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HIST252 - Empires: From the Silk Road to the Asian Century

10 cp
Prerequisites 10 cp from 100-level unit in History or POLS140 The Global Citizen: Civics and Citizenship in a Changing World
Teaching Organisation

Why do Empires rise and fall, how have empires shaped world history, and how have people responded to and influenced the character of empires? This unit focuses on empires operating in Asia and Australasia over the past millennium. It will examine the role played by trade in the expansion of empires across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the way this influenced the movement of peoples and environments around the region, and how this historical perspective enriches our understanding of Australia's relationship with Asia today. The concept of 'economic imperialism' will also be considered in light of America's operations in the Pacific since 1900 and the growing economic might of China and India in the so-called 'Asian Century' today.