HUM 250 - Creating a Better World (4)

What were the origins of our contemporary system of nation-states? How has technology influenced social changes and culture? How have artists and thinkers responded to the economic and political forces that have shaped our present society? What were some of the reactions against modernity? What are possible paths forward toward a more just, stable, and free world? In this course we will investigate events, ideas, and values from the 16th to the 20th centuries during what is commonly described as the Modern Era. The course will present diverse multicultural perspectives on the scientific, political, industrial, and social changes that came about during this time (e.g., the rise of democracy, globalization, feminism, and international declarations of rights). Students will investigate the profound influence of these historical moments on philosophy, religion, literature, and the arts. Sources are drawn from multiple disciplines and include global cultural forms, both local and international. Yearly.