World History

[This book follows] the periodization of the Western world, beginning with Exploration and Colonization, continuing through the Enlightenment and Industrial/Scientific Revolutions, examining the hot and cold wars of the Twentieth Century, and ending with Global Problems, Global Interdependence. Within this narrative of Western progress, one can find responses to imperialism, resistance to expansionism and the slave trade. Women emerge as citizens and even rulers. China's decision to abandon its exploration of the world as well as its competence in mechanization and mass production offers a parallel narrative to Europe's embracing of this path. And, [the book] conclude[s] with a survey of challenging new problems - atomic, nuclear, and chemical weapons; the so-called population "bomb"; religious zealotry and terrorism; and the largely unpredictable results of globalization.-To the reader