Changes

==Introduction to the Course==

==Introduction to the Course==

“World history” is the history of mankind.  Nothing is off-limits.  Every source is available to us, from the Bible to rock music.  Everything mankind has ever written, invented, observed, and destroyed is part of “World history.”

"World history" is the history of thought, ideas, culture, language, wars, governments, and economic systems throughout ''all'' of mankind.  That includes billions of people and thousands of years.  Every source is available to us, from the Bible to ancient and modern historians.  Everything mankind has ever written, invented, observed, conquered and destroyed is part of "World history."  For example, we will study how Carthage was built into a power, and how it was then forever destroyed by its enemies from Rome.

Many of you have taken U.S. History, which is the story of the last 400 years in our overwhelmingly Christian country.  World History is a different story:  over 5000 years, much of it non-Christian.  World History is not the same as Western Civilization, which consists of pre- and post-Christian Europe.  World History includes Islam and Hinduism and all the forces that continue to shape our world to this day.  U.S. History cannot explain 9/11, violence in the Middle East, or hostility between India and Pakistan.  World history does.

Our course will place a special emphasis on aspects of World history that continue to be influential today, such as world religions and cultural conflicts.  We are the product of our past.  You can think about whether that is a good thing, or a bad thing.  Perhaps the answer depends on what we make of it.

I love World history for several reasons.  The more we understand other religions the better we can deal with world conflicts.  I also like studying the discovery of knowledge and great inventions.  Do you know what civilization invented the wheel?  Bread?  Mathematics?  Chocolate?  Finally, the greatest military feats are found in World history, so if you like military history then you’ll love World history.  Your challenge is to find what you like about World history, and then connect everything else to it.  Find ways to relate World history to you, and enjoy it.

American history concerns only about 400 years; World history concerns over 5000 years, going back to the first evidence of recorded events.  Our class covers much of the material in a course on Western Civilization or European history, but we cover more too.  We will learn about Islam and Hinduism and all the forces that continue to shape our world to this day.  One cannot fully understand 9/11, violence in the Middle East, or hostility between India and Pakistan without learning World history.  We will.

I like to learn how mankind progressed in understanding the unseen, such as truth and gravity and God.  In mathematics, mankind progressed from the discovery of geometry ([[Greeks]]) to the concept of “zero” (Indians) to calculus (English).  In economics, mankind progressed from wage and price controls (Romans) to the “invisible hand” of the free market (English), which then unleashed tremendous prosperity.  Government progressed from rulers who claimed to be gods (Egyptians), to monarchies (Middle Ages), to constitutional republics (United States).  What are we progressing towards now?  Use history to predict the future.

I like to learn how mankind progressed in understanding the unseen, such as truth and gravity and God.  In mathematics, mankind progressed from the discovery of geometry ([[Greeks]]) to the concept of “zero” (Indians) to calculus (English).  In economics, mankind progressed from wage and price controls (Romans) to the “invisible hand” of the free market (English), which then unleashed tremendous prosperity.  Government progressed from rulers who claimed to be gods (Egyptians), to monarchies (Middle Ages), to constitutional republics (United States).  What are we progressing towards now?  Use history to predict the future.