Locating World History in Locating World History in Time and Environment Time and Environment

“If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.”

Aristotle

Part One: What is the point?

Memory

Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things.

Cicero

Without a memory, would you recognize your family?

Recognize your house? Recognize your house?

Know which friends Know which friends to lend money? to lend money?

Know who, and who NOT to, love…Know who, and who NOT to, love…

Be the person you are?

How does this then apply to all of us together?

The answer is the reason we study

world history.

Part Two: Habits of Mind

Still don't get it?

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.”

Albert Einstein

History makes us better thinkers.

perspectivesperspectivesshapeshapeWorldviewsWorldviews

AnalysisAnalysis

ImaginationImagination

CommunicationCommunication

CommitmentCommitment

Joy

Part Three: Periodization

So, what are we going to study?

The World

OldOld

NewNew

Information Overload?Information Overload?

Valid Comparisons?Valid Comparisons?

Peter Griffin invented the wheel?

Frazzled?

Basis for Comparison

Geographic RegionsGeographic Regions

Forces cut across societies

Measuring Measuring ChangeChange

Measuring Measuring ContinuityContinuity

Five Major Five Major ThemesThemes

Patterns and impacts of interaction Patterns and impacts of interaction

Impact of technology, economics, and demography

Systems of social Systems of social structure and structure and gender structure gender structure

Cultural, intellectual, and Cultural, intellectual, and religious developments and religious developments and interactions interactions

Changes in functions and structures of states

PeriodizationPeriodization

Foundations: Foundations:

80008000BCEBCE-600-600CECE

Post Classical Post Classical Civilizations: Civilizations: 600-1450CE600-1450CE

Beginnings of the Beginnings of the Modern World:Modern World:

1450-17501450-1750CECE

Age of Revolution:

1750-1914CE

The Modern World:The Modern World:1914-20101914-2010CECE

and now…the beginning…