Specialization

The Making of the Modern World

This specialization provides a narrative-driven journey through world history from 1500 to the present day. It moves beyond a simple recitation of dates and events to explore the interconnected forces—technological, political, economic, and cultural—that shaped our contemporary global landscape. Upon completion, learners will possess a college-level understanding of how the modern world came to be.

4 courses

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Specialization path

A quieter view of what is done, what is current, and what is next

Course 1Current
Dawn of the Global Age: 1500-1800
Current · 0% complete · Focus: This foundational course explores the era when the world's regions became permanently interconnected. It examines the Age of Exploration, the Columbian Exchange, the Scientific Revolution, and the Enlightenment, establishing the political and intellectual frameworks for the modern era. This course sets the stage by analyzing the origins of global trade networks and new ways of thinking.
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Course 2Locked
Engines of Empire and Revolution: 1800-1914
Locked until Course 1 is complete · Focus: Building on the previous era, this course investigates the transformative impact of the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the nation-state. It covers the spread of industrialization, the peak of European imperialism, and the emergence of new ideologies like nationalism and socialism. This period explains the creation of the global power imbalances that would define the next century.
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The Great Rupture: War and Ideology, 1914-1991
Locked until Course 2 is complete · Focus: This course delves into the tumultuous 20th century, a period defined by unprecedented global conflict and ideological struggle. It traces the narrative from the outbreak of World War I through the Great Depression, World War II, decolonization, and the Cold War. Understanding this era is critical to grasping the political and institutional architecture of today's world.
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A Connected and Contested World: 1991-Present
Locked until Course 3 is complete · Focus: The final course brings the historical narrative to the present day, beginning with the end of the Cold War. It explores the forces of globalization, the digital revolution, the rise of new economic powers, and persistent global challenges like climate change and terrorism. This course synthesizes the entire specialization to provide context for current events.
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