Empires and Interactions Across the Early Modern World, 1400-1800

FAIN: EH-50300-12

St. Louis University (St. Louis, MO 63103-2097)
Charles Henry Parker (Project Director: March 2012 to August 2014)

A four-week institute for twenty-five college and university faculty on new theoretical approaches to teaching world history.

This four week Institute for college and university teachers focuses on the extraordinary empire building that occurred across Afro-Eurasia and America in the early modern period and its effects on the course of world history. A host of European countries established colonies around the world, while a number of Asian states gained control over vast tracts of land. The emergence of powerful empires around the world set in motion processes of interaction and exchange that reached across all continents except Antarctica. Consequently, early modern empires inaugurated a new era in global history characterized by cross-cultural interaction among peoples from around the globe. By interacting with noted scholars in the field, discussing relevant theories and scholarship on thematic topics, and visiting relevant sites, participants will gain expertise to provide their students with a greater understanding for cross-cultural interaction and global patterns in history.