What we're covering in Milestone Documents in World History
I’ve just posted online the table of contents for our forthcoming set, Milestone Documents in World History. Just like our previous set, Milestone Documents in American History, the new title will comprise 4 volumes and will present the featured documents–full text plus expert analysis–in chronological arrangement. If you scroll through the list of documents we’ll be covering, you’ll find items from ancient history (e.g., Code of Hammurabi in 1752 BCE) to the present (e.g., African Union Constitutive Act of 2000) and from all regions of the world–Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East.
Needless to say, the list provides an interesting lens into world history and a great tool for teachers who are interested in document-based learning. Here are just a few ways that educators and students can use the set:
- Compare the ancient Greek constitutions of Athens and Sparta to the U.S. one
- Read formative texts from the early centuries of Islamic history
- Study iconic European documents like the Magna Carta and Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
- Explore the South American independence movements through their founding documents
- Read key items related to rise of Communism in China during the 20th century
- Examine influential statements of human rights, from revolutionary-era France to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948
- Study documents relating to contemporary conflicts around the globe, from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the war between al Qaeda and the West to the peace process in Northern Ireland
I could go on and on, but I’m sure you get the picture. Once again, in addition to in-depth contextual analysis of every document, we’ll offer questions for further study as well as several classroom activity guides tied to the National Standards for History. And once again, libraries that purchase the print set will get free access to the same content online via Salem History, so students and teachers can utilize the set in the library, classroom, or at home.
In the near future I’ll post a sample entry from the set, and as we get closer to publication in November, I’ll continue to blog about the set and its contents.