HIST 372

Studies of Modern Empires

The course examines the changing nature of empires and imperialism between the 15th and 20th centuries. It considers the influence of factors such as environment, religion, demography, race, technology, economic institutions, politics, and war on the creation of empires, the conduct of those who led them and were affected by them, and on their ultimate demise. While the particular empires examined will vary from one semester to the next, the broad underlying theme will be the evolution of empires and imperialism, from the land-based and overseas gunpowder empires of the early modern era to the high imperialism of the 19th century to the Cold War and globalization in the 20th century

Units: 3.0