Empires in World History

(4 Credits)

In this introductory history course, we will examine a range of empires from antiquity to modernity in locations around the world: Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. How did the concept and form of “empire” inspire and constrain their subjects’ understandings of belonging? How did ethnicity, religion, culture and language create connections or obstacles across imperial regimes? How did empires create and recreate concepts of territorial (or extraterritorial) rule, and how did emperors exercise power across their regimes? And why did this form of power and goverance demonstrate such durability across time and space? To answer these and other questions, students will read a range of primary and secondary sources aimed at exploring the political culture – both local and global in scope – of imperial regimes across time and space. Prerequisite: None. Fulfillment: Core IPC; Humanities Introductory course; Social Science Focus International Relations 200 level course; GCS elective China and the World.