It’s been long since I’ve cracked open my world history textbook. Back in high school, I used to sit in my room by a window, with the pages illuminated by the morning sun, immersing myself in chapter after chapter on the beginnings of civilization in Mesopotamia, early innovations in agriculture and urban planning in China, and of course, the diffusion of goods and traditions along ancient trade routes such as the famous Silk Road. The time I spent learning about world history nurtured my interest in far-away places – it’s hard not to romanticize other lands and the distant past when so much of the history which is taught in schools has grown out of glorification narratives. Stories of great battles, great architectural feats, and great cultural vivacity abound, all sharing that … [Read more...]