Cultures Connect is an investigation of the question, “What is culture?” via a journey to China, Africa, Europe and the Americas between 1300 and 1600. We begin our study in China where we explore traditional Chinese culture, the period of Mongol Rule, and the Ming Dynasty. Next, we move to the wealthy trading kingdoms of East and West Africa and from there to Europe, where Arabic and Chinese learning helped end feudalism and spark the Renaissance. The course shifts westward to the Aztec and the Inca empires, colonization and the Atlantic slave trade.  The course emphasizes reading and writing skills that are essential in the study of history. The primary focus is on reading comprehension and note taking, concentrating on identifying the main idea and supporting details of a passage, summarizing and paraphrasing. Students are given instruction in a variety of ways to organize their notes, and research skills are introduced.