HIST G162: World History 2

Course Outline of Record
Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	05/06/2025
Top Code	220500 - History
Units	3 Total Units (Lecture Units 3)
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	108
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S), Pass/No Pass (B)
Local General Education (GE)	Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences (GD)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)	Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)	IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU C2 Humanities (C2) CSU D3 Ethnic Studies (D3) CSU D6 History (D6)

Course Description

This course is an exploratory survey of diverse cultural, political, and socio-economic societies in numerous geographical arenas of the world since 1500. The course also addresses unique historical developments and concepts from the Early Modern Era to the current day. Students will assess contemporary challenges of global interaction and interdependence. Lastly, the students will learn the methodologies of the History discipline and crucial techniques of the Social Sciences. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: HIST 160.C-ID: HIST 160.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

Analyze primary and secondary sources in modern World History.
Evaluate the relevance of the global human past since 1500.
Conduct written research using historical evidence in modern World History.

Course Objectives

Identify human connections such as religion, warfare, trade, migration, culture, and technology since 1500.
Interpret the historical impact of human geographical explorations, technological achievements, and scientific advances.
Examine the influence of the earth’s topography and climate in the development of human civilizations.
Analyze historical significance of human art, architecture, literature, philosophy, and religion.
Explore the diversity of human political, social, and economic structures.
Analyze human civilizations through the lens of gender, race, class, and ethnicity.
Analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources in modern World History.
Compose research including asking essential questions, posing new interpretations, and using historical evidence.
Explain the importance of conflicting interpretations to contextualize the past on its own terms.
Analyze the dynamics of change over time to explain historical causality and to preserve contingency in the past.
Evaluate the consequences of historical decisions to reflect on the relevance of debatable issues in the modern day.

Lecture Content

European Exploration and Expansion
1. Competition with Islam over global trade routes
2. Conquest and colonization of the Americas
3. The Columbian Exchange (Europe, Africa, and the Americas)
4. The Atlantic slave trade
5. Mercantilism
Religious and Political Reform in Early Modern Europe
1. The Protestant and Catholic Reformation
2. Political and religious wars of Europe
3. Absolutism and constitutional monarchies
Muslim Empires
1. Religion of Islam
2. Expansion into Southeast Asia, Africa, and India
3. The Ottoman Empire
4. The Safavids of Africa
5. The Mughals of India
East Asia and Encounters with the West
1. Ming and Qing (Manchu) Dynasties
2. Tokugawa Shogunate
3. Korea and Vietnam
Enlightenment and Revolution
1. The Scientific Revolution
2. The Enlightenment
3. The American War for Independence
4. The French Revolution
5. The Age of Napoleon
Industrialization and Nationalism
1. Cottage industries and plantations
2. Industrial capitalism and the Industrial Revolution
3. Urbanization and social impacts
4. Labor unrest and organization
5. Conservatism and Liberalism
6. Nationalism and Nation-States
7. Revolution and independence in Latin America
Imperialism
1. Justifications and tactics
2. Colonial rule in India, Southeast Asia, and Africa
3. Anti-colonialism and resistance efforts
4. Association and collaboration
5. Decline of Qing (Manchu) China (Opium War and Boxer Rebellion)
6. Meiji Restoration and imperialism in Asia
World Wars
1. Causes of WWI (imperialism, militarism, and nationalism)
2. Outbreak of WWI
3. Life on the battlefront and home front
4. The Russian Revolution
5. Peace settlement and impacts
6. The Great Depression
7. Causes of WWII (democratic states vs. totalitarian states)
8. Fascism in Germany and Italy and rise of militarism in Japan
9. Outbreak of WWII
10. Developments in the Pacific and European theaters of war
11. Running the arsenal of war (life on the home front)
12. The Holocaust, nuclear war, costs, and casualties
Decolonization and Self-Determination in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America
1. Modern nationalism
2. Gandhi, nonviolent resistance, and independence in India
3. Nationalism and revolution in the Middle East
4. Arab-Israeli dispute
5. Nationalism vs. Communism in China
6. Nationalism, dictatorships, and revolutions in Latin America
7. Nationalism and independence in Africa
The Cold War
1. Collapse of the alliance
2. Containment and recovery policies
3. NATO vs. the Warsaw Pact
4. Communism in Asia (Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese civil wars)
5. Competition over the Third World
6. Détente
7. Eastern European rebellions and the collapse of the Soviet Union
Modernization and Globalization
1. Recovery and revival in Europe
2. The European Union
3. The USA as a superpower
4. Tiger economies of Asia
5. Triumph of consumer capitalism and popular culture
6. Sexual revolution and women’s rights
7. Civil rights and student protests
8. Emergence of terrorism and religious fundamentalism
9. Immigration
10. Environmentalism
11. Advances in science and technology
12. Globalization

Method(s) of Instruction

Lecture (02)
DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Reading Assignments

Students will complete weekly readings of the assigned course textbooks paired with primary source readings and secondary source historical articles. The intent will be to familiarize students with analyzing and evaluating historical documents and thinking critically of the past.

Writing Assignments

The students will be assigned discussion posts on course concepts or controversial issues in the past, where they can engage with the content, debate, and draw reasoned conclusions with their peers. The students may be assigned short written assignments, analytical essays, and research assignments on course content, historical sources, or historical publications. The intent is to teach students how to critically read, think, and write about the human past through the careful evaluation of historical documents.

Out-of-class Assignments

The students will utilize the course content to indicate historical context, analyze historical evidence, and complete historical research. For example, students may complete primary source analysis assignments, analytical essays, book reviews, argumentative essays, or oral history interviews. The intent will be to teach the students how to evaluate the past, apply cause-and-effect reasoning, and assess the relevance of historical events.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Short Quizzes
Written Assignments
Essay Examinations
Objective Examinations

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Discussion posts and research essays will challenge students to weigh consequences of historical decisions or to take a stance on a controversial issue in the past. Analytical assignments will encourage students to read primary historical evidence and make connections with course content. Quizzes and other objective assignments will promote students’ comprehension of the historical context.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will analyze historical primary and secondary sources, assess course content, and develop critical reading, thinking, and writing skills.

Resources Subscreen

Textbook: William Duiker and Jackson Spielvogel. World History: Volume 2: Since 1500 (classic), 9th ed.. Cengage Learning (2019).
Textbook: Peter von Sivers, Charles Desnoyers, and George Stow. Patterns of World History: Volume Two Since 1400 with Sources, 5th ed.. Oxford University Press (2025).
Textbook: Valerie Hansen and Kenneth Curtis. Voyages in World History: Volume 2: Since 1500 (classic), 3rd ed.. Cengage Learning (2017).
Textbook: Robert Tignor et al.. Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: Volume Two: From 1000 CE to the Present, 7th ed.. W. W. Norton & Company (2024).
Textbook: Mark Kishlansky. Sources of World History: Readings for World Civilization: Volume II (classic), 5th ed.. Cengage Learning (2012).
Other: . . ().

Eligible Discipline(s)

History: Master’s degree in history OR bachelor’s degree in history AND master’s degree in political science, humanities, geography, area studies, women’s studies, social science, or ethnic studies OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.

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