World History: History of the Greatest Empires; Part II
History of the Greatest Empires is an introductory course of history's most powerful states around the globe.
Professor Zbysek Brezina, PhD
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(133)
What's included
15 live meetings
12 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
This introductory survey of world history focuses on the rise and fall of history's most powerful states - empires from the rise of the Ottoman Empire to the Central African Empire. Topics will include the histories of the Serbian Empire, the Portuguese Empire, the Aztec Empire, the Inca Empire, the Spanish Empire, the Mughal Empire, the British Empire, the Russian Empire, the French Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Empire of Japan, and the German Empire. Also, we will learn that although on one hand, the term empire has a negative connotation since it echoes ideas of conquest and oppression, on the other hand, one may see the empire as an engine that helped build modern civilizations. Furthermore, this course departs from traditional European and nation-centered perspectives and instead focuses on how the empires relied on the diversity of various conquered peoples and how these peoples and their various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds shaped the global order. We will focus our attention, for example, on the following questions during the course: 1. How can we define the category of empire? 2. How can we study empires globally? 3. How can we study empires trans-historically? 4. After an empire falls, what impact does the empire have on history? 5. What role did the Mughal, Aztec, French, British and other empires play in history? 6. Are conflicts between the empires and/or neighboring countries inevitable? 7. What role did the Ottoman Empire play in the history of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia Minor? 8. How did the German Empire end? 9. Why did the British Empire decline? 10. How does imperial history intersect with basic historical questions? Contents: Lesson 1: The Ottoman Empire Lesson 2: The Serbian Empire Lesson 3: The Portuguese Empire Lesson 4: The Aztec Empire Lesson 5: The Inca Empire Lesson 6: The Spanish Empire Lesson 7: The Mughal Empire Lesson 8: The British Empire Lesson 9: The Russian Empire Lesson 10: The French Empire Lesson 11: The Austro-Hungarian Empire Lesson 12: Empire of Japan Lesson 13: The German Empire Lesson 14: The Central African Empire Lesson 15: Legacies of Empires
Learning Goals
The class has two main goals. One is to provide you with a basic factual understanding of the political, military, economic, cultural, and technological development of the greatest empires from 1600 to the present. Just as important, however, is the ability to use this information productively. Thus, this class will also stress the ability to integrate the mass of factual data into some basic understanding of how empires rise and fall, and of the issues which concern policymakers today. In addition, the discussions are designed to develop the ability to think critically. Rote memorization is not as important as the ability to produce and evaluate arguments based on historical evidence. Please do not forget that the most effective learning occurs when you are actively involved.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
The study of the history of the greatest empires deals with some sensitive topics in history such as slavery, ethnic cleansing, civil wars and wars. Dr. Brezina takes great care to present the content in an age-appropriate manner.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
There are many sources that are used for teaching the history of the greatest empires in this course. Dr. Brezina studied various primary and secondary sources (articles, book, dissertations, etc.) during his years as a teacher and professor of history that will allow him to interpret the history of the global empires objectively and address the full range of a variety of peoples' histories, including marginalized populations. For example, Dr. Brezina will draw from these books, Empires in World History by Jane Burbank, Universal Empire by Peter Fibiger Bang, Pre-modern Empires by Jerry H. Bentley, Insurgent Empire and Anti-Colonial Resistance by Priyamvada Gopal, The Afterlife of Empires by Joanna Bailkin, Protection and Empires by Lauren Benton, The Black Hole of Empires by Partha Chatterjee, The Muslim Empires of the Ottomans by Stephen Darwin, At Home with the Empire by Catherine Hall, American Empire by A.G. Hopkins, The British Empire by Philippa Levine, Visions of Empire by Krishan Kumar, and the Transcending the Nation by Stuart Ward, all of which are commonly used as objective and multi-cultural history books and textbooks in U.S. higher education. Furthermore, Dr. Brezina will use various primary sources such as the
Global Commodities: Trade, Exploration and Cultural Exchange, Internet History Sourcebooks Project, and Empire Online. (However, Dr. Brezina does not require students to purchase or use these books.)
Joined March, 2020
5.0
133reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Non-US Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Doctoral Degree in History from Boston University
Dr. Brezina has taught history of the greatest empires at various university prep schools in Europe and the United States as well as at several American colleges and universities.Reviews
Live Group Class
$375
for 15 classes1x per week, 15 weeks
50 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
3-10 learners per class
