AKA Why US History isnt enough Arrived in last 20 years One of biggest developments in US historical thinking A New Field Study major civilizations Compare similarities and differences ID: 601811
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Slide1
What is World History?
A/K/A Why U.S. History isn’t enoughSlide2
Arrived in last 20 years One of biggest developments in U.S. historical thinking
A New FieldSlide3
Study major civilizations
Compare similarities and differences Study when major societies come in contact with one anotherHow does contact occur and how does it change civilizations?Examine broader forces that define contacts and experiences of individual civilizations
Trade and migration, disease, missionary efforts
3 Major ApproachesSlide4
Which approach is best and why?Slide5
OK, it was a trick question, we really need to combine all three!Slide6
Defined by changesFoundations: 8,000 B.C.E. – 600 C.E.
Post-Classical: 600 C.E. – 1450 C.E.Early Modern: 1450 C.E. – 1750 C.E.Long 19th
Century: 1750 C.E. – 1914 C.E.
Contemporary World: 1914 C.E. – Present
Time PeriodsSlide7
Started as teaching rather than research field
Did not develop at most prestigious universitiesNot evenly developed around worldU.S. is biggest proponent
Netherlands has good program
United Kingdom contributes to field but doesn’t educate in it yet
How is World History a different field?Slide8
Diversity of Americans
Extent of U.S. involvement outside of Europe since WWII Gives better understanding of crucial historical events and processes
Why did it start?Slide9
Challenges older teaching approaches about Western Civilization and its importance
U.S. is part of West so we should study itSome historians see it as “West Bashing”
What are the big debates here?Slide10
See how west fits into the world
Sees it as a part of a bigger world experienceOne of a number of important civilizations, just not necessarily the best or most important
Is it West Bashing?Slide11
Some (mainly Europeans) object that teaching world history is slighting European history
They see it as imperialism more as a criticism of U.S. foreign policy
Another example of American ImperialismSlide12
Changes and continuities with a particular emphasis on change
Civilizational approach to see how continuities and traditions compare with new elements in the global frameworkTension between local and regional identities and advantages of contact and exposure
Until 1000 years ago most human experience local and regional
Last 1000 years more contact and crosscutting forces
What will we study?Slide13
East Asia
South and Southeast AsiaMiddle East (later Middle East and North Africa)Eastern EuropeWestern EuropeSub-Saharan Africa
Latin America
7 Primary Areas of world will be studiedSlide14
B.C.E. – Before the Common Era and C.E. Common Era
Designations used in textB.C.E. is same as B.C. (Before Christ)C.E. is same as A.D. (Anno Domini, in the year of the Lord)Political Correctness but still dated on Christian calendar
One last thing….Slide15
Is the study of world history anti-Western?
Can we study it all?What do we omit?Are some parts of the world more or less important than others?Are some time periods more or less important that others?
Questions:Slide16
World history is a complex story
of all of humankind, how can we omit the beginning middle or end and know the story?We are looking for flow, patterns, building on knowledge of the past to understand the present
Remember