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World history and geopolitics

LEARNING PLAN

World history and geopolitics

This learning plan equips you with the historical depth and geopolitical literacy to make sense of today's complex world. Perfect for professionals in policy, business, or journalism, as well as curious citizens who want to move beyond headlines to understand the deep forces shaping international relations, conflicts, and opportunities in our interconnected age.

ByCommunity User
1 h 58 m
12 coursesUpdated 6 days ago
SapiensThe Lessons of HistoryThe Complete History of Human Civilization12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn World history and geopolitics with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering World history and geopolitics.

What You'll Learn

  • Trace humanity's journey from ancient civilizations to modern societies, identifying recurring patterns that explain how cultures rise, adapt, and fall
  • Analyze how geography—terrain, resources, and borders—fundamentally constrains and drives national strategies, alliances, and conflicts
  • Understand the pivotal 20th century conflicts that demolished old empires and established today's institutions, alliances, and international norms
  • Navigate current geopolitical flashpoints including great power competition, regional conflicts, and emerging threats like climate change
  • Develop a strategic framework for interpreting global events by connecting historical precedents with geographic realities and contemporary power shifts

Understand the grand sweep of human history from our origins to the modern world, discovering patterns and lessons that shaped civilizations across millennia.

Sapiens cover
Sapiens

A sweeping narrative of human history

9 m
The Lessons of History cover
The Lessons of History

A concise exploration of human history's patterns and lessons, distilling wisdom from millennia of civilization's triumphs and failures.

10 m
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The Silk RoadsSapiensThe Lessons of HistoryWorld History Timeline: Key Eras & Civilizations - MindMap AI
6 sources
The Complete History of Human Civilization

Journey through world history from the cognitive revolution to modern times, exploring how trade routes, shared beliefs, and grand transitions shaped our interconnected world. Discover why Asia was civilization's true center and what patterns from the past reveal about our future.

9 m

Learn how physical geography—mountains, rivers, coastlines—shapes global politics, conflicts, and power dynamics in ways that remain timeless despite technological progress.

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Prisoners of Geography

Insightful exploration of how geography shapes global politics, revealing hidden forces behind international conflicts and power dynamics.

9 m
The Revenge of Geography cover
The Revenge of Geography

A thought-provoking exploration of how geography shapes global conflicts, challenging the notion that globalization trumps physical realities.

10 m
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6 sources
Geography Still Rules the World

Discover how mountains, rivers, and coastlines shape global politics more than you think. From Russia's paranoia to America's advantages, learn why physical geography remains the hidden force behind today's headlines.

9 m

Examine the pivotal conflicts of the 20th century and understand how the world wars and their aftermath created the international order we inhabit today.

The Second World War cover
The Second World War

History's greatest conflict through the eyes of its greatest defender.

8 m
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The Sleepwalkers

A gripping account of Europe's descent into World War I, unraveling complex events and relationships behind the conflict.

9 m
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World War II | Facts, Summary, History, Dates, Combatants, & CausesSecond World War - causes, major events, and its global impactsource 3What Were the Consequences of WWII?
6 sources
WWII: The War That Remade Everything

Explore how World War II transformed our world in just six years - from cavalry charges to atomic bombs, reshaping technology, politics, and civilization itself through the deadliest conflict in human history.

15 m

Navigate today's complex geopolitical landscape and emerging power dynamics, from US-China rivalry to climate-driven conflicts, to understand where the world is heading next.

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World Order

Kissinger's masterful analysis of global power dynamics, exploring historical concepts of order and their modern implications.

10 m
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Destined for War

Explores the looming conflict between the US and China through the lens of historical power transitions.

11 m
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source 1source 2source 3source 4
6 sources
Open Source Intelligence Reshapes Global Power

Explore how democratized intelligence gathering is transforming geopolitics, from tracking troop movements on social media to China's digital Silk Roads. Discover why geography still matters in our interconnected world.

9 m

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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@Matt, YC alum
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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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