1. Human history is interesting and complex. To make world history easier to grasp, this disk emphasizes nine themes. They can help you to undersand the main features of each society and event you read about.

Theme 1: Continuity and Change

2. History is the story of change. Some changes can be very quick. Others may take decades or even centuries. Although change is always taking place, enduring traditions link people across time and space.

3. Example: The Chinese system of writing began taking shape about 4,000 years ago. Although it has changed greatly over time, this language continues to link Chinese people across a vast area.

Theme 2: Geography and History

4. Geography influences where people settle, how they live, and how goods and ideas travel. Since ancient times, people have dug irrigation canals to water farmlands, and the control of waterways or mountain passes has determined the outcome of many wars. Today, environmental issues often stir heated debate.

5. Example: There are many mountains in Greece. These mountains made traveling and communication quite difficult in ancient times. The cities of ancient Greece never became one nation. Instead, they became independent city-states.¡¡

Theme 3: Political and Social Systems

6. Each society has a form of government to ensure order and guard against outside threats. Societies around the world have also developed other important institutions to ensure order, including legal systems, social classes, and the most basic unit - the family.

7. Example: In medieval Europe almost everyone was divided into the upper class or the lower class. The king, the nobles, the chief clergy in the Church and the knights were all in the upper class. The peasants, the craftsmen and the ordinary priests were in the lower class.¡¡

Theme 4: Religions and Value Systems

8. Today, as in the past, religion exerts a powerful influence on the world. Belief in one God guided the histories of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Buddhism and Hinduism shaped many Asian cultures. Nonreligious values, such as Greek ideals of beauty and individuality have also had a wide influence.¡¡

9. Example: Muhammad taught that there was only one God, Allah. He said that he was God's prophet. He said that Moses, Abraham, David and Jesus were prophets too. But he himself, Muhammad, was the last prophet.