The Second World War

The Second World War profoundly shaped twentieth-century history and its legacies continue to reverberate today.

This course takes an expansive approach to the history of the war, both in time and space.

We begin with the legacies of the First World War and how they foreshadowed the next global conflict.

We examine the unfolding and impact of the war not only in Europe, but also in Asia and around the globe.

Finally, we look at the war's legacies in the postwar international order, including the emergence of the cold war and the unfolding of decolonization.