No Certificate / Course on Audit Track
The course aims to introduce students to explore the origins, key events, and global impacts of the First and Second World Wars using accessible video resources. Using the two Khan Academy YouTube playlists provided, students will analyze how militarism, alliances, imperialism, economic pressures, and political transformations shaped the 20th century. The course emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based analysis, and historical interpretation. Students will connect historical events to modern world issues and understand how global conflict shaped international politics, society, and culture.
This course has been curated by Riphah International University faculty and staff using publicly available third-party content and Open Educational Resources (OER) for self-paced learning. Learners will engage with curated open-access materials to achieve the course learning outcomes. All third-party content is used under open-access or fair-use policies, while any original materials are developed specifically for this learning experience.
Source and Credits:
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
There are no prerequisites and no previous knowledge of international relations and political history is required but would be an advantage.
This course is designed for:
Undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds
Learners interested in international relations and global politics
Students curious about political theory and modern history
Beginners with no prior knowledge of international relations
Learners seeking a foundational understanding of global political systems
Students aiming to explore historical, theoretical, and contemporary global issues
Background to WWI: nationalism, alliances, militarism, imperialism
Empires before World War I (Video)
European Power Structures Before World War I (Video)
Alliances and the Road to World War I (Video)
Ethnicity and Culture in the Balkans: Language and Religion (Video)
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
The Spark of World War I: The Assassination in Sarajevo (Video)
Major fronts and battles (Western & Eastern Fronts)
Strategies and Battles of Early World War I (Video)
Comparing the Eastern and Western Fronts in World War I (Video)
The Eastern Front in World War I: Conflict and Conditions (Video)
Trench warfare technological change
Technology and Weapons of World War I (Video)
The end of the war and the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles and Its Impact on Europe (Video)
Social and economic consequences in Europe
The Treaty of Versailles and the Failure of Wilson’s Vision (Video)
Rise of fascism and expansionist ideologies
Beginning of World War II | The 20th century | World history (Video)
The breakdown of the post-WWI order
Models The breakdown of the post-WWI order (Video)
Major theatres of war (Europe, Pacific, North Africa)
1944 - Allies advance further in Europe | The 20th century (Video)
American Advances in the Pacific War (1944) (Video)
1942: Europe Mein World War II ka Turning Point (Video)
Key events: Blitzkrieg, Pearl Harbor, D-Day
Axis Expansion in World War II – 1940 (Video)
1941: Axis Momentum Accelerates in World War II (Video)
Allied Forces Advance Further in Europe – 1944 (Video)
Holocaust and war crimes
World War II: The Holocaust (Nazis ka Systematic Genocide) (Video)
The end of WWII & creation of the United Nations
The End of World War II (1945) (Video)
Political, economic, and social consequences
World War II in the Pacific: American Advances in 1944 (Video)
Practice Quiz
Practice Quiz (Problem)
Approximately 2.5 Hours
Intermidiate
Fully Online (Asynchronous)
Self Paced
