This course explores that under the influence of historical and environmental factors, how cultural, social, economic, and political topics take shape and impact each other in a global context. Students will survey the history of how the world developed during the past five centuries and became the globalized world today. Topics include: Early global connections and conflicts among peoples of different continents as well as among humans, other species, the natural environment, and the planet as a whole; Religious encounters, economic rivalries, and military battles produced by European Imperialism in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia; Nationalist movements succeeded in gaining independence; World War Iⅈ Cold War; Globalization; Exchange of goods and culture and the emergence of modern political and social movements.