Crash Course Office Hours: World History

John Green introduces himself and historian Cathy Keller. They explain the format of the study session - answering questions submitted by viewers, providing tips on studying world history and test-taking, and answering questions from the live chat.

Cathy explains her passion for history, drawn to the stories and people. She believes studying the past helps us understand the present and make better decisions now. John agrees - history shows change is possible but also recurring challenges. He's encouraged that major issues faced today have been solved before.

Cathy provides background on the weaknesses of the Russian empire that set the stage for revolution - failure to modernize, unpopularity of Tsar Nicholas II, losses in WWI. The February Revolution forced the Tsar to abdicate. The October Revolution was Lenin's Bolshevik coup taking power. This led to civil war, the Soviet Union's formation, and reverberations still seen today regarding Ukraine.

Cathy explains how Genghis Khan united Mongol tribes with his strong personality and shrewd alliance-building. His large, disciplined army capitalized on weaknesses in China and the Abbasid Empire to take over much of Asia and Eastern Europe. Though cultural impacts were limited, Mongol expansion facilitated trade along the Silk Road.

John and Cathy highlight disease as a hugely impactful force in history that's often overlooked for war and politics. They discuss the Black Death's effects in Eurasia, the devastation of smallpox in the Americas, and how increased trade and travel enabled disease spread. Though catastrophic, pandemics like COVID-19 give insight into historical experiences.

Cathy summarizes historians' shifting views on Cold War origins - from Soviet aggression, to U.S. economic expansionism, to a middle ground of multiple factors. She defines COMINFORM and COMECON as Stalin's attempts to limit Western influence. The Cold War also impacted decolonization and civil rights movements by facilitating global connections.

As part of the Non-Aligned Movement resisting the superpowers, Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana to independence and promoted Pan-African solidarity against colonialism. His socialism aligned with this anticolonial vision. The global connections he made, like with Malcolm X, impacted civil rights organizing in the U.S.

Cathy highlights unique aspects of the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayans - their foundations of power, imperial reach, cultural features, and ultimate defeat by the Spanish. Disease was again an important factor, with smallpox indirectly enabling the Incan civil war that facilitated Pizarro's conquest.

Cathy explains how 19th century nationalism and strategic wars united Italy and Germany, while multi-ethnic empires like the Ottoman Empire broke apart after WW1. This involved conflict between local control and centralized national authority. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk led Turkey's nationalist revolution, taking harsh steps to "Turkify" and modernize the new state.

Cathy shares her experience grappling with detachment vs emotional investment in intense topics like the Holocaust. She aims for a middle ground - compartmentalizing to avoid paralysis but still letting the gravity penetrate at moments. John adds that we interpret facts and data to inform fellow humans, not machines.

Cathy advises knowing the exam rubrics and requirements, practicing full essays in timed conditions, focusing on key concepts and evidence to deploy in essays, and watching Crash Course study skills videos. She and John reassure viewers that tests don't define you and encourage building community for learning.