本課程以近代知識分子對於歷史發展要素的關懷，重新思考這五百年的歷史發展樣態，以及美國參加兩次世界大戰，接續英國霸權、冷戰逼垮蘇聯獨霸全球，何以就在這短短三十年間迭見危機，從這裡可以看到歐美之外，特別是亞洲的崛起，從日本到四小龍以及中國大陸，特別是全球化方興未艾之際的民主化第三波後續退潮，美國竟失去主導國際秩序的優勢。當現實不再是熟悉的東西對抗的格局，就有必要新審視我們所處的現實和過往之所由來，何以不再是過往熟悉的歷史敘事和座標，甚至意識形態的框架，諸多變因何在，驅動歷史改轍的動力為何？這些都得從我們的立足點了解自身，這是對歷史長時段的思考，溯其源流及脈絡發展自有不同景觀。這些都有助於培養獨立思考的思辨能力，自我表述能力，擴充人文素養。

This course uses the concern of modern intellectuals for the elements of historical development to rethink the historical development pattern of the past five hundred years, as well as the United States' participation in two world wars, succession of British hegemony, and the Cold War that forced the Soviet Union to dominate the world. Why did crises arise repeatedly in just thirty years? From here we can see the rise of Europe and the United States, especially Asia, from Japan to the Four Tigers and mainland China, especially the subsequent ebb of the third wave of democratization at a time when globalization was in the ascendant. The United States actually lost its advantage in leading the international order. When reality is no longer a familiar confrontational pattern, it is necessary to re-examine the reality we live in and the origin of the past. Why is it no longer the familiar historical narrative and coordinates, or even the ideological framework of the past? What are the reasons for the many changes and what is the driving force for historical changes? These all need to be understood from our standpoint. This is a reflection on a long period of history. Tracing its origins and development has different landscapes. These will help cultivate the critical thinking ability of independent thinking, self-expression ability, and expand humanistic qualities.

朱雲漢，《高思在雲》（台北：天下文化出版，2015）、韓毓海，《五百年來的中國與世界》（台北：如果出版，2013）

Zhu Yunhan, "Thinking in the Clouds" (Taipei: Tianxia Culture Publishing, 2015), Han Yuhai, "China and the World in the Past Five Hundred Years" (Taipei: Ruo Publishing, 2013)