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HIST1001.1 An Introduction to European Empires, 1400–1522

Gain insights into the major events and people that shaped Europe’s first modern colonial empires

Christopher Columbus is depicted landing in the West Indies, John Vanderlyn, 1847

  • Duration

    3 weeks

  • Weekly study

    2 hours
Overview
Requirements

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.

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.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone looking to improve their knowledge of European history or their historical skills.

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

    1965

  • Location

    Newcastle, Australia

  • World ranking

    Top 180Source: QS World University Rankings 2024

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Join the conversation on social media

You can use the hashtag #UniNewcastle to talk about this course on social media.