The World before 1770

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.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Cite and discuss key dates and terms in World History up to the 1770s;
2. Distinguish between primary and secondary sources;
3. Investigate and compare two or more sources that purport to be primary accounts of the same event;
4. Analyse and interpret spatial, demographic, and other quantifiable data; and
5. Construct and present an historical argument.