Table of Content
PART I: THE EMERGENCE OF HUMAN COMMUNITIES, TO 500 B.C.E.1. Nature, Humanity, and History, to 3500 B.C.E.African Genesis. Technology and Culture in the Ice Age. The Agricultural Revolutions. Life in Neolithic Communities. Diversity and Dominance: Cave Art. Environment and Technology: The Iceman.2. The First River-Valley Civilizations, 3500-1500 B.C.E.Mesopotamia. Egypt. The Indus Valley Civilization. Diversity and Dominance: Violence and Order in the Babylonian New Year's Festival. Environment and Technology: Environmental Stress in the Indus Valley.3. New Civilizations in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, 2200-250 B.C.E.Early China, 2000-221 B.C.E. Nubia, 3100 B.C.E.-350 C.E. Celtic Europe, 1000-50 B.C.E. First Civilizations of the Americas: The Olmec and Chavín, 1200-250 B.C.E. Environment and Technology: Divination in Ancient Societies. Diversity and Dominance: Human Nature and Good Government in the Analects of Confucius and the Legalist Writings of Han Fei.4. The Mediterranean and Middle East, 2000-500 B.C.E.The Cosmopolitan Middle East, 1700-1100 B.C.E. The Aegean World, 2000-1100 B.C.E. The Assyrian Empire, 911-612 B.C.E. Israel, 2000-500 B.C.E. Phoenicia and the Mediterranean, 1200-500 B.C.E. Failure and Transformation, 750-550 B.C.E. Diversity and Dominance: Protests Against the Ruling Class in Israel and Babylonia. Environment and Technology: Ancient Textiles and Dyes. Issues In World History: Animal Domestication.PART II: THE FORMATION OF NEW CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 1000 B.C.E.-400 C.E.5. Greece and Iran, 1000-30 B.C.E.Ancient Iran, 1000-500 B.C.E. The Rise of the Greeks, 1000-500 B.C.E. The Struggle of Persia and Greece, 546-323 B.C.E. The Hellenistic Synthesis, 323-30 B.C.E. Diversity and Dominance: Persian and Greek Perceptions of Kingship. Material Culture: Wine and Beer in the Ancient World. Environment and Technology: Ancient Astronomy.6. An Age of Empires: Rome and Han China, 753 B.C.E.-330 C.E.Rome's Creation of a Mediterranean Empire, 753 B.C.E.-330 C.E. The Origins of Imperial China, 221 B.C.E.-220 C.E. Diversity and Dominance: The Treatment of Slaves in Rome and China. Environment and Technology: Water Engineering in Rome and China.7. India and Southeast Asia, 1500 B.C.E.-1025 C.E.Foundations of Indian Civilization, 1500 B.C.E.-300 C.E. Imperial Expansion and Collapse, 324 B.C.E.-650 C.E. Southeast Asia, 50-1025 C.E. Environment and Technology: Indian Mathematics. Diversity and Dominance: Relations Between Women and Men in the Kama Sutra and the Arthashastra. Issues in World History: Oral Societies and the Consequences of Literacy.PART III: GROWTH AND INTERACTION OF CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 300 B.C.E.-1200 C.E.8. Networks of Communication and Exchange, 300 B.C.E.-1100 C.E. The Silk Road. The Indian Ocean Maritime System. Routes Across the Sahara. Sub-Saharan Africa. The Spread of Ideas. Diversity and Dominance: Travel Accounts of Africa and India. Environment and Technology: Camel Saddles.9. The Sasanid Empire and the Rise of Islam, 200-1200.The Sasanid Empire, 224-651. The Origins of Islam. The Rise and Fall of the Caliphate, 632-1258. Islamic Civilization. Diversity and Dominance: Secretaries, Turks, and Beggars. Environment and Technology: Chemistry. Material Culture: Head Coverings.10. Christian Societies Emerge in Europe, 600-1200.The Byzantine Empire, 600-1200. Early Medieval Europe, 600-1000. The Western Church. Kievan Russia, 900-1200. Western Europe Revives, 1000-1200. The Crusades, 1095-1204. Environment and Technology: Iron Production. Diversity and Dominance: The Struggle for Christian Morality.11. Inner and East Asia, 400-1200.The Sui and Tang Empires, 581-755. The Emergence of East Asia, to 1200. New Kingdoms in East Asia. Diversity and Dominance: Law and Society in China and Japan. Environment and Technology: Writing in East Asia, 400-1200.12. Peoples and Civilizations of the Americas, 200-1500.Classic-Era Culture and Society in Mesoamerica, 200-900. The Postclassic P
