The World before 1770 takes a broad, synoptic view of world history, structured to emphasise the distinctive contributions and remaining legacies of particular civilisations and historical movements. The following key debates run through all the topics:- What is patriarchy and how have women dealt with their situation over the centuries? Is war ever justified? Why is human history seen as centred on the West? What was the contribution of Arabic and Islamic cultures to the rise of the West?
In this unit, we examine the period up to the 1770s when most people imagined that God or 'the gods" controlled human history. From the time James Cook was exploring the Australian coastline, in the 1770s, the idea that human destiny was in humans' own hands became more acceptable and more widely believed.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.