HIST 1500 - Discovering World History
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 03, CRN 42035,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Daniel Ayana
Email: dayana@ysu.edu
Course Description
1500. Discovering World History. Introduction to the methods, problems, and content of world history from Antiquity to the present. Emphasizes the relevance of past events and developments to the modern world. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Textbooks Required |
Books and Required Reading
There is no textbook(s) to buy for this course. For the extra-credit assignments, you may include some outside research or readings, but you must cite the sources. There is no final exam for the course.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Primary and Secondary Sources | ||
| 8/31 | “Why did human history unfold differently on different regions of the world” by Jared Diamond. “Magic Kingdom It's A Small World (Full Ride) POV Walt Disney World HD “- Richard Bulliet, Columbia University, on World History (video) |
Primary & Secondary sources & World History | Due September 5, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/7 | Ancient Persia and Modern Britain in India Emperor Cyrus II of Persia in the Hebrew Bible, Ezra 1: 1-8 & Isiah 45: 1-7 Mohandas Gandhi, Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule), 1919 |
Comparative Empires | Due September 12, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/14 | Bolshevik and Haiti The Bolshevik Revolution: Ten Days that shook the world (film) “Declaration of the Rights of Russian People.” The Haitian Revolution (film) “The Haitian Declaration of Independence” 1804 |
Comparative Revolutions | Due September 19, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/21 | Islam and Science in the Middle East and Manchu China P. Abrams “Arabic translators…[preserved] Greek philosophy” Hasan al-Bana “Message of the Teachings.” Abba Idris, “Islamic Civ … Modernity” B. Elman, “China and world History of science” |
Movement of Ideas | Due September 26, 2026 11:59pm |
| 9/28 | Medieval Italy, Turkey, and Mughal India Brief History of Renaissance (video) Alina Cohen “In the Italian Renaissance wealthy patrons used Art for power” S. K. Pandey “Mughal Era in India: Rich in Art and Architecture” Tokpai: A Palace in Turkey (video) |
Art and Power | Due October 3, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/5 | Black Plague, 1918 flu pandemic, HIV Aids, & Covid L. Wade, “From Black death to fatal flu…” “Why the Black Death was Deadly” (video) “The Black Death” Primary source (trans & ed) R. Horrox Flu Pandemic survivor (interview) Women & HIV (Interview) |
The Great Plagues | Due October 10, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/12 | Ideas, food Plants and animals, diseases “The Colombian Exchange (video) “Travels of Jerome Lalemant” Primary Source W.W. Twitty “I had never eaten…” “The Columbian exchange… plants, diseases.” |
The Columbian Exchanges | Due October 17, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/19 | Industrial Growth & causes of extreme weather phenomena, & environment “Industrial Revolution: turning point in history” video “Social effects of the industrial revolution” video China vs Brazil “Chinese President’s speech at the Paris summit on climate” “Indigenous Brazilian manifesto” |
The Industrial Revolution | Due October 24, 2026 11:59pm |
| 10/26 | USA vs Soviet Union Technological competition in the Cold war context Audra Wolf “Project Troy” “The Space Race: timeline, Cold War” “How science won the cold war” “Nixon vs. Khrushchev’ (video) |
Politics, Science & Technology | Due October 31, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/2 | E.C.Stanton “ The Declaration of Sentiment and Resolution” Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 Betty Friedan “The feminine mystique.” “A feminist revolution?” M. Eltahwy vs. Saba Mahmood (video) ‘Equal Rights Amendment” video Constance Grady “The waves of feminism... explained” |
Feminism and Women’s movement: U.S.A & Beyond | Due November 7, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/9 | Islamic bomb, regional hegemony/confronting U.S. A M. Fischer “The real reasons Iran is committed to …nuclear program” R. Hunter, “Documents on Arms control…” “Remaking the Middle East: Iran vs. Israel” video | Iran’s nuclear ambition | Due November 14, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/16 | Competition without catastrophe M. Koenig “U.S outcompetes China” “Competition without catastrophe” “U.S and China, Competition and cooperation” | U.S.A Vs. China | Due November 21, 2026 11:59pm |
| 11/30 | Regional connectivity to EU vs national sovereignty D. Bennet, “The benefits of leaving the EU” T.Kibasi, “Brexit is as bad as we thought” Nigel Farage’s interview the morning after (video) John Major, former PM on Brexit (video) | Brexit & the Aftermath | Due December 5, 2026 11:59pm |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.