Travel across continents and centuries — from the river valleys of Mesopotamia and the Nile to the age of globalization, nuclear weapons, and the internet. This track examines the rise and fall of empires, the spread of religions and ideas, the impact of trade and technology, and the struggles of ordinary people against oppression. You will analyze primary sources, trace cause-and-effect chains across regions, and develop a truly global perspective on human history. By the end, you will be able to identify patterns that recur across civilizations — the dynamics of empire, revolution, innovation, and cultural exchange — and apply historical thinking to contemporary global challenges.
The first cities, writing systems, empires, and religious traditions that emerged in river valleys across the globe.
The great empires of Greece, Rome, Han China, and Maurya/Gupta India — and the religions and philosophies that emerged during this era.
Byzantium, the Islamic Golden Age, feudal Europe, Tang/Song China, and the great kingdoms of Africa.
European exploration, the Columbian Exchange, the Reformation, and the great land empires of the Ottoman, Mughal, and Ming.
The Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the wave of political revolutions that reshaped the world.
The Industrial Revolution transforms economies worldwide, and European powers carve up Africa and Asia.
The two most destructive wars in history, the Cold War, and the liberation movements that ended colonial empires.
The end of the Cold War, globalization, technological revolution, and the challenges facing the 21st-century world.
Comprehensive assessment covering all modules of the World History track.