Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2026 - HIST 472W D100

Problems in World History (4)

History of Greatness

Class Number: 2217

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 11 – Jun 19, 2026: Mon, Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units including nine units of lower division history.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An advanced examination into the concepts and methodology of world history. Selected themes may include globalization, modernization, migration, religious expansion, colonialism, imperialism, and the teaching of world history. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 472W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

History of Greatness

We live in a world obsessed with rankings—from SFU (Maclean's #1 comprehensive university), to Burnaby (Maclean's #1 best-run city), to our own History Department (#3 most global in Canada per smallworldhistory.org). This semester traces the quest to be the best from Cyrus the Great of ancient Persia to Bhumibol the Great of modern Thailand. We’ll consider the evolution of rankings, from 18th-century lists of artists to modern presidential polls, sports stats, and TV competitions like the BBC’s Great Britons and its thirty-nine spinoffs worldwide. We’ll dig into the “Great Man” theory of history, attempts to Make countries Great Again, cultural constructions of greatness, and alternative metrics for measuring worth. The course culminates in a student-run tournament that pits history's giants against each other in a no-holds-barred smackdown showdown of supremacy to decide (or dismantle) the question, who is the Greatest Person in all history?

There may be an online / hybrid option for this seminar; contact the instructor if you’re interested: clossey@sfu.ca.

Grading

  • Seminar attendance, participation, posting discussion questions 20%
  • Research Paper Proposal 10%
  • Research Paper Outline 10%
  • Research Paper, with revision option 40%
  • Oral Presentations 15%
  • Entrance and Exit Surveys 5%

NOTES:

This course counts towards a Group 4: Global Comparative requirement for History majors.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All readings will be made available online.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Learn more about studing History at SFU:

History areas of study


Why study History?

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.