Table of Contents
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Figures, Text Excerpts, and Sources xi
World History in Poetry xv
The History of the World xv
1 Teaching World History as Mystery 1
The Problems of Teaching World History: The "Blinders" 2
Perspectives for Teaching the World: The "Embracers" 3
Three Structures for Teaching World History as Mystery 4
Creating a Sense of Mystery about the World 5
Levels of Mystery in History 5
Techniques for Turning History into Mystery 7
Themes/Big Ideas in Teaching the World 10
Issues in Teaching the World 10
Approaches to Teaching the World 12
Eternal Values and Moral Relativism 14
References and Further Reading 16
2 Looking at World History Anew 17
Inviting Inquiry in World History 20
World History Organizations 22
Rethinking Views of the World 23
Developments in World History Courses 26
Frameworks to Teach World History 29
Checking it Out: Big Questions in Teaching World History 30
Deductions 32
References and Further Reading 34
3 Stones that Speak: Of Megaliths and Monoliths 37
The Mysterious Stone "Henges" of Europe 39
The Past as Baggage 42
Background: The Stone Makers and Earth Movers of Neolithic Europe 44
What the Stones Tell Us 46
Teacher's Background Information: Theories of Stonehenge 56
Summary and Conclusions 58
References and Further Reading 59
4 Rome Lasts! A Mystery of Durability and Power 61
Rationale 63
Plan of Action 63
The Economy of Empire 64
Summary and Conclusions 80
References and Further Reading 80
5 Mythlabeled? Or, Creating the Crusades 83
Viewing the Present through the Lenses of the Past, Viewing the Past through Historical Lenses 85
Should We Speak of the Crusades? 87
How Should We Teach the Crusades? 91
The Crusades in the Present 95
Summary and Conclusions 95
References and Further Reading 96
6 The Possibilities for Pizza: A Search for Origins 97
Background Information and the Problem of Defining Terms 98
Mysterious Pizza 100
References and Further Reading 119
Websites 120
7 Incas and Spaniards 121
How Do you Decide on Authenticity in History? 123
A Real Mystery in Pictures and Passages 126
Plan of Action 131
Historians' Views 136
Evaluating Historians' Views 148
Summary and Conclusions 148
References and Further Reading 149
8 Secrets of Secret Societies 151
Rationale 152
Defining a Secret Society 153
Using the Mystery Packet 154
The Secret Societies (For your Eyes Only!) 155
Summary and Conclusions 183
References and Further Reading 184
9 Where are the Women in World History? 187
Mysteries in the History of Women 189
Plan of Action for Women in World History 190
Steps and Strategies 190
Choosing Examples 192
Using the Examples 193
Applying Theories and Explanations to (the Lack of) Women in World History 210
Theories Explaining (the Lack of) Women in World History 214
References and Further Reading 217
Websites 218
10 Finding Mysteries Everywhere: Sources, Resources, and Outright Fabrications 219
A Note of Caution about the Wonders and Pitfalls of the World Wide Web 223
Why History Should Be Problematic 224
Asking Mystery Questions: Big Questions and Small Questions 227
Questions that Look at the Past in a New Way 228
Finding Mystery in Everyday History 231
Content and Corroboration: Sources, Checking Authenticity, and "Cleaned Up" Entries 232
Summary and Conclusions 232
References and Further Reading 233
Index 235
