Instructor: Altuğ Yalçıntaş
Institution: Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences
Semester: Fall 2025
Class Time & Location: Thursdays, 10:00 | Room 118
This course introduces students to the study of world economic history, a discipline that examines the evolution of economies, institutions, and societies through both data and narrative. It emphasizes how past choices and chance events have shaped the present, drawing on empirical data, comparative analysis, and interpretive frameworks.
Students will explore major themes including:
- The Industrial Revolution
- Comparative development
- Inequality
- The historical roots of globalization
This course is distinct from History of Economic Ideas: whereas that course focuses on theories and thinkers, World Economic History centers on facts, processes, institutions, and long-term trajectories.
By engaging with both quantitative evidence and historical interpretation, students will learn how the past informs present economic realities and develop skills in comparative and critical analysis.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand the methodological foundations of economic history (data + narrative).
- Explain how path dependence and contingency shape economic outcomes.
- Compare and contrast the economic trajectories of different countries and regions.
- Critically evaluate contemporary economic issues in light of historical processes.
Required Textbook
- The CORE Econ Team. (2023). The Economy 2.0: Microeconomics.
- Daron Acemoğlu and Simon Johnson. 2023. Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity
Main Data Source
Supplementary Readings and Watchings
- They Worked 14 Hours a Day? - History Found YouTube Channel
- How Amsterdam Invented Capitalism - Show Me the Work YouTube Channel
Assessment Structure
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Midterm Exam | 40% |
| Final Exam | 60% |
Attendance:
Elective; no attendance will be taken. However, regular participation is strongly recommended for success.
Assignments:
None. Independent engagement with the textbook and lectures is expected.
- [Structured Summary](not available) | PPT Files
- Structured Summary Part 1 | Structed Summary Part 2 | Structed Summary Part 3 | Structed Summary Part 4 | PPT Files
For additional resources, updates, and readings, visit the instructor’s Notion page:
https://ayalcintas.notion.site
© 2025 Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences — ECO301 World Economic History