Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - HIST 135 D100

Capitalism and the Making of the Modern World (3)

Class Number: 3294

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Thu, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introductory survey of the dynamic history of capitalism. Breadth-Humanities/Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

We live in a world of great wealth—and great inequality. We are in instant contact with people around the globe—and isolated us from each other and from nature. We have technology that appears miraculous—and threatens us with extinction. How did we get here?

We’ll use roleplays, film, lectures, and discussions to examine the economic system—capitalism—that brought us here. We’ll trace its beginnings in violence and oppression and explore its connections to feudalism, slavery, empire, colonialism, government, and the environment. We’ll look at how people have opposed it, and think about where it may be going.

Why you might like the course

  • Your ideas, opinions, and experience will matter.
  • The course will help you reflect on much that is taken for granted in our society.
  • It will help you think critically about power, work, and authority.
  • There is some flexibility with assignments and deadlines.
  • Spelling doesn’t count.
  • There will be singing and banjo playing and bad jokes in the lectures.
  • There are no exams or large research papers.
  • The class will help you find and develop your own voice.
  • Learning about capitalism will help if you want to succeed in it—or overthrow it.

Why you might not like the course: see above

There are no prerequisites or special knowledge required for this course. It will be easier to do well if you have some curiosity about the subject and some time.

No exams, no large papers, no kidding. Instead, there will be a number of short writing assignments of about 2-4 pages each. These are designed to help you think about and comment on the ideas and content of the course.

There is no textbook. All readings will be on Canvas.

Got questions? Email me, Mark Leier, at leier@sfu.ca

Academic Integrity: Capitalism puts great pressure on us to “succeed” and “win” by whatever means necessary. This often does great harm to ourselves and to others. We’ll talk about this.

Anything below this line is a requirement put there by university administrators, not the instructor.

Materials

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 studying 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.