Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second How did Europe establish its vast global empires? Who made the greatest contribution to how we understand geography and ocean navigation? And how did a civilisation as advanced as the as Aztecs fall to Spanish invasion? I’m Dr. Sasha Davis, a historian of Central Europe based at the University of Newcastle, Australia. I’ll be your guide as we uncover the foundations of Europe’s empires. We’ll discover along the way the happenstances, the social and economic conditions and the tenacious individuals that made European Empire Building possible in the early modern period. Lastly, I’ll reveal the voices of the people that opposed European conquest and the fallout of European invasion and expansion for indigenous peoples. I look forward to seeing you on FutureLearn.
European Empires: An Introduction, 1400–1522
Gain insights into the major events and people that shaped Europe’s first modern colonial empires
6,091 enrolled on this course
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
European Empires: An Introduction, 1400–1522
Learn about European empires and Europe’s history of expansion
It’s the encounters that occurred beyond European borders that shaped Europe itself.
You will become familiar with the origins and nature of European interactions with the lands and people beyond its borders. This includes investigating the discovery of a westward route to the Americas and the building of states, nations and empires.
This online course will focus on primary sources and introduce you to some of the key events, issues and themes of European history that still resonate today.
What topics will you cover?
The course offers an introduction to key events in modern European history, analysing European imperialism through a variety of themes including violence, colonialism, and economic and cultural exchange.
The course is three weeks long and is organised chronologically:
- Week 1 – The Rise of Europe. We trace Europe’s rise from a comparatively insular and isolated continent in the Middle Ages to the very beginnings of its colonial empires in the early modern period.
- Week 2 – Global Exploration. We take a closer look at the extensive overseas exploration of Portugal and Spain.
- Week 3 – The Conquest of Latin America. We examine in detail the invasion of the Aztec Empire. We consider the views of Europeans and First Peoples in our discussion.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify the main themes of Europe's encounters and interactions with the wider world.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of European empires through discussion and debate.
- Evaluate relevant primary and secondary sources in European imperial history.
Who is the course for?
This course is for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of European history or their historical skills.
Who will you learn with?
Hi, I'm Sacha Davis. I'm a lecturer in modern European history at UON. My own research focuses on Central Europe, minorities and the nation-state.
I look forward to getting to know you in this course!
Who developed the course?
The University of Newcastle Australia
The University of Newcastle is a world-class university distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Ranked in Australia’s Top 10 universities, and 173rd in the world (QS rankings, 2024).
Established
1965Location
Newcastle, AustraliaWorld ranking
Top 180Source: QS World University Rankings 2024
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $89/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 31 Oct 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$89/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 31 Oct 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
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