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Peter N. Stearns is a professor of history at George Mason University, where he is currently provost (since January 1, 2000) with almost 40 years of experience as a teacher and administrator. Stearns was the chair of the Department of History at Carnegie Mellon University and also served as the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. In addition, he founded and continues to edit the Journal of Social History. Also while at Carnegie Mellon he developed a pioneering approach to teaching world history to undergraduates in addition to mentoring hundreds of graduate students. Besides his long career as a historian, he is active in historical groups such as the American Historical Society, the Society of French Historical Studies, the Social Science History Association and the International Society for Research on Emotion. He attended Harvard College and later received his Ph.D. from Harvard University. In his prolific career as an author and editor, he has written or edited over 110 works of literature. Stearns currently serves as chair of the Advanced Placement World History committee.
Stephen S. Gosch is a professor emeritus of history at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Gosch began by teaching western civilization courses at UW-Eau Claire, but his scholarship evolved over the years to a broader comparative scholarship in world history, which he introduced to UW-Eau Claire classrooms in 1982. He also taught courses in the history of Japan, 19th and 20th century Europe and Marco Polo's world, as well as a popular team-taught interdisciplinary course on the Vietnam War, which he developed with a colleague in political science. He has published numerous articles and co-authored several books, including the recent Pre-modern Travel in World History. Gosch earned his bachelor's degree from Boston University and his master's and doctoral degrees from Rutgers University.
Erwin P. Grieshaber currently teaches world history, history of Latin America and history of 20th century war and peace at Minnesota State University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina in 1977.
Allison Scardino Belzer teaches a wide variety of courses at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. In teaching both halves of world civilization, she focuses on assigning texts that spark a positive response in students – texts that offer concrete knowledge while also inspiring questions. She developed her interest in history at Vassar College and received her Ph.D at Emory University. Her book Women and the Great War: Femininity Under Fire in Italy (2010) reflects her research interest in gender and cultural history and the history of war.
Geographical Contents: The Major Societies
Topical Contents
Preface
Introduction
Section 1: Early Civilizations
Introduction
1 Babylonian Law: How an Early State Regulated Its Subjects
The Code
2 Ancient Egypt
Hymn to the Nile
Negative Confession
Visual Source Egyptian Hieroglyphics
3 The Hebrew Bible
Genesis
From the Hebrew Bible
Section 2: The Classical Period, 1000 B.C.E. TO 500 C.E.
Introduction
China
4 Key Chinese Values: Confucianism and Its Legacy
The Small Analects
5 Daoism
Dao de Jing
6 Legalism: An Alternative System
Han Feizi
7 Women in Classical China: Ban Zhao
Lessons for Women
Visual Source Portrait of Ban Zhao
8 Benevolence and Virtue or Military Force? A Chinese Debate
The Iron and Salt DebateT
Visual Source Han Dynasty Agriculture
Persia and the Mediterranean
9 Zoroastrianism: The Major Persian Religion
Hymns of Zarathustra, Verse 33
10 Herodotus and The Persian Empire
The Histories
11 Greek Political Systems
Plutarch on Sparta
Thucydides, The Funeral Oration of Pericles
Sophocles, Antigone
12 Polybius on Roman Political Institutions
An Analysis of the Roman Government
Rome and Carthage Compared
13 Women in Mediterranean Societies
Tombstone Inscriptions
Women in Legal Codes
14 Christianity: Teachings and Practice
Christian Teachings
15 The Fall of Rome
Marcellinus
16 Hindu Beginnings: The Rig Veda and the Bhagavad Gita
Early Hinduism
Visual Source Indian Painting of Arjuna and Krishna
17 Buddhist Teachings: Noble Truths and Guidance for Daily Life
Early Buddhist Teachings
18 How to Rule an Empire: Kautilya and Ashoka
Indian Documents
19 Gender Relations in Classical India
Indian Gender Culture
Visual Source Gender Imagery in India
Global Contacts: The Role of Nomads
20 “Home on the Range”: The Rise of the Pastoral Nomads in Central Asia
Reports on the Nomads
Visual Source Central Asian Nomadic Art
Global Contacts: New Trade Partners from China to the Mediterranean
21 The Opening of the Silk Road
Chinese and Roman Sources
Visual Source Making and Wearing Silk
Section 3: The Postclassical Period, 500–1500 C.E.: Expansions and Contacts
Introduction
The Middle East And Islam
22 The Islamic Religion
The Quran
The Hadith
23 Religious and Political Organization in the Islamic Middle East
Al Mawardi
Visual Source Religious Leadership in Islam: The Imam
24 The Quran and the Family
The Quran
China and Japan
25 Peasant Life in Tang and Song China
Tang Poems
Two Contracts from Dunhuang, ca. 900
Song Poems
Visual Source Rice Cultivation in Southern China
26 “The Noble and Magnificent City of Hangzhou”: Marco Polo in China
Marco Polo on Hangzhou
27 Valor and Fair Treatment: The Rise of the Samurai
Samurai Values
Europe
28 Western European Political Institutions: The Influence of Christianity and
Feudalism
Feudal and Christian Documents
29 Russia Converts to Christianity
Russian Primary Chronicle
30 Faith and Reason: Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Global Contacts Trade and Religion
31 Anchors Aweigh! Trade and Islam in the Indian Ocean Network
The Travels of Ibn Battuta
32 Merchants and Trade: Sources and Comparisons
Ibn Khaldun, Reginald of Durham on Saint Godric
33 Travelers to Holy Places: Buddhist, Muslim, and Christian Pilgrims
Pilgrims’ Experiences
Visual Source Muslim Pilgrims in Mecca
34 Europe, the Middle East, and Beyond: The Crusades: Christian and Muslim Reactions
The Crusades
35 Religious Tolerance in Medieval Spain
Siete Partidas
36 African Kingdoms and Islam
Writings of Ibn Battuta
Visual Source A Major Artistic Tradition: The Sculptures of Benin
37 Africa Through the Eyes of a European Merchant
Antonius Malfante
Visual Source Map of Pre-Columbian America
The Americas
38 Mayan and Aztec Creation Stories and an Account of Aztec Worship
The Mayan Story of Human Creation from Popol Vuh
Aztec Creation Story of the God Uitzilopochtli
Aztec Wars and Sacrifice to Uitzilopochtli
39 Tribute Under the Aztecs and Incas
Aztec Tribute: Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés Inca Tribute: Testimony of Martin Cari, Chief (Cacique Principal) of the Lower Division (Anansaya) of Chuquito
Visual Source Aztec Goddess
The Mongols
40 Chinggis Khan and the Rise of the Mongols
The Secret History of the Mongols
Visual Source Persian Painting of Chinggis Khan Leading the Charge
41 The Mongol Empire Takes Shape
Asian and European Sources
Global Contacts New Routes for Europe and Asia
42 Sailing to Calicut: Chinese and Portuguese Voyages
Chinese and Portuguese Documents
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