"World History Unlocked: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Times – A Complete Guide for UPSC and Competitive Exams"

"World History Unlocked: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Times – A Complete Guide for UPSC and Competitive Exams"

## *Table of Contents*

### *Preface*

* The Importance of World History in Competitive Exams

* How to Use This Book Effectively

* Study Approach and Preparation Tips

* Chronological Framework of World History

---

### *Part I: Introduction to World History*

1. *Understanding World History*

   * Definition, Scope, and Significance

   * Sources and Methodology of Studying World History

   * Periodization of World History

   * The Relevance of World History to Modern Society

2. *Geographical Foundations of Civilizations*

   * The Role of Geography in Historical Development

   * River Valley Civilizations: A Comparative Overview

---

### *Part II: Ancient Civilizations of the World*

3. *Mesopotamian Civilization*

   * Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians

   * Code of Hammurabi and Contributions to Law, Literature, and Architecture

4. *Egyptian Civilization*

   * The Pharaohs and Pyramids

   * Art, Religion, and Hieroglyphic Writing

   * Economic and Social Structure

5. *Indus Valley Civilization*

   * Urban Planning and Architecture

   * Trade and Cultural Achievements

   * Causes of Decline

6. *Chinese Civilization*

   * Early Dynasties: Xia, Shang, and Zhou

   * Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism

   * Chinese Contributions to Science and Culture

7. *Greek Civilization*

   * City-States: Athens and Sparta

   * The Golden Age of Greece

   * Greek Philosophy, Drama, and Political Thought

8. *Roman Civilization*

   * Republic to Empire: Political Evolution

   * Roman Law, Architecture, and Governance

   * Causes of the Fall of Rome

9. *Persian and Central Asian Civilizations*

   * The Achaemenid Empire and Administration

   * Zoroastrianism and its Legacy

10. *Mesoamerican and African Civilizations*

    * The Maya, Aztec, and Inca Empires

    * Ancient African Kingdoms: Kush, Axum, and Mali

---

### *Part III: Medieval World History*

11. *Rise of Christianity and the Church*

    * The Life of Jesus Christ

    * The Spread of Christianity

    * The Papacy and Church Authority

12. *The Byzantine Empire*

    * Legacy of Rome in the East

    * Emperor Justinian and the Corpus Juris Civilis

    * Cultural and Religious Influence

13. *Rise and Spread of Islam*

    * The Prophet Muhammad and the Quran

    * The Caliphates: Umayyad and Abbasid

    * Islamic Golden Age and Contributions to Science and Art

14. *Feudalism and Manorial System in Europe*

    * Social and Economic Structure

    * The Role of Knights, Lords, and Serfs

15. *The Crusades and Their Impact*

    * Religious, Political, and Economic Motivations

    * The Consequences of the Crusades

16. *The Renaissance*

    * Revival of Learning and Humanism

    * Art, Literature, and Science in Renaissance Europe

    * Major Figures: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli

17. *The Reformation and Counter-Reformation*

    * Martin Luther and the Protestant Movement

    * The Catholic Response and Council of Trent

    * Religious Wars and the Rise of Nation-States

18. *The Rise of the Ottoman Empire*

    * Expansion, Administration, and Cultural Achievements

    * Decline of the Ottoman Empire

---

### *Part IV: The Age of Exploration, Colonization, and Enlightenment*

19. *The Age of Discovery and Exploration*

    * Voyages of Columbus, Magellan, Vasco da Gama

    * Impact on Trade, Colonization, and Global Interaction

20. *Colonialism and Mercantilism*

    * European Powers in Asia, Africa, and the Americas

    * The Atlantic Slave Trade

21. *Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment*

    * Copernicus, Galileo, Newton, and the Spirit of Inquiry

    * Philosophers of the Enlightenment: Voltaire, Rousseau, Locke

    * Impact on Political and Social Thought

---

### *Part V: Revolutions and the Modern World*

22. *The American Revolution (1776)*

    * Causes, Course, and Consequences

    * U.S. Constitution and Republican Ideals

23. *The French Revolution (1789)*

    * Background, Phases, and Legacy

    * Napoleon Bonaparte and the Napoleonic Era

24. *The Industrial Revolution*

    * Origin, Inventions, and Technological Progress

    * Social and Economic Transformations

    * Impact on Urbanization and Labor Movements

25. *The Revolutions of 1830 and 1848*

    * Rise of Liberalism and Nationalism in Europe

    * Consequences for Modern Europe

26. *The Unification of Italy and Germany*

    * Role of Cavour, Garibaldi, and Bismarck

    * The Birth of Nation-States

---

### *Part VI: The Age of Imperialism and World Wars*

27. *New Imperialism (1870–1914)*

    * Economic and Political Motives

    * Partition of Africa and Asia

    * Impact on Colonized Nations

28. *World War I (1914–1918)*

    * Causes, Major Events, and Treaty of Versailles

    * The League of Nations

29. *The Russian Revolution (1917)*

    * Causes, Bolshevik Movement, and Impact on the World

30. *Interwar Period (1919–1939)*

    * Rise of Fascism and Nazism

    * The Great Depression and Its Effects

31. *World War II (1939–1945)*

    * Causes, Major Battles, and Allied Victory

    * The Holocaust and Atomic Bombing

    * Formation of the United Nations

---

### *Part VII: Contemporary World (1945–Present)*

32. *The Cold War Era*

    * USA vs. USSR: Ideological Conflict

    * Formation of NATO and Warsaw Pact

    * Korean and Vietnam Wars

33. *Decolonization and the Rise of New Nations*

    * India’s Independence and Global Wave of Freedom Movements

    * African and Asian Liberation Movements

34. *The United Nations and Global Peace Efforts*

    * Structure, Functions, and Achievements of the UN

    * Role in Peacekeeping and Human Rights

35. *The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Middle East Politics*

    * Formation of Israel

    * Wars and Peace Initiatives

36. *The End of the Cold War and the Rise of Globalization*

    * Collapse of the Soviet Union

    * The Information Age and Economic Integration

37. *Contemporary Challenges and Global Issues*

    * Climate Change and Sustainable Development

    * Terrorism, Refugee Crisis, and Human Rights

    * Technological Revolution and Artificial Intelligence

---

### *Part VIII: Practice and Preparation Section*

38. *Chronological Timeline of Major World Events*

39. *Maps and Historical Charts*

40. *Key Personalities and Their Contributions*

41. *Comparative Analysis Tables (Civilizations, Revolutions, Empires)*

42. *Previous Year Questions (UPSC and State PSC)*

43. *Model Practice Papers with Solutions*

44. *Quick Revision Notes and Mind Maps*

---

### *Appendices*

* Appendix A: Glossary of Historical Terms

* Appendix B: List of Important Treaties and Dates

* Appendix C: Recommended Books and Resources

* Appendix D: Tips for Writing High-Scoring Answers in World History

* Appendix E: Mnemonics and Tricks for Quick Recall 

*Appendix F FAQ's And Their Answers 

*Appendix Question Bank