This course is an introductory survey of the modern world from c. 1450 to the present. The course will focus on the development of what has been called the ‘modern world system.’ The modern world-system developed with the advent of capitalism and brought in its wake significant changes for different regions of the world. The manner in which different regions were integrated into this new world-system had far reaching consequences for their internal development and for their relations with the rest of the world. Our aim will be to examine the process by which the modern world-system integrated different regions during the historical stages of its development. We will examine the development of the modern world-system through the following stages:

• the first stage of merchant capitalism, c. 1450 — c. 1750
  
• the second stage of industrial capitalism, c. 1750 — c. 1870
  
• the third stage of monopoly capitalism, c. 1870 — c. 1914
  
• the fourth stage of defensive monopoly capitalism, 1914 — 1945
  
• the fifth stage of late capitalism, 1945 — c. 1989
  
• the sixth stage of global capitalism, c. 1989 — to the present

With each stage, we will identify the defining characteristics of capitalism at that stage, and explore its implications for the internal and external development of different regions of the world.

Course Requirements:

Three multiple-choice exams, two short papers, and a final group project.

Intended Audience:

All are welcome. There is no prior coursework that is required.

Class Format:

A combination of lectures and discussions. There will be two weekly lecture classes and one weekly discussion section.