This is an overview of world economic history. Topics treated in the first semester are: prehistory and the rise of civilization, the Buddhist and Islamic trade networks, early Chinese history, the rise of Europe, early imperialism, Chinese emigration and early Taiwanese history and the British industrial revolution. In the second semester, we will look at: the spread of the industrial revolution and the second industrial revolution, modern immigration and colonialism, economic growth in Taiwan, China and Japan, the Depression, Communism and post-World-War-II economic change in the U.S. and Asia.
Your grade will be based on a midterm (50%) and a final (50%). These will be short essay tests. They will cover the lecture material and the readings. The PowerPoint presentations will be available before class on my website.