HIST 401
Dilek Barlas
Fall 2003
Monday and Wednesday: From 15:30 to 16:45 (Z17)
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday
From 11:00 to 12:00
Contemporary World History I
This course focuses on the global development and the main themes of the early 20th century.
It concentrates on the changing political, economic and social formations of the century. On
the one hand, it discusses different approaches to the world system. On the other hand, it deals
with various topics from a global perspective such as World Wars, Revolutions, Autonomous
and Nationalist Movements, and the World Economic Crisis.
Course Requirements:
Grading will be as follows:
1) Discussion Session: 30
-Essay questions: 15
-Discussion: 15
***If you miss more than 3 sessions, you will lose 30 points for discussion.
Mid-term: 35%
Final Exam: 35%
 It is required that students do not miss the exams (in the case of illness, a valid medical
excuse has to be submitted within 3 days of absence).
Academic Integrity: Please refer to page 41 of the catalog.
Readings: The reader includes the chapters of the following books and articles:
Stephen K. Sanderson Civilizations and World Systems (London: AltaMira Press, 1995)
S. N. Eisenstandt, “World Histories and the Construction of Collective Identities” in World History
(Oxford: Blackwell, 1998)
Michael Geyer and Charles Bright, “World History in a Global Age”, The American Historical
Review, Vol. 100, 4 (Oct., 1995)
Michael Adas, Peter N. Stearns, Turbulent Passage (NY: HarperCollins, 1994)
Stuart B. Schwartz, The Global Experience, Vol. Two (NY: Longman, 1998)
Karen Barkey and Mark von Hagen, eds., After Empire (Colorado:Westview Press, 1997)
Eric Hobsbawn, Age of Extremes (London: Abacus, 1999)
Bernard Waites, Europe and the Third World (NY: St. Martin’s Press, 1999)
Peter Gran, Beyond Eurocentrism (NY: Syracuse University Press, 1996)
Ranbir Vohra, China’s Path to Modernization (New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2000)
Andreas Eckert, “Fitting Africa into World History: A Historiographical Exploration”in Writing World
History 1800-2000 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003)
Week I: September 29-October 1
Introduction
Week II: October 6-8
World System Approaches I
Barry K. Gills, “Capital and Power in the Processes of World History” in
Civilizations and World Systems, pp: 136-162
Week III: October 13-15
World System Approaches II
S. N. Eisenstandt, “World Histories and the Construction of Collective Identities” in
World History, pp: 105-125
Week IV: October 20-22
World System Approaches III
Michael Geyer and Charles Bright, “World History in a Global Age”, The American
Historical Review, pp: 1034-1060.
Week V: October 27-29 (Holiday)
Industrialization and Imperialism
Michael Adas, Turbulent Passage, pp: 65-84
Week VI: November 3-5
Crises of the Early 20th Century
Stuart B. Schwartz, The Global Experience, pp: 213-232
Week VII: November 10-12
End of Empires: Causes
Ç. Keyder, “The Ottoman Empire”, S. Wank, “The Habsburg Empire”, and M. von Hagen,
“The Russian Empire” in After Empire, pp: 30-72
Week VIII: November 17-19
Mid-term
End of Empires: Consequences
Ş. Mardin, “The Ottoman Empire” and I. Déak, “The Habsburg Empire” in
After Empire, pp: 115-141
Week IX: December 1-3
World of Revolutions
Eric Hobsbawn, Age of Extremes, pp: 54-84
Week X: December 8-10
Colonialism or Development: India as a Case
Bernard Waites, Europe and the Third World, pp: 147-184.
Week XI: December 15-17
Autonomous Movements in Latin America
Peter Gran, Beyond Eurocentrism, pp: 158-192
Week XII: December 22-24
Nationalism and Populism: The Case of China
Ranbir Vohra, China’s Path to Modernization, pp: 133-160
Week XIII: December 29-31
Rethinking Africa
Andreas Eckert, “Fitting Africa into World History: A Historiographical Exploration”in
Writing World History 1800-2000, pp: 255-70.
Week XIV: January 5-7
The World Crisis
Eric Hobsbawn, Age of Extremes, pp: 85-108
Week XV: January 12-14
Conclusion
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