Overview
The Modern World Emerges provides a broad overview of world history from 1500-1900CE. It examines the emergence of new world patterns to 1800 and of the modern world of today. Specific areas of exploration to 1800 include Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment and Revolutionary Europe, the New World, Africa, the Muslim Empires, and the East Asian World and political, economic, social and cultural developments in, and interactions between, these spheres. The unit then surveys the 19th and 20th century world of industrialisation and rise of mass society in the West, new imperialism and global war, nationalism, revolution and independence. As an introductory level offering, the unit also introduces students to a preliminary understanding of the problems of historical evidence and emphasizes both discipline-specific and generic skills. Students will require computer and internet access to complete some assessment for this unit. Together with Ancient and Medieval Civilisations: An Historical Introduction, an optional introductory companion unit, The Modern World Emerges provides a firm foundation for more specialised history studies offered at CQU.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2025
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Verbal Student feedback
Students noted that some slides were text-heavy and not engaging.
Update the lecture slides with more visual sources.
Feedback from Verbal Student feedback
Students asked for greater clarity on the ethical use of generative AI.
The assessment rules should be updated to clearly explain how generative AI may and may not be used in written History assessments.
- Have a broad knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural history of major world civilizations and their interactions from c1500 to c1900;
- Have an unprejudiced understanding of the differing worldviews of these civilizations and an acceptance of others' informed opinions;
- Have an understanding of key historical problems of the period and evidence-backed solutions to these problems.
- Have the ability to explain the significance of historical events and processes in world history, including alternative worlds, and longitudinal and intergenerational studies
- Have the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues
Nil
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
The essential world history
- Edition: 9th (2018)
- Authors: William Duiker/Jackson Spielvogel
- Cengage
- ISBN: 9780357697863
This is the same textbook used in Dawn of Humanity
This is the same textbook used in Dawn of Humanity
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Turabian
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
b.t.jones@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Modernity, Renaissance and Reformation
Chapter
Moodle Lesson 1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025Module/Topic
European Age of Exploration, Slavery
Chapter
Lesson 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025Module/Topic
Muslim Empires
Chapter
Lesson 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025Module/Topic
East Asia
Chapter
Lesson 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Enlightenment, Age of Revolution
Chapter
Lesson 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025Module/Topic
Industrialisation, Nationalism
Chapter
Lesson 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Mass Society
Chapter
Lesson 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025Module/Topic
Imperialism
Chapter
Lesson 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025Module/Topic
China and Japan after 1800
Chapter
Lesson 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025Module/Topic
India
Chapter
Lesson 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025Module/Topic
South East Asia
Chapter
Lesson 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Latin America
Chapter
Lesson 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Select THREE (3) from the readings provided in Moodle and write a review of around 500 words each for a total of 1500 words. You should also use between 3 and 6 extra sources (in total) to provide further context but the majority of the work must be based on the below readings. All references should use the Turabian referencing system and you MUST include the coversheet with an AI acknowledgement.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
• Gen AI content is used to generate ideas and general structures.
The word count is considered from the first word of the Introduction to the last word of the Conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Week 4 Friday (8 Aug 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via the Moodle site.
Vacation Week Friday (22 Aug 2025)
Returned within 14 days of receipt of the essay.
Historical content:
* demonstrate an understanding of the historical context in which the passage was written
* presentation of accurate, relevant and balanced historical evidence
* sound and non-judgmental interpretation of the historical problem
Research/referencing skills:
* thorough research based on scholarly sources
* reflection of relevant readings/lecture materials
* acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence
* correct use of the Turabian system referencing style
Writing skills:
* clear, concise and correct written English
* logical structure/organisation of ideas
* clarity of argument/explanation in response to the question
* use of formal writing style
* meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be your own wording
- Have a broad knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural history of major world civilizations and their interactions from c1500 to c1900;
- Have an unprejudiced understanding of the differing worldviews of these civilizations and an acceptance of others' informed opinions;
- Have an understanding of key historical problems of the period and evidence-backed solutions to these problems.
- Have the ability to explain the significance of historical events and processes in world history, including alternative worlds, and longitudinal and intergenerational studies
- Have the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Written Assessment
Select ONE (1) essay question and write an essay of 2,000 words, providing footnotes and a Bibliography in the Turabian Referencing system.
Please see more details and the choice of Questions on Moodle under the Assessment tile.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
• Gen AI content is used to generate ideas and general structures.
The word count is considered from the first word of the Introduction to the last word of the Conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.
Week 10 Friday (26 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit via the Moodle site.
Week 12 Friday (10 Oct 2025)
Returned within 14 days of receipt of the essay.
Historical content:
* presentation of accurate, relevant and balanced historical evidence
* sound and non-judgmental interpretation of the historical problem
Research/referencing skills:
* thorough research based on scholarly sources
* reflection of relevant readings/lecture materials
* acknowledgement of all sources of ideas/evidence
* correct use of the Turabian system referencing style
Writing skills:
* clear, concise and correct written English
* logical structure/organisation of ideas
* clarity of argument/explanation in response to the question
* use of formal essay style
* meeting the required number of words, the bulk of which should be your own wording
- Have a broad knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural history of major world civilizations and their interactions from c1500 to c1900;
- Have an unprejudiced understanding of the differing worldviews of these civilizations and an acceptance of others' informed opinions;
- Have an understanding of key historical problems of the period and evidence-backed solutions to these problems.
- Have the ability to explain the significance of historical events and processes in world history, including alternative worlds, and longitudinal and intergenerational studies
- Have the ability to critique historical interpretations and their applications to contemporary global issues
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Ethical practice
3 Online Quiz(zes)
Each week, through Moodle, you are given a short weekly open-book multi-choice quiz of 10 questions (choice of five responses per question) to test your factual knowledge and general understanding of the various historical topics.
The quizzes will open and close in two batches as follows:
Quizzes 1–6 closes 11:45 pm, Monday 25 August.
Quizzes 7–12 closes 11:45 pm, Friday 10 October.
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)
Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows:
• No Gen AI use at any point during this assessment.
12
Weekly
Quizzes 1–6 closes 11:45 pm, Monday 25 August, Quizzes 7–12 closes 11:45 pm, Friday 10 October.
Quizzes are graded automatically and immediately.
Ability to synthesise historical material and discern historical fact from fiction.
- Have a broad knowledge of the political, economic, social and cultural history of major world civilizations and their interactions from c1500 to c1900;
- Have an unprejudiced understanding of the differing worldviews of these civilizations and an acceptance of others' informed opinions;
- Have an understanding of key historical problems of the period and evidence-backed solutions to these problems.
- Have the ability to explain the significance of historical events and processes in world history, including alternative worlds, and longitudinal and intergenerational studies
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
