HIS307: Modernity: Theory, Philosophy, History
Key details
| Accredited towards | Bachelor of Arts in the Liberal Arts |
| Unit type | Elective unit |
| Credit points | 6 |
| Indicative contact hours | 3 hours per week |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Offered in | Semester 2 |
| Tuition fee | Learn more |
Overview
This unit introduces students to some of the theorists who have sought to understand, and in some cases to shape, the history of Europe and the world in the “modern” (post-1789) era. It seeks to clarify key concepts such as “capitalism,” “liberalism,” “(mass) democracy,” “nationalism,” “socialism/communism,” and “fascism.” It considers the interplay between theory and history in such episodes as the revolutions of 1848, the U.S. Civil War, the Russian Revolution, the rise of Nazism, the foundation of the state of Israel, and post-1945 decolonization. Theorists to be studied may include Alexis de Tocqueville, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, Max Weber, Ludwig von Mises, and Hannah Arendt. This unit may be counted towards either the History or Philosophy major.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit of study, students will be able to:
- Understand and describe some of the major ideological currents of modernity
- Understand and describe some of the major theorists of modernity
- Understand and describe some of the defining episodes in modern history
- Produce clear, coherent and detailed arguments in written and oral forms
Interested in other History units?