Coursera

The Modern World, Part Two: Global History since 1910 (Coursera)

Offered by University of Virginia,

This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part Two begins early in the twentieth century, as older ways of doing things and habits of thought give way. What follows is an era of cataclysmic struggles over what ideas and institutions will take their place.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

The course concludes in the present day, as communities everywhere are transitioning into a new era of world history. Again we work hard to grasp what is happening and ask: Why? Again we are drawn to pivotal choices made at key moments by individuals and communities.

Syllabus

WEEK 1: Crackup (1905-1917)
WEEK 2: New Orders Emerge (1917-1930)
WEEK 3: The Crisis of the World (1930-1940)
WEEK 4: Total War and Aftermath (1940-1950)
WEEK 5: The Return of Wartime (1950-1968)
WEEK 6: Decay and Renaissance (1968-1991)
WEEK 7: The Next Phase (1991-2013)

Go to Class

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Coursera

University of Rochester

History of Rock, Part Two (Coursera)

Film & Audio

This course, part 2 of a 2-course sequence, examines the history of rock, primarily as it unfolded in the United States, from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. This course covers the music of Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Carole King, Bob Marley, the Sex Pistols, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Metallica, Run-DMC, and Nirvana, and many more artists, with an emphasis both on cultural context and on the music itself. We will also explore how developments in the music business and in technology helped shape the ways in which styles developed.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Music Rock

Coursera

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Egiptología (Egyptology) (Coursera)

Humanities History

¿Sientes curiosidad por la civilización del antiguo Egipto? ¿Eres un apasionado de su cultura e historia? En este curso nos acercaremos a los templos de los antiguos faraones, a sus complejos funerarios, a sus ciudades, a su escritura jeroglífica, a su religión y a muchos otros aspectos de esta gran civilización.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Archaeology Egypt

Coursera

University of London

Magna Carta and its Legacies: Freedom and protest (Coursera)

Humanities History

This course examines the roles that Magna Carta has played historically as well as the importance of Magna Carta today. It aims to equip students with a critical understanding of Magna Carta and its significance around the globe. Students will find out what Magna Carta is, how it came about, and why many believe that it remains one of the most significant documents in history.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Legacies Freedom

Coursera

University of Alberta

Indigenous Canada (Coursera)

Humanities History

Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Art Art History

Coursera

Yale University

The Global Financial Crisis (Coursera)

Economics & Finance Social Sciences

Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner and Professor Andrew Metrick survey the causes, events, policy responses, and aftermath of the recent global financial crisis.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

Economics Crisis Social Sciences

Coursera

Emory University

The Bible's Prehistory, Purpose, and Political Future (Coursera)

Humanities Social Sciences

With its walls razed to ground by Babylon’s armies, Jerusalem joined a long line of ancient vanquished cities—from Ur and Nineveh and Persepolis to Babylon itself. While some recovered from the destruction, others did not. But none responded to political catastrophe by fashioning the kind of elaborate and enduring monument to their own downfall that we find in the Bible. Most conquered populations viewed their subjugation as a source of shame. They consigned it to oblivion, opting instead to extol the golden ages of the past. The biblical authors in contrast reacted to loss by composing extensive writings that acknowledge collective failure, reflect deeply upon its causes, and discover thereby a ground for collective hope.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Political Jerusalem

Coursera

Princeton University

Paradoxes of War (Coursera)

Social Sciences

The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, I hope that you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues.

Oct 19th 2026

13-24 Weeks

History Sociology Democracy

Coursera

University of Pennsylvania

Greek and Roman Mythology (Coursera)

Humanities

Myths are traditional stories that have endured over a long time. Some of them have to do with events of great importance, such as the founding of a nation. Others tell the stories of great heroes and heroines and their exploits and courage in the face of adversity. Still others are simple tales about otherwise unremarkable people who get into trouble or do some great deed. What are we to make of all these tales, and why do people seem to like to hear them? This course will focus on the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, as a way of exploring the nature of myth and the function it plays for individuals, societies, and nations. We will also pay some attention to the way the Greeks and Romans themselves understood their own myths.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Greece Art History

Coursera

University of Michigan

Data Science Ethics (Coursera)

Data Science

What are the ethical considerations regarding the privacy and control of consumer information and big data, especially in the aftermath of recent large-scale data breaches? This course provides a framework to analyze these concerns as you examine the ethical and privacy implications of collecting and managing big data. Explore the broader impact of the data science field on modern society and the principles of fairness, accountability and transparency as you gain a deeper understanding of the importance of a shared set of ethical values.

Oct 19th 2026

4 Weeks

History Ethics Data Analysis

Coursera

The Museum of Modern Art

Modern Art & Ideas (Coursera)

Architecture & Design

Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Over the next five weeks, you will look at art through a variety of themes: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Each week kicks off with a video that connects works of art from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection to the theme. You will hear audio interviews with artists, designers, and curators and learn more about selected works in the additional readings and resources.

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Art Creativity

Coursera

Yale University

Introduction to Classical Music (Coursera)

Film & Audio

Using a simple and enjoyable teaching style, this course introduces the novice listener to the wonders of classical music, from Bach fugues to Mozart symphonies to Puccini operas.

Oct 26th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Music Chord

Coursera

Yad Vashem

Antisemitism: From Its Origins to the Present (Coursera)

Humanities History

In this course, 50 leading scholars from all over the world will explore questions and issues relating to antisemitism including: what is antisemitism? How has it changed throughout history? Why can it be found among so many diverse cultures, and even among opposing ideologies? What happened to antisemitism after the Holocaust? How is antisemitism expressed today, and what are the main spheres in which it can be found?

Oct 19th 2026

5-12 Weeks

History Antisemitism Islamic