World History

World history is the story of humanity's journey from small bands of hunter-gatherers in Africa to a globally connected civilization of nearly 8 billion people. It encompasses the rise and fall of empires, the spread of religions and ideas, scientific discoveries that changed our understanding of the universe, and the ongoing struggle for human rights and dignity. Understanding world history helps us comprehend our present and make informed decisions about our future.

The first great civilizations emerged independently in river valleys across the world: Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates, Egypt along the Nile, the Indus Valley civilization in South Asia, and early Chinese civilization along the Yellow River. These societies developed writing, mathematics, astronomy, and complex systems of government that laid the foundations for all subsequent human achievement.

After the fall of Rome in 476 CE, the world entered a period of significant change. In Europe, the Middle Ages saw the rise of feudalism, the power of the Catholic Church, and eventually the Renaissance. Meanwhile, the Islamic Golden Age preserved and advanced classical knowledge, while China under the Tang and Song dynasties achieved remarkable technological innovations including paper money, gunpowder, and the compass.

The modern era, beginning around 1500, saw unprecedented global change. European exploration and colonization connected the world's continents, while the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment transformed human thought. The Industrial Revolution reshaped economies and societies, two world wars devastated nations, and the latter half of the 20th century saw decolonization, the Cold War, and the rise of globalization.