I would discuss the fact that the purpose of colonization by European powers was not for religious means, but rather to secure trade routes. It is through this trading that we come into close contact with the Asian nations.
Asian history and culture is very important both in inter-Asian relations and relations with Westerners. If I were to write a course on world history, Asian nations would have to play a large part. Chinese prosperity and invention can be linked to the bloodshed and slaughter in the West; the popularity of gunpowder completely changed the nature of warfare and the riches of the Orient made China the unfortunate victim of Western Imperialists. It led to the devastating Opium Wars and a period of Chinese control by foreign powers. To this day groups in China bear a grudge to the West.
Japan, too, has an impressive history, perhaps even richer the European history. I would have to include a section of Japanese history during the Sengoku Jidai, a period of Japanese history that set them on a powerful path. I would concentrate on the politics and wars of Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and finally unification under Tokugawa Ieyasu. The unification of Japan and resistance to ‘gaijins’ allowed them to be a power in Southeast Asia and also their militaristic attitude to the rest of Asia would eventually be a cause of World War II.
As Japan became unified, I would bring the centre of study back to Europe to focus on the absolutist monarchs. It would be important to show the result of the monarchs exploitation of the masses, specifically Louis XVI and Charles I. Drastic changes are forced upon not only England and France, but surrounding countries. Scotland, for example was greatly affected when the English deposed the Stuart kings. The Jacobites began two rebellions in 1715 and 1745, which ultimately failed and with them, the last of Scottish resistance and the creation peaceful Britain.
From the creation of Britain, I would begin to show the rise of an empire which would eventually dominate the 19th century. New Imperialism would be an important topic of study, as the snatching of colonies in Africa has led to many modern day problems in the region. Focus on the Boer, Zulu and Sudanese wars would also be important if only to show the exploitation of the indigenous peoples. The strength and prominence of Britain would set into motion the major events of the 20th century, beginning with World War I.
World War I can partly be attributed to the rivalry between Britain and Germany in regards to naval power and African control. It would be far more important to study the politics leading up to the First World War (Bismarck, for example) rather than the actual war itself, simply because trench warfare quickly becomes boring and tedious. At the end of World War I, it would be important to illustrate the decline of Britain and the fall of many of the great European families (Romanovs, etc).
The rise of Hitler would be an important topic leading into the World War II, with the events of the Great Depression serving as a backdrop rather than being studied. I would delve into his policies, the support of the German people and the lack of resistance by other European nations. Continuing with Hitler’s ascension, I would highlight the opening stages of World War II ie: Blitzkrieg, Manchuria and the Invasion of France. From there, I would try and concentrate on the more forgotten theatres of war such as the Italian, North African and Russian. I would conclude World War II with an in depth study of the Holocaust, from the effects on the common person to the Nuremberg trials.
After World War II, I would conclude my year, partly because it’s long enough to fill any remaining gaps, and partly because the events of the Cold War are too plentiful to squeeze in. The Cold War alone could easily fill a year’s classes, so cramming it in with the last 600 years of human history would be unfitting. Unfortunately, I find that I take a much more Eurocentric study of history, simply because of my lack of knowledge of Eastern history and the sheer amount of events occurring in Europe.
