World History Since 1815

Course outline for WOH2030 – World History Since 1815, designed for undergraduate students. This course traces major global developments from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the present, focusing on political revolutions, industrialization, imperialism, world wars, decolonization, and globalization.


Course Title: WOH2030 – World History Since 1815

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course Level: Undergraduate

Format: Lecture + Discussion

Delivery: In-person / Hybrid / Online


Course Description

WOH2030 explores key global developments from 1815 to the present, emphasizing how political, economic, social, and cultural changes shaped the modern world. Students will examine themes such as nationalism, colonialism, industrial capitalism, global conflict, decolonization, and transnational movements, with an eye toward understanding connections across regions and eras. The course integrates diverse voices and global perspectives, fostering critical thinking about the forces that continue to shape contemporary societies.


Course Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Analyze key historical events and trends since 1815 across multiple regions.
  2. Identify global interconnections and historical causality.
  3. Evaluate primary and secondary sources for historical interpretation.
  4. Develop coherent historical arguments in writing and discussion.
  5. Apply historical knowledge to current global challenges.


Course Outline

Unit 1: The Age of Revolutions and the Post-Napoleonic Order (1815–1848)

  • The Congress of Vienna and conservative restoration
  • The spread of liberal and nationalist ideas
  • Latin American independence movements
  • Industrial Revolution beginnings

Unit 2: Industrialization and Its Global Effects (1848–1871)

  • Second Industrial Revolution
  • Urbanization, labor movements, and social reform
  • Italian and German unifications

Unit 3: Empire and Imperialism (1870–1914)

  • The “New Imperialism” in Africa and Asia
  • Colonial encounters and resistance
  • Scientific racism and Social Darwinism
  • Global migration patterns

Unit 4: Global Conflict and Transformation (1914–1945)

  • World War I: causes, course, and consequences
  • Interwar years: revolutions, fascism, and the Great Depression
  • World War II and the Holocaust
  • The war’s global impact

Unit 5: Decolonization and the Cold War (1945–1991)

  • Decolonization in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean
  • Superpower rivalry and proxy wars
  • Non-aligned movements and Third Worldism
  • Social movements and cultural revolutions

Unit 6: Globalization and the Contemporary World (1991–Present)

  • The post-Cold War order and US unipolarity
  • Global capitalism and inequality
  • Migration, climate change, and global health
  • Digital revolution and contemporary challenges


Assignments and Assessment

  • Quizzes (10%) – Short weekly quizzes on readings
  • Midterm Exam (20%)
  • Primary Source Analysis (15%)
  • Thematic Essay (25%) – Comparative or thematic research paper
  • Final Exam (20%)
  • Participation (10%) – Attendance, discussion, and group activities


Key Texts

  • Robert Tignor et al., Worlds Together, Worlds Apart: A History of the World from the Beginnings of Humankind to the Present (Volume 2)
  • Primary source reader (custom coursepack or online archive links)
  • Supplementary articles and multimedia via LMS