Shaping the Modern World II

Shaping the Modern World II addresses the fundamental questions for major regions of the world:
What are the most distinguishing physical and political geographic features of this region?
What are the historical, geopolitical and cultural factors that continue to produce challenges and conflicts in this region?
How are the regions of the world interconnected?
To answer these critical questions, themes will be explored in each region: history, culture, physical geography, politics, and economics. Regions to be studied include Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Building on the regional approach outlined in Shaping the Modern World I and in the first semester of Shaping the Modern World II, the second half of the course will encourage students to examine the interconnections between places and people as well as the narrative of the human experience in the modern world with an understanding of the historical context.