Themes of Modern World History

Which is true of the "big picture" view of the world?

• It approaches history as a study of separate regions with few interconnections.

• It examines history from a global perspective and identifies common patterns.

• It focuses on history based on the influence of classical civilizations of the Mediterranean world.

• It values global connections and patterns over events on the national and regional levels.

Historians often divide history into periods of time based on...

• major turning points.

• historical patterns.

• historical connections.

• spatial frames.

Which historical investigation would have the broadest spatial frame?

• a study of the reign of King Tutankhamen of Egypt

• a study of the development of cuneiform writing in Sumer

• a study of the architecture of the Qing dynasty period in China

• a study of the Silk Road trade routes between Europe and Asia

Which of the following is a “habit of mind” useful for studying history?

• looking for global patterns over time and space

• making judgments based on universal standards

• keeping your focus exclusively on a single region

• all of the above

Values that many consider to be universal standards such as democracy and human rights

• may not be accepted everywhere across time.

• are an example of a human-environment interaction.

• are not important to think about when studying history.

• should be used to judge the worth of historical societies.

Two broad themes of history are integration and difference. Integration refers to the ways in which

• universal standards are examined in historical context.

• human rights for all groups have expanded over time.

• peoples of the world have been drawn together.

• research brings together historical concepts.

The spread of the bubonic plague from Asia to Europe in the 14th century best illustrates which theme of world history?

• cultural interaction

• economic structures

• human-environment interaction

• political structures

The concept of cultural diffusion would most likely be used by a historian to explain

• the fall of an empire.

• the outbreak of war in a region.

• the growth and spread of a religion.

• the establishment of an absolute monarchy.

Which topic would fall under the theme of social structures?

• forms of government

• gender roles and relations

• the development of religions

• the rise of industry

During which period has human technology affected the environment?

• throughout history

• since the invention of the steam engine

• since the discovery of climate change

• throughout the 20th century