HI370 The Atlantic World
This course will explore teh nature and meaning of the new Atlantic world created by the people of four continents, Africa, Europe, and North and South America, from the 16th-18th centuries. During this period the Atlantic Ocean served to connect Africans, Europeans, and Native Americans in ways that were both dynamic and tragic, leading to the emergence of a new Atlantic community. Topics that will be covered include the origin of European expansion; the development of European colonial societies; the destruction, transformation, and endurance of indigenous societies; the evolution and establishment of Atlantic slavery; the impact of Africa and Africans on Europe; the significance of piracy; and the growth and ultimate success of revolutionary independence movements.