world civilization

This Source Paper on Timbuktu explores the historical significance of the city as a center of trade, scholarship, and culture in West Africa during the height of the Mali and Songhai empires. Timbuktu became a symbol of wealth, intellectual achievement, and Islamic scholarship, housing notable institutions like the University of Sankore and vast libraries filled with manuscripts. The paper delves into how Timbuktu attracted scholars, merchants, and travelers from across Africa and the Islamic wo...

This Source Paper on Fray Bartolomé de las Casas examines his role as a defender of Indigenous rights during the early period of Spanish colonization in the Americas. De las Casas, a Dominican friar, is renowned for his writings that condemned the brutal treatment of Indigenous peoples by Spanish colonizers. His most famous work, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, serves as a primary source for understanding the atrocities committed and the ethical debates surrounding colonizatio...

This Source Paper for World Civilization II focuses on the Soviet Politburo, its decision-making processes, and the role of Mikhail Gorbachev as an authoritarian figure during the final years of the Soviet Union. The paper explores Gorbachev’s reforms, including glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), and how these policies clashed with the traditional authoritarian governance of the Politburo. It discusses how Gorbachev’s attempts to decentralize power and increase transparency...

This Source Paper for World Civilization II examines the concept of imperialism, focusing on a specific confession of faith that reflects the values and attributes of the British Empire during the late 19th century. It analyzes how this document encapsulates the ideologies of the time, such as nationalism, racial superiority, and economic expansion, which were pivotal in justifying imperialist policies. The paper delves into the cultural, political, and social implications of these beliefs, high...