World history (field)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| "Time and again, in the [[World history (field) |world's history]], [[where East meets West]], the spirit of [[romance]] has been born. [[Herodotus]] on his travels, [[Heliodorus]] carrying Ethiopian traditions to his bishopric, [[Apuleius]] the Carthaginian sojourning at Rome, are all parents of prose romance; and in mediaeval legend, [[Alexander]] in correspondence with the [[Brahmins]], [[Charlemagne]] in conflict with the [[Moors]], furnish the same unfailing inspiration."--''[[The English Novel (1894, Walter Raleigh)|The English Novel]]'' (1894) by Walter Raleigh | "Time and again, in the [[World history (field) |world's history]], [[where East meets West]], the spirit of [[romance]] has been born. [[Herodotus]] on his travels, [[Heliodorus]] carrying Ethiopian traditions to his bishopric, [[Apuleius]] the Carthaginian sojourning at Rome, are all parents of prose romance; and in mediaeval legend, [[Alexander]] in correspondence with the [[Brahmins]], [[Charlemagne]] in conflict with the [[Moors]], furnish the same unfailing inspiration."--''[[The English Novel (1894, Walter Raleigh)|The English Novel]]'' (1894) by Walter Raleigh | ||
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| + | "This volume examines and critiques the work of a diverse group of [[Eurocentric]] historians who have strongly shaped our understanding of [[world history]]. Building upon the foundations laid in his previous book, ''[[The Colonizer's Model of the World]]'', which provided a systematic overview of the nature and evolution of Eurocentrism, Blaut focuses in depth on [[Max Weber]], [[Lynn White, Jr.]], [[Robert Brenner]], [[Eric L. Jones]], [[Michael Mann (sociologist)|Michael Mann]], [[John A. Hall]], [[Jared Diamond]], and [[David Landes]]. The role of each of these thinkers in generating colonialist understandings of history is described, and the fallacious assumptions at the roots of their arguments are revealed. Working toward an alternative understanding of the origins of modernity, this clearly written book provides invaluable insights and tools for students and scholars of history, geography, sociology, anthropology, and postcolonialism." -- | ||
| + | blurb to ''[[Eight Eurocentric Historians]]'' (2000) by James Morris Blaut | ||
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"Time and again, in the world's history, where East meets West, the spirit of romance has been born. Herodotus on his travels, Heliodorus carrying Ethiopian traditions to his bishopric, Apuleius the Carthaginian sojourning at Rome, are all parents of prose romance; and in mediaeval legend, Alexander in correspondence with the Brahmins, Charlemagne in conflict with the Moors, furnish the same unfailing inspiration."--The English Novel (1894) by Walter Raleigh "This volume examines and critiques the work of a diverse group of Eurocentric historians who have strongly shaped our understanding of world history. Building upon the foundations laid in his previous book, The Colonizer's Model of the World, which provided a systematic overview of the nature and evolution of Eurocentrism, Blaut focuses in depth on Max Weber, Lynn White, Jr., Robert Brenner, Eric L. Jones, Michael Mann, John A. Hall, Jared Diamond, and David Landes. The role of each of these thinkers in generating colonialist understandings of history is described, and the fallacious assumptions at the roots of their arguments are revealed. Working toward an alternative understanding of the origins of modernity, this clearly written book provides invaluable insights and tools for students and scholars of history, geography, sociology, anthropology, and postcolonialism." -- blurb to Eight Eurocentric Historians (2000) by James Morris Blaut |
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World history or global history as a field of historical study examines history from a global perspective. It emerged centuries ago; leading practitioners have included Voltaire (1694–1778), Hegel (1770–1831), (1818–1883) and Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975). The field became much more active (in terms of university teaching, text books, scholarly journals, and academic associations) in the late 20th century. It is not to be confused with comparative history, which, like world history, deals with the history of multiple cultures and nations, but does not do so on a global scale. World history looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. World historians use a thematic approach, with two major focal points: integration (how processes of world history have drawn people of the world together) and difference (how patterns of world history reveal the diversity of the human experience).
Overview
Many works are analogous to World History, in that they discuss "the history of the world" in a unified framework — For example, it was a genre popular in the 19th century with universal history, and with Christian historians going back to at least the 4th century. Other analogous works include:
- Shortly after World War I several popular books were written which dealt with the history of the world, though with a somewhat different approach. These included the children's book The Story of Mankind (1921) by Hendrik Willem van Loon and the textbook The Outline of History (1918) by H.G. Wells.
- William McNeill's The Rise of the West: A History of the Human Community (1963).
- Marshall Hodgson's writings were a precursor to the modern World History approach.
- Arnold J. Toynbee was a precursor of modern World History with his vast project, A Study of History.
- William McGaughey's Five Epochs of Civilization (2000).
World History looks for common patterns that emerge across all cultures. World historians use a thematic approach, with two major focal points: integration (how processes of world history have drawn people of the world together) and difference (how patterns of world history reveal the diversity of the human experience).
The study of world history is in some ways a product of the current period of accelerated globalization. This period is tending both to integrate various cultures and to highlight their differences.
The advent of World History as a distinct field of study was heralded in the 1980s by the creation of the World History Association and of graduate programs at a handful of universities. Over the past 20 years, scholarly publications, professional and academic organizations, and graduate programs in World History have proliferated. It has become an increasingly popular approach to teaching history in United States high schools and colleges. Many new textbooks are being published with a World History approach.
See also
- Big History
- Guns, Germs and Steel
- Historic recurrence
- Universal history
- Natural history
- Human history
- World development
- History of globalization
- Political history of the world
