Synopses & Reviews
This best-selling, classic exploration of world history takes an interdisciplinary global (rather than a regional or national) approach–tracing those major forces, movements, and events that have had a world-wide impact. It stresses connections between the past, present and future, emphasizing the question “What does it mean for us today?” The Seventh Edition reevaluates the course of human history with an eye toward the millennium, reflecting in its coverage the end of the cold war and the dawning possibilities for a new type of global history.
Synopsis
This best-selling, classic exploration of world history takes an interdisciplinary global (rather than a regional or national) approach–tracing those major forces, movements, and events that have had a world-wide impact. It stresses connections between the past, present and future, emphasizing the question “What does it mean for us today?” The Seventh Edition reevaluates the course of human history with an eye toward the millennium, reflecting in its coverage the end of the cold war and the dawning possibilities for a new type of global history.
Table of Contents
Why a 21st Century Global History?
I. BEFORE CIVILIZATION. 1. Humans as Food Gatherers. 2. Humans as Food Growers. What It Means for Us Today—The Nature of Human Nature.
II. CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS OF EURASIA, TO 500 C.E.
3. First Eurasian Civilizations, 3500-1000 B.C.E. 4. Classical Civilizations Begin Eurasian Unification, 1000 B.C.E.-500 C.E. 5. Greco-Roman Civilization. 6. Indian Civilization. 7. Chinese Civilization. 8. End of Classical Civilizations. What It Means for Us Today—Civilization: Curse or Blessing?
III. MEDIEVAL CIVILIZATIONS OF EURASIA, 500-1500. 9. Medieval Civilizations Complete Eurasian Unification. 10. Rise of Islam. 11. Turco-Mongol Invasions. 12. Traditional Byzantine Civilization. 13. Traditional Confucian Civilization. 14. Revolutionary Western Civilization. What It Means for Us Today—Developed Societies and the “Retarding Lead.”
IV. NON-EURASIAN WORLD, TO 1500. 15. Africa. 16. Americas and Australia. 17. The World on the Eve of Europe's Expansion. What It Means for Us Today—Races in History.
V. WORLD OF ISOLATED REGIONS, TO 1500. 18. Moslem World at the Time of the West's Expansion. 19. Confucian World at the Time of the West's Expansion. 20. Expanding Civilization of the West: Renaissance and Reformation. 21. Expanding Civilization of the West: Economic Growth and State Building.