By the end of the course the students should have a general understanding of the emergence and development of Chinese civilization and history through the Tang Dynasty, and its links to the history of Tibet and Central Asia. For West Africa they should have a general understanding of the history of the West African kingdoms, the process of Islamization in West Africa, African contributions to Islamic culture and civilization, and the role of long-distance trade in the region. For Mesoamerica, the students should understand the conditions that led to the rise of complex cultures in the region, how they were both similar to and different from early Old World civilizations, and the continuing influence of these cultures in modern Latin America.