Available to All Learners Available to All Learners

Designed for a global audience

Secondary Education Secondary Education

A special track for secondary school teachers and students

Higher Education Higher Education

A track for learners and educators in higher education

Price Price

FREE

Languages Languages

English

Requirements Requirements

An internet connection to access course materials

JOURNEY
through the

Seven Ages of Globalization

JOURNEY
CONNECT WITH

today's leaders and tomorrow's changemakers

CONNECT WITH
EXPLORE HOW GEOGRAPHY
has influenced

economies, societies, and global interconnection

EXPLORE HOW GEOGRAPHY
EXAMINE THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY
in driving

transformation

EXAMINE THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY

Overview

Ages of Globalization (AOG) is a free, multidisciplinary, interactive course designed to prepare learners from around the world to tackle today's sustainable development challenges.

This innovative initiative, conceptually based on Professor Jeffrey Sachs's seminal book of the same name, explores the story of humanity across the world and over time.

Our history is one of interdependence - globalization - as well as change, driven by geography, technology, and institutions.
By understanding our shared history, we can also understand how to meet the great challenges of our time.

A revolutionary breakthrough in Education for Sustainable Development

With visits and storytelling at UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, participants are introduced to a new and thrilling curriculum that merges world history, science, geography, technology, interactive maps, hands-on learning activities and monthly live dialogues with world leaders with Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and distinguished guests from across the globe.

structure

  • 28-Class Self-Paced Learning Journey
  • 10 Live Online Modules with Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs
  • UN at Your Doorstep Virtual Dialogues with world leaders
  • Interactive maps
  • Hands-on learning activities

Lead Faculty

  • Faculty Image

    Jeffrey Sachs

    Columbia University

This course is for

students, educators, and lifelong learners who are eager to deepen their understanding of global history and take action for sustainable development.

Questions?

Course logistics and requirements

To support a wide range of learning contexts and goals, the program offers two complementary learning pathways:

Videos from the self-paced course and recordings from the live sessions can also be found in the SDG Academy Library.

Certificates

There is no certificate for participation.

Universities and colleges are encouraged to integrate AoG as part of a credit-bearing course.

syllabus

Welcome!

The Seven Ages of Globalization​

Two Million Years of Technological Advancement

Institutions and How We Live

Our Great Challenges Today

The Paleolithic Age

The Neolithic Age: The Birth of Agriculture

The Equestrian Age

The Classical Age: West

The Classical Age: East

The Axial Age of East and West

The Emergence of Islam

The Holy Roman Empire: 800–1806 CE

The Birth of Global Empires

The Religious Wars of Europe

Competition Among European Empires

The Age of Enlightenment & Western Technological Leadership

The Industrial Revolution

The Rise of the US to Global Predominance

The New Multilateralism: World after World War II

The Post-Colonial World (Post-1950)

The Digital Age

Continuities and Changes Across the Ages: Four Case Studies

Great Challenges: Ending Poverty

Great Challenges: Saving the Environment

The Future of Work, Technology, Living Patterns, and Politics

The World in 2050: Building the Future We Want