A comparative historical analysis of major global developments from the late 15th century to the present. Some of the themes likely to be explored are empire-building, contact between cultures and colonial social relations; the attraction of cities, their role in a global economy and the shift to an urban world; and the impact of capitalism and industrialization on social organization including conflict between classes and changes in the nature of work. Students learn ways of interpreting primary historical documents and comparing historical investigations across time and space. (Same as HIST 308.)