The Modern World: Global History since 1760

Video Lectures

Week 1: 1760-1800

The Study of History

Just figuring out what actually happened can be very difficult, even for very recent events.

The Great Divide

The traditional world, not much changes from generation to generation. But in the modern world, there is much change.

Malthusian Trap: more population with the same amount of stuff means less stuff to go around.

The Traditional and the Modern

1. Natural (muscle, wind, water) → Manmade energy
2. rural, agricultural → urban, industrial
3. static wealth, subsistence → growth, surplus
4. unstable lives, stable communities → longer, more secure lives, unstable communities
5. faith → science
6. local identity/culture → mass identity/culture
7. weak kingdoms → strong states