History of Oil in the Modern World

Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in any WC&IL II course or HON 1000.

The History of Oil in the Modern World will explore the rise of oil as a strategic commodity and its influence on world politics and economic systems in the modern period, from its discovery in 1859 to its role in the strategic relationships between the Middle East and other nations today. We will study its uses and the dominance of Western oil companies in its extraction in Russia, the Middle East, Indonesia, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Libya. The role of oil in our daily lives and the global and local impacts of the use of oil will also be examined.

Credit: 3