pt. 1. [disc 1]. What and why is world history? -- The Neolithic revolution -- What is a civilization? -- The classical period in world history -- Cultural change in the classical period -- Social inequalities in classical societies -- [disc 2]. The Roman Empire and Han China -- The silk road; classical period contacts -- The decline of the classical civilizations -- The postclassical period, 500-1450 -- World religions and their consequences -- The impact of Islam.

pt. 2. [disc 3]. Post classical trade and contacts -- Post classical patterns of imitation -- Western civilization in world context -- The Mongol years -- Civilizations in the Americas and in Africa -- The world in 1450 -- [disc 4]. The early modern period, 1450-1750 -- The world economy, 1450-1750 -- Transformations in Western Europe -- The rise of Russia -- Asian Empires and a Shogunate -- The long 19th century.

pt. 3. [disc 5]. Abolition of slavery and serfdom -- Modernization and nationalisms -- Formation of Latin American civilization -- China and Japan: 19th century pressures -- The 20th and 21st centuries as a new period -- The world economy: change and continuity -- [disc 6]. An age of revolutions -- The United States in world history -- Contemporary democracy -- Contemporary cultural change -- Gender in contemporary world history -- Globalization and world history.