Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Ancient World: Origin of Homo Sapiens in Africa; Egyptian civilization as African; Alexander the Great and his reputation; Did Christianity liberate women? - The Medieval World: Same-sex unions in Medieval Europe; Does the modern university have its roots in the Islamic world? Mayan collapse and environmental factors; Motivation for the Crusades - The Premodern World: Did men and women benefit equally from the Renaissance? Christopher Columbus's New World discovery as a positive force in world history; French revolution and the human cost; Mieji Restoration in 19th C. Japan; Confucian values and China's failure to modernize - The Early Twentieth Century: Indigenous sex workers under British imperialism; Bolshevik revolution and Soviet women; Was German "Elimination Anti-Semitism" responsible for the Holocaust? Was Stalin responsible the Cold War? - The Contemporary World: Does Islamic revivalism challenge a secular world order? Should Africa's leaders be blamed for the continent's current problems? Were ethnic leaders responsible for the disintegration of Yugoslavia? Will the Oslo Peace Accords benefit both Israelis and Palestinians?

This debate style reader is designed to introduce students to controversies in world civilizations from ancient times to the present. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading historians and commentators on world history, reflect a variety of viewpoints, and are presented in pro/con format.