This course seeks to develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, as well as interactions between different societies/cultures FROM 1400 TO THE PRESENT. Primarily, the course seeks to build an understanding of the cultural, political, ideological, and economic developments that have shaped the past thousand years of the global experience. The class will identify global patterns by linking and comparing local developments and following causal and cultural connections. Special attention will be paid to assessing claims of universal standards while remaining aware of cultural diversity and historical context. The course will attempt to balance the development of analytical skills and factual knowledge through a variety of instructional techniques.