stephenj@yorku.ca

In this course we explore the most violent century in human history. We will pay special attention to the two defining wars of the 20^th Century, World Wars I and II, and we also aim to contextualize and understand the world-changing revolutions in Russia, China and Latin America. We will discuss the crucial development of colonialism and the consequences of decolonization, the impact of the Cold War, and the roots of horrific genocides such as the Holocaust, the Rwandan genocide, and the Killing Fields of Cambodia. We will also explore the ways in which societies have sought to deal with the impact of the traumas they have faced, and discuss how concepts of human rights have developed and changed as a result of the horrors of the twentieth century.

As we learn about the major social, political, and economic upheavals of the twentieth century, we will also hone our historical skills, with an emphasis on reading primary and secondary materials, learning the basics of historical research, and preparing essays and other written assignments.

*TENTATIVE*

1) Daniel R. Brower and Thomas Saunders, The World in the Twentieth Century: From Empires to Nations, Seventh Edition.

2) Sean Kennedy, The Shock of War. Civilian Experiences, 1937-1945.

Recommended to buy:

William Kelleher Storey and Towser Jones, Writing History: A Guide for Canadian Students.

To avoid the extra expense of a course kit, we will also be relying on sources available on the Internet, and the e-resources at the Scott library website.

*TENTATIVE Grade Breakdown*

Participation (ongoing evaluation in tutorial)................................................. 15%

Note: you are asked to complete the academic integrity quiz and while this is not graded, failure to complete it will result in a 2% deduction in your participation grade.

Map Quizzes (in tutorial, weeks of October 3-5 and February 6-8) ........... 10%

2 Mini-Papers (due October 26, 2023 and January 23, 2024)..................... 20%

Memoir Study (due December 5, 2023).......................................................... 15%

Essay proposal (due February 27, 2024 – pass or fail grade)

Major Paper: (due March 28, 2024)................................................................. 20%

Final Exam (scheduled by the registrar).......................................................... 20%

This course is built using a 24-week format, with a final week dedicated to review for the exam. We have two lectures per week, each on a different topic, and a one-hour tutorial that you will have with fellow students and a Teaching Assistant who has expertise in the course subject matter. Attendance is compulsory for both lectures and tutorials. All of the meetings are in person unless otherwise stated for a particular week.

• Learn factual information about the world in the 20^th Century, names, dates, and key events;
• Learn how a historical argument is constructed and how to work with both primary and secondary sources
• Understand how historians present different views of past events (historiography)
• Evaluate the written work of historians (critical reading and thinking)
• Write your own historical essay