ABSTRACT
I divide global history into nine roughly chronological calendar areas of study (CAS). Within each CAS are a series of more focused units; the number varies from area to area depending on what is known about the topics and how discussion of them helps to answer student-essential questions. The CAS are only roughly chronological, which is one way my approach to global history differs from most textbooks and the National Standards for World History, and why I call them areas, or areas of study, rather than eras, epochs, or ages. Certain societies, such as those in Meso-America, developed in different time frames than did the old world eastern hemisphere river valley societies. In addition, since the areas and units are designed to present history thematically, certain topics, such as the impact of Hellenization on the Mediterranean world, are discussed in some detail out of sequence when we examine the growth of trade networks and their role in cultural diffusion in the period from 300 to 1200 AD.
