Mao and the Mandate of Heaven

World History 1 investigates the histories of China and the Islamic World, beginning with the origins of the earliest Chinese kingdoms and ending with examinations of contemporary China and the Middle East. Rather than encouraging a cursory knowledge of the entire scope of history in each area, the class focuses on specific times and places within a loose chronological context. Some of the major themes explored within the class are the economic, technological, and political foundations of civilizations, the role of urban environments within civilizations, and the role of religious and philosophical beliefs in cultural development.