Dialogues Across Civilizations generates reflection on themes central to the study of world history as well as European and Asian history, drawing upon a rich literature of cross-societal studies and placing historical individuals and events in proximity to one another.

Introduction: Opening the European and Chinese Experiences -- The Social and the Individual: Thoughts from Kong Zi and Socrates -- Reflections on Gender Relations: Views from Ban Zhao and Christine de Pisan -- Patterns of Urban and Commercial Development: The Capital Cities Paris and Hangzhou -- Popular Protest and Rural Activism: The Utopian Visions of Thomas Müntzer and Hong Xiuquan -- Industrial Capitalism and the Nation-State: Otto von Bismarck and Sun Zhongshan -- Religion in Society: Huiyuan and Saint Augustine on Human Suffering -- Synthesis of Classical and Religious Traditions: The Lixue of Zhu Xi and the Scholasticism of Thomas Aquinas -- Philosophical and Environmental Perspectives in Nature Art: Claude Monet and Qi Baishi -- Conclusions and Epilogue: The Chinese and European Experiences in Contemporary Contexts