Chapter 1 - A Holistic World History: An Introduction

This chapter introduces the holistic approach used in this world history. It explains how the development of humans across time and space form the periodization framework. Human development is organized into five critical turning points or waves – Communal, Agricultural, Urban, Modern, and Global. It also outlines the systems thinking and holistic approach used in this world history. The chapter examines the five worldviews—indigenous, modern, fundamentalist, globalized, and transformative – that informs our ways of thinking today.

On the right are links to 10 categories of teacher resources.
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Author's Comments

It is hard to recount the number of times I have thought, rethought, deleted and changed the information and concepts in chapter 1, the introduction. It still isn't perfect, whatever that means anyhow. Although chapter 1 still seems a little dry to me, I think it is instrumental in laying out the approach I will be taking in this holistic world history.

I have tried to make this world history relate to what I think is needed by our educators and students today and that is a more holistic way of thinking and acting. I also wanted to integrate the environment or what I call the "ecosystem" into world history, another necessity I firmly believe. There are many other differences that distinguish this world history from others. I hope you will enjoy discovering them as you embark upon your journey into a holistic world history.