Course
History
World history: axial age, revolutions, geopolitics, decolonization and globalization
Part of the Antiquity track — finish it for a verifiable diploma →
§ 01 — Orientation
New here?
What you'll be able to do, who this is for, how long it takes, and where to begin.
By the end, you will be able to
- 01Think like a historian about sources and causes.
- 02Move confidently across the key epochs.
- 03Read today's geopolitics through history.
- 04Explain how globalization was made.
- 05Question a historical narrative instead of memorizing it.
Who this is for
How long it takes
- Quick orientationSkim the opening module and the cheatsheet to get the shape of it.~2 h
- Full read-throughRead every article once, in order.~2 h
- Mastery pathRead, take the quizzes, and space out your reviews.~2 weeks
- APA
Stoa. (2026). History [Online course]. Stoa. https://stoa.school/course/history
- MLA
Stoa. “History.” Stoa, 2026, https://stoa.school/course/history.
- Chicago
Stoa. “History.” Stoa. Accessed September 1, 2026. https://stoa.school/course/history.
§ 02 — Curriculum
8 modules.
Each module is a small unit. Most read in sequence — but a determined reader can begin anywhere.
- M ICivilizations and Empires of the Ancient WorldMesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Axial Age3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIThe Middle Ages and the RenaissanceFeudalism, the Crusades, the Black Death, and the Italian Renaissance3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IIIRevolutions and ModernityThe Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions, industrialization3 articles
18 minBegin → - M IVThe 20th Century and Global HistoryWorld Wars, decolonization, the Cold War, and the post-bipolar world3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VThe Long 19th Century: Revolutions, Nations, Empires1789–1914: the age of revolutions, nationalism, and global imperialism3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIThe Age of Catastrophe: 1914–1945World Wars, totalitarianism, and the Holocaust3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIThe Cold War and Decolonization1945–1991: the bipolar world and the emergence of the postcolonial order3 articles
18 minBegin → - M VIIIThe Global World: Challenges of the 21st CenturyTerrorism, financial crises, climate, and the new world order3 articles
18 minBegin →
§ 03 — Learning outcomes
4 outcomes.
Apply historical methods of source analysis and event interpretation
Demonstrate understanding of the major periods and turning points in world history
Analyze geopolitical processes and their contemporary consequences
Assess processes of decolonization, modernization, and globalization
§ 04 — Practices