History 105: SURVEY OF GLOBAL HISTORY

Spring 2026

PROFESSOR: Dr. Tithi Bhattacharya

Office Hours: MW 12pm-1:00 pm and by appointment

Required Text: Robert Tignor, Jeremy Adelman, Stephen Aron, Stephen Kotkin, Suzanne Marchand, Gyan Prakash and Michael Tsin, Worlds Together, Worlds Apart Volume 2 SEVENTH EDITION

Handouts:

All handouts will be posted on Brightspace, unless otherwise specified. You are responsible for having a printed hard copy of each handout in class with you during lectures.

Course Description

This course examines the major historical developments and cultural patterns that have shaped our modern world since 1500. Throughout the course we will trace and mark the forces that have simultaneously integrated and divided the modern world. We will explore the emergence of a modern world system, the struggles among states as well as between rulers and subjects, the impact of cross-cultural influences and the roles played by class, gender and race in the making of national and transnational identities. The course will pay close attention to anti-systemic modes of thought such as socialism, anti-colonialism and feminism that are crucially constitutive of our modern sense of being.

Policy on Absences

1. All students are expected to attend ALL classes
2. If you are absent from class for an excused reason (other than official university business), you may make up work from that day. Excused absences include doctor’s appointments, medical emergencies, family events such as weddings and funerals, job interviews. In order to be excused you must present DOCUMENTATION

supporting the above reasons. I strongly advise you to contact me prior to class for your absence to be excused even on the above grounds. You may do this by phone, email, or in person.

3. Attendance will be taken EVERYDAY. You may have three absences, whether excused or unexcused, without penalty. All non-school-related absences will result in the loss of one point from the final grade.
4. If you miss class and/or an assignment you absolutely must contact me to set up an appointment to make up the missed assignment. Please remember it is YOUR responsibility to set up the meeting to make up for missed work.
5. If you are absent for 10 classes or more you will earn an automatic F for this course.

Assignments

You are expected to finish the weekly readings prior to the lecture. Your grades will be based on a quiz every Friday, and a final exam, with 10% allotted to attendance and participation.

Grades

This course is NOT graded on a curve.

ACADEMIC PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS

Attendance & Absences

I will be taking attendance for this course; I expect students to maintain regular attendance on lecture days. Most importantly, I expect you to complete all discussion posts, projects, and written assignments on time. No late submissions will be accepted.

However, I understand that you may have to miss a class or an assignment. If a student needs accommodation for more than two weeks of absence or missed assignment, they will have to contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (765) 494-1747 to discuss needs for support.

Protect Purdue Guidelines

Any student who has substantial reason to believe that another person is threatening the safety of others by not complying with Protect Purdue protocols is encouraged to report the behavior to and discuss the next steps with their instructor. Students also have the option of reporting the behavior to the Office of the Student Rights and Responsibilities. See also Purdue University Bill of Student Rights and the Violent Behavior Policy under University Resources in Brightspace.

Accommodations

Purdue University strives to make learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are welcome to let me know so that we can discuss options. You are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at drc@purdue.edu or by phone: 765-494-1247

Mental Health/Wellness

If you find yourself beginning to feel some stress, anxiety and/or feeling slightly overwhelmed, try WellTrack. Sign in and find information and tools at your fingertips, available to you at any time.

If you need support and information about options and resources, please contact or see the Office of the Dean of Students. Call 765-494-1747. Hours of operation are M-F, 8 am- 5 pm.

Basic Needs Security

Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support. There is no appointment needed and Student Support Services is available to serve students 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Considering the significant disruptions caused by the current global crisis as it relates to COVID-19, students may submit requests for emergency assistance from the Critical Need Fund

Emergency Preparation

In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor’s control. Relevant changes to this course will be posted onto the course website or can be obtained by contacting the instructors or TAs via email or phone. You are expected to read your @purdue.edu email on a frequent basis.

Learning Climate

Incidents of bias or discrimination contribute to creating an unwelcoming environment for individuals and group. Purdue encourages anyone who experiences or observes unfair or hostile treatment on the basis of identity to speak out for justice and support, within the moment of the incident or after the incident has passed. Purdue’s policy on discrimination can be viewed here. Following from the University’s non-discriminatory policy, I will not tolerate any such behavior in this class. If I judge any behavior to be harassing, disruptive or discriminatory, I will report the student to the Dean of Students.

Academic Dishonesty

Cheating, plagiarism, and other dishonest practices will be punished as harshly as Purdue University policies allow. Please review this helpful guide on how to avoid plagiarism here and Purdue’s plagiarism policy here Purdue University’s Official Academic Dishonesty Policy is applicable to ALL assignments and papers in this course. Any instances of cheating or plagiarism, however slight, on any assignment or paper will result automatically in a failing grade for the ENTIRE course and referral to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary action. If you have any confusion on this matter please visit the Online Writing Lab on the web for their useful handout on plagiarism. You are always welcome to consult me about all your assignments.

Policy on Digital Devices: I do not allow ANY electronic devices during class: no laptops, no tablets, and no phones will be permitted. You need to have hard copies of all your notes and your textbook.

NOTE ABOUT THIS SEMESTER

Patience will be the key to our success this semester. Let us try to be patient with each other as we learn new things and be generous with the way we handle challenges. I am always available to talk!

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Please note that this schedule and the topics covered are subject to change depending upon a variety of factors. Changes will be announced in class. If you are not able to attend class, it is your responsibility to find out what was covered

Week 1: Jan 12 Introduction to Global History: What is “modern” about the “Modern   World”?

Week 2: Jan 19 The Early Modern World

Weekly Reading World Together, Worlds Apart: Chapter 11

Week 3: Jan 26 Traders and Raiders

Weekly Readings 1. World Together, Worlds Apart: Chapter 12

2. Handout: Columbus’s letter and Las Casas

Week 4: Feb 2

On Monday and Wednesday you will watch a Film about Columbus “Even the Rain”. On Friday, instead of the usual quiz you will write an IN CLASS, 250 words, film review of “Even the Rain.”

Week 5: February 9 Slavery and Wage Slavery

Weekly Readings 1. Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapter 13 Handout on Slavery

Week 6: February 16 The Enlightenment

Weekly Readings 1. Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapter 14

2. Handout on Islamic Enlightenment

Week 7-8: February 23-March 6 French/Haitian/American Revolution

Weekly Readings: Film: Égalité for All: Toussaint Louverture

Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapters 15 & 16

Week 9: March 9 The Nature and Culture of Imperialism

Weekly Readings: Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapter 17

Week 10: March 16-22 Spring Break

Week 11: March 23 Guest Lecture

Weekly Reading: Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapter 18

Week 12: March 30 An Era of Wars and Revolution

Weekly Reading: Worlds Together Worlds Apart: Chapter 19

Week 13: April 6 Wars and Revolution Continued

Week 14-16: April 13-May 1 Discussions, Practice Tests, Makeup Tests