A thematic and comparative approach allows students to discern common patterns and important differences. Each chapter explores a topic or theme as experienced by two or more cultures. For example, Chapter 3 explores identity in the caste and territorial societies of ancient India and Greece, while Chapter 18 explores gender and family across cultures ranging from Southeast Asia to "New Spain."
Thinking Historically exercises build students’ historical thinking skills. Each chapter-wide exercise offers an overview of a specific critical thinking skill — such as reading primary and secondary sources or distinguishing historical processes — and ties it to each of the chapter’s selections with targeted questions. With the added support of introductory Historical Context sections and chapter-concluding Reflections, the pedagogical tools in each chapter help students analyze, synthesize, and interpret one step at a time.
A wide array of primary and secondary sources offers an abundance of material to work with. Primary sources, which make up two thirds of the readings, range from the Epic of Gilgamesh to engravings by Theodore de Bry. The secondary sources include both essential classic works and current research with such thought-provoking selections as Mark Wheelis, "Biological Warfare at the 1346 Siege of Caffa" and Miriam Ching Yoon Louie, "Sweatshop Workers: Immigrant Women Workers Take on the Global Factory."