Empires in World History

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
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Area/Catalogue
HIST 1000
Course ID icon
Course ID
200965
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East, Adelaide City Campus West, Magill, Online
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
Humanities
Course level icon
Course level
1
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

This course examines how and why modern European empires emerged, how they changed over time across multiple contexts, and why they ultimately disintegrated. Under the rubric of “global encounters”, it aims to furnish students with an overview of the changing intercultural dynamics that have shaped world history since the early modern period, with an emphasis on the enduring legacies into the present. It also provides a solid contextual foundation for subsequent courses at levels 2 and 3, by way of an overview of major developments in world history over the past 500 years. 

  • Early Modern Encounters
  • Revolutionary Encounters
  • Enduring Encounters

Course learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate historical knowledge ranging over time, space and cultures, that includes understanding change and continuity over time.
  • Use critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to identify, access and analyse a variety of primary, secondary, textual and visual sources.
  • Develop written and verbal communication and collaboration skills and construct an evidenced based argument.
  • Relate developments and concepts from the history of Empires to an ethical understanding of social, cultural and political circumstances in the contemporary and intercultural world.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A