Softcover

ISBN 10: 019939962X ISBN 13: 9780199399628

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014

Encouraging a broad-based understanding of continuity, change, and innovation in human history, Patterns of World History presents the global past in a comprehensive, even-handed, and open-ended fashion

Patterns of World History offers a distinct framework for understanding the global past through the study of origins, interactions, and adaptations. Authors Peter von Sivers, Charles A. Desnoyers, and George Stow--each specialists in their respective fields--examine the full range of human ingenuity over time and space in a comprehensive, even-handed, and critical fashion.

The book helps students to see and understand patterns through: ORIGINS - INTERACTIONS - ADAPTATIONS

These key features show the O-I-A framework in action:

* Seeing Patterns, a list of key questions at the beginning of each chapter, focuses students on the 3-5 over-arching patterns, which are revisited, considered, and synthesized at the end of the chapter in Thinking Through Patterns

* Each chapter includes a Patterns Up Close case study that brings into sharp relief the O-I-A pattern using a specific idea or thing that has developed in human history (and helped, in turn, develop human history), like the innovation of the Chinese writing system or religious syncretism in India. Each case study clearly shows how an innovation originated either in one geographical center or independently in several different centers. It demonstrates how, as people in the centers interacted with their neighbors, the neighbors adapted to--and in many cases were transformed by--the idea, object, or event. Adaptations include the entire spectrum of human responses, ranging from outright rejection to creative borrowing and, at times, forced acceptance.

About the Author:

Peter von Sivers is Associate Professor of History at the University of Utah.

Charles A. Desnoyers is Professor of History and Director of Asian Studies at La Salle University.

George B. Stow is Professor of History and the Director of the Graduate Program in History at La Salle University.

Review:

"I really value the broad scope of Patterns of World History, which matches the scope of my World History classes. I also like the 'patterns' between cultures and historical development; they place everything within a wide context. The authors keep their approach consistent throughout the chapters, which supplements my lectures nicely."--AnnaMarie Vallis, California State University, Fresno

"The 'Seeing Patterns' questions at the start of each chapter help students look for the larger themes, while the maps, illustrations, and primary source quotes are wonderful. The instructor's supplemental material (both online and in print) is amazingly good."--Michael Johnson, Northwest Arkansas Community College

"I have used Patterns of World History for a couple of years now, and it works well with my course. The book elevates the level of discourse, and makes students aware that there are higher levels of understanding facts."--Gilmar Visoni, Queensborough Community College