories about how past cultures lived. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Archaeologist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archaeologist

Curator

As a Curator, you will be responsible for the care and preservation of museum collections. You will research museum collections, develop educational programs, and work with the public. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Curator. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curator

Archivist

As an Archivist, you will be responsible for the care and preservation of historical documents. You will research historical documents, develop archival programs, and work with the public. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Archivist. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

Librarian

As a Librarian, you will be responsible for the care and preservation of library collections. You will research library collections, develop library programs, and work with the public. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Librarian. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Museum Educator

As a Museum Educator, you will be responsible for developing and delivering educational programs at museums. You will research museum collections, develop educational programs, and work with the public. This course can help you to develop the skills you need to be a successful Museum Educator. It will provide you with a strong foundation in modern history, and it will help you to develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Educator

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910:

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Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910.

Inside the Nazi Mind

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Provides a detailed and harrowing account of the Holocaust, examining its origins, implementation, and aftermath.

The Modern World, Part Two

Global History since 1910

Here's a deal for you

What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Comprehensive global history since 1910

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

Reading list

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