Patterns of World History, Volume One: To 1600, with Sources

by Peter von Sivers, Charles A. Desnoyers, George B. Stow

Patterns of World History offers a distinct framework for understanding the global past through the study of origins, interactions, and adaptations. Authors Peter von Sivers, Charles A. Desnoyers, and George Stow--each specialists in their respective fields--examine the full range of human ingenuity over time and space in a comprehensive, even-handed, and critical fashion.

The book helps students to see and understand patterns through: ORIGINS - INTERACTIONS - ADAPTATIONS

These key features show the O-I-A framework in action:

* Seeing Patterns, a list of key questions at the beginning of each chapter, focuses students on the 3-5 over-arching patterns, which are revisited, considered, and synthesized at the end of the chapter in Thinking Through Patterns.

* Each chapter includes a Patterns Up Close case study that brings into sharp relief the O-I-A pattern using a specific idea or thing that has developed in human history (and helped, in turn, develop human history), like the innovation of the Chinese writing system or religious syncretism in India. Each case study clearly shows how an innovation originated either in one geographical center or independently in several different centers. It demonstrates how, as people in the centers interacted with their neighbors, the neighbors adapted to--and in many cases were transformed by--the idea, object, or event. Adaptations include the entire spectrum of human responses, ranging from outright rejection to creative borrowing and, at times, forced acceptance.

* Concept Maps at the end of each chapter use compelling graphical representations of ideas and information to help students remember and relate the big patterns of the chapter.

Genres: History, Textbooks

704 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2011

Reviews

[Skai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this book for my History of World Civilization I class.

[Kate Whisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only didn’t read chapters 7, 13 and 16 (yet) because it wasn’t required in my class. I mostly wanted to write a review because I love history but this book made me feel like I didn’t because it was so beyond dense and not in a good way. The format of “in this year, this happened. In this year, this person ruled. This person lived from date-date” is not only grueling but doesn’t help with memorizing dates because they’re all jumbled together. I also would’ve appreciated if events were listed chronologically instead of jumping around (this only happened in certain chapters as well?).

[Ethan Unklesbay · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an overview of thousands of years of world history. I think it does an ~okay~ job of summarizing. Biases are pretty clear, and occasionally distract from the text itself.
Would not use to teach history.

[MsChris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting approach to history, doesn't go chronologically but rather follows different patterns through history. Makes it nice when trying to connected different places and time periods but at times can be rather confusing as it jumps around from place to place or time frame to time frame.

[Michael Bittick · Rating 5 out of 5]

College level history book. I must say, that even though history wasn't my major, this was my favorite book from my time at school. I plan on integrating chapters from it in homeschooling lessons for my children at a much earlier age.
I highly recommend this book.