"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
