Aspects of World Civilization: Problems and Sources in History, Volume 1

This two-volume compilation of primary sources in world civilization is based around eight major themes to provide direction and cohesion to the text. Designed to involve students with important historical questions and controversies, the text promotes thoughtful comparisons between world societies that are linked to common problems, events or themes within the same time period and across chronological divisions. Broad in scope, the text incorporates a wide variety of political, social, economic, religious, intellectual and scientific issues, and is designed to help students consider historical questions and concerns.

Aspects of World Civilization challenges students with basic questions regarding historical development, human nature, moral action, and practical necessity. This collection of diverse primary sources incorporates a wide variety of issues and is organized around eight major themes, including church/state relationships, beliefs and spirituality, imperialism, revolution, propaganda, women in history, and historical change.

Volume I: The Ancient World through the Early Modern Era
Volume II: The Early Modern Era through the Contemporary World

Both volumes feature:

• Timeline chronologies, quotations, lists of themes, and general introductions to each chapter
• Headnotes that provide the background for each primary source
• Study Questions designed to stimulate thoughtful discussion, encourage careful documentation of sources, and produce an eight-to-ten page paper,
• A thematically based, problem-oriented approach that promotes reflective analysis with a focus on cultural interaction
• TimeLink chapters that assess a particular era or historical problem and provide a direct comparison between societies
• A new analytical approach called "Historical Intersection" that compares two documents from different eras and societies that are linked through one of the historical themes mentioned above. This interactive emphasis helps students analyze the continuity of the past and appreciate the relevancy of historical inquiry.

The overriding theme of Aspects of World Civilization is cultural intersection. How have the diverse cultures of the world been linked by political systems, economic contact, social and religious movements, philosophy, art, literature, and such variables as disease and war? In what ways have world civilizations over the centuries struggled with similar challenges and contributed to the progress or destruction of humanity? How has the world community become increasingly dependent on cooperation and international understanding in achieving domestic stability, security, and prosperity?